Introduction

In merging several different policy traditions, cluster policy has drawn attention to the need for a more comprehensive, integrated approach to local economic development and the growing importance of localised policy design and delivery. In requiring a more sophisticated, in-depth understanding of the operation of industrial clusters, it has led to a greater involvement of the private sector in policy-making, highlighting the blurring of boundaries between public and private areas of responsibility in policy. In Europe alone, cluster-based policies can already be found at national, regional and local levels in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom and are in preparation in several other countries. In tracing the influence of the cluster approach, a wide spectrum of opinion exists, summarised in the following three claims about its impact: 'fad', 'catalyst' and 'paradigm’. This chapter also presents an overview on the key concepts discussed in this book.