Dynamics of Brokerage Positions in Clusters: Evidence from the Spanish Foodstuffs Industry

Abstract

Shifting away from traditional approaches orientated towards the analysis of the benefits associated with brokerage, this paper provides valuable insights into the dynamics of this network position and the opportunities to innovate that it provides. Using fine grain micro data collected in a foodstuff Spanish cluster, the evolution of different brokerage profiles is analyzed in depth. It was particularly evident how firm-level characteristics (status, former mediating experience and external openness) and their interactions may generate changes in the different brokerage roles over a period of time. The findings of this work partially validate expectations based on the network dynamics approaches. Status and previous mediating experience facilitate the creation of partnerships, fostering brokerage. Conversely, interaction effects demote brokerage activity at the intra-cluster level, suggesting the selective nature of brokers' relational behavior.

Regions’ Technology Brokerage Patterns and Dynamics for Regional Development

“…While the observed license-in value has not gained statistical significance, license-out has a positive effect, with a significance level of 0.01 (0.0016). The result confirms that the regions prefer to transmit technology to other regions that already have previous experiences of a technology licensing-out contract, which is consistent with Belso-Martínez et al [67]'s work in that the previous knowledge mediating experience facilitates the creation of partnerships, thus fostering brokerage. The influence of accumulated licensing-out experiences also seems to be determined by the strategic risk-aversion decisions of licensor regions.…”

Still in the shadow of the wall? The case of the Berlin biotechnology cluster

“…Institutional proximity is found to hamper tie formation in Model 1 and facilitate tie formation in Model 4. This partly confirms the findings of the studies by Lazzeretti and Capone (2016) and Belso-Mart ınez et al (2017). Accordingly, organisations operating within the same institutional framework are less likely to establish lasting relations.…”

“…For instance, Giuliani (2011Giuliani ( , 2013 and Giuliani et al (2018) show that triadic closure coupled with reciprocity is one of the most important endogenous network effects. Similarly, Juha´sz and Lengyel (2017), de Stefano and Zaccarin (2013) and Belso-Mart ınez et al (2017) confirm its importance for tie formation. Our study adds to the limited evidence for this factor's importance on tie persistence (Juha´sz and Lengyel, 2017).…”