Nations, clusters and culture: Nycomed and world leadership in the field of x-ray contrast media

Abstract

This article discusses Michael Porter's book ‘The Competitive Advantage of Nations’ (i.e. his cluster-theory) in relation to the development of the Norwegian pharmaceutical company, Nycomed, over the last seventy years. First, it is established that the company was part of a pre-1940 national milieu concerning vitamins that can be called a cluster, but that this cluster came to an end after 1940. Secondly, it is established that after 1975 Nycomed became part ofa trans-national cluster in the field of X-ray contrast media. Thirdly, it is pointed out that what linked these two very different clusters was a corporate culture in Nycomed characterized by scientific ambitions and activities. The culture that was formed as part of the national ‘vitamin cluster’ was kept alive, and subsequently the company was able to form a technological basis for a new and trans-national cluster.