ABSTRACT
This chapter contains a synthesis of the case studies described in this book. We draw general conclusions and lessons from the experiences in our case cities.
In section 13.2, we reflect on the development towards a network economy. It is meaningless to consider manufacturing as a ‘stand-alone’ activity: it has become part of networks and value chains that encompass urban regions, nations, continents or even the world. Based on a number of case studies, we show how companies engage in networks to develop new products (knowledge networks), and to produce and sell these products (production networks). Also, we look at interaction mechanisms: how do ‘knowledge networks’ relate to ‘production networks’? How are these networks developed in space? We observe a move towards a ‘project economy’ in which companies organise themselves around industrial projects, in ever-changing network configurations, at varying geographical scales.
