ABSTRACT
This chapter sketches a background for the analysis of growth clusters of European cities and develops the framework of reference that is to be used in the case studies. The cluster perspective is introduced, as a useful tool to analyse new growth in metropolitan regions at a time when networks play such a dominant role as organising principle. The framework serves as a basis for the analysis of urban economic growth sectors in the participating cities, and as a tool to design policies aimed at fostering sustainable growth. The chapter focuses on the methodology that was used to put the framework into practise in the case study analyses. The framework contains the following, interrelated elements: general spatial-economic conditions; cluster specific conditions; and organising capacity. That type of evidence consists of the presence of formal cooperative structures, joint facilities or joint projects in the growth-cluster in the urban region.
