Evolution of network relations, enterprise learning, and cluster innovation networks: the case of the Yuyao plastics industry cluster

ABSTRACT

Industrial clusters have become a crucial carrier of economic globalisation. However, constrained by the nation’s industrial development model, clusters in China have long been relegated to a low-end position. This study, based on the perspective of focal enterprises, analysed the relationships among network relations, enterprise learning, and the evolution of cluster innovation networks and explored the three formation stages of a cluster innovation network by examining the example of the Yuyao plastics industry cluster. The results showed (1) that focal enterprises exert spin-off effects on enterprise learning and are critical for innovation networking and (2) that weak network ties facilitate exploratory learning, whereas strong ties influence exploitative learning. In addition, tie strength showed a coevolutionary feature. Furthermore, the results showed that (3) this evolutionary process demonstrated a phase-changing characteristic, with government policy exhibiting substantial effects on focal enterprises, organisational learning mechanisms, and cluster innovation networks.

KEYWORDS:

• Network relations
• enterprise learning
• cluster innovation network
• case study

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Chun Huang is an associate professor in the College of Management, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics. His research interests cover industrial cluster and industrial upgrading. He boasts rich experience in industrial upgrading case analysis by cooperating with local governments and enterprises in China. He combines these perspectives and practices in his studies including ‘Government Assistance Institutional Work, Institutional Logics and Cluster Upgrading: Research on the Cases of Yuyao and Anji Clusters Evolution’ published in ‘Management World 2016’. [email protected].

Yan Wang attended Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics and graduated with a Master Degree of Management in 2016. Her research focuses on administrative management, and government policies. [email protected].

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 71303209] and Soft Science Research Program of Zhejiang Province [grant number 2017C35068].