Understanding evolution in the Antwerp chemical cluster: the role of regional development strategies

ABSTRACT

Research on regional economic development increasingly embraces more nuanced perspectives on the evolution of clusters, industries and agglomerations. The extent to which the emergence and decline of clusters can be directed with intentional regional development strategies is, however, a major point of discussion. The article links the cluster life cycle concept to regional development strategies in order to examine the trajectory of Europe’s largest chemical complex in and around the Port of Antwerp (Belgium). This chemical cluster has matured and currently is in a state of stability. Although the cluster did not experience growth over the last decades in terms of new entrants, it did transform internally and maintained its importance as a production centre. Thus, whereas lock-in mechanisms hampered growth, they also prevented the cluster from going into a state of decline. We argue that while regional development strategies stimulated new emerging clusters in the Flemish region, vested interests in the port and associated lock-in mechanisms have resisted such developments in Antwerp. New growth trajectories based on the chemical cluster were therefore difficult to recreate in the Antwerp region.

KEYWORDS:

• Cluster life cycle
• regional strategy
• chemical industry
• lock-in
• Port of Antwerp
• Flanders

Acknowledgements

This article greatly benefited from discussions with Thomas Vanoutrive.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Ties Vanthillo http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3119-6942

Thierry Vanelslander http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5213-3444