ABSTRACT
The local governments in the four secondary capital cities (SCCs) formulate very different locational policies agendas. All SCCs formulate cluster policies that aim to support the development of highly-regulated sectors and associated knowledge interaction. Cybersecurity is an emerging sector in SCCs due to the fact that national government organizations are at the forefront of demanding innovation in this technology. The nation state needs to remain on the cutting edge of technology development to ensure the safety of its digital activities. Life sciences, medical and health technology is another knowledge-intensive and highly-regulated sector prevalent in SCCs. Washington, DC aims to position itself as the global leader in this area by linking the 16 hospitals and more than ten major universities and colleges in the region. SCCs are not by nature start-up hubs. They are defined by the "government town" narrative, the central administration absorbs much of the talent, the public sector accounts for stability rather than risk.
