Methodology

This research will involve the collection of a mix of primary and secondary data sources:

  1. A literature review will be carried out to identify how sustainable clusters might be defined and to establish their key features and characteristics.
  2. Policy documents, strategies and plans will be collated and reviewed in order to provide a detailed overview of the role and objectives of policies for business clusters and sustainable development in the two case study countries, and the number and range of business clusters within the countries.
  3. A series of semi-structured interviews will be conducted with key stakeholders in the Welsh Assembly Government, national and regional government in The Netherlands, business support organisations and businesses within clusters.
  4. Following this, two or three extant or developing business clusters will be examined in more detail through case study interviews and site visits. Possible examples include Hydrogen Valley and the renewable energy cluster at Baglan, and agro-clusters in The Netherlands.

 

 
© 2012 The ESRC Centre for Business Relationships, Accountability, Sustainability and Society