Complexity and Industrial Clusters: Dynamics and Models in Theory and Practice

This volume contains the proceedings of the international conference "Complexity and Industrial Clusters: Dynamics and Models in Theory and Practice", organized by Fondazione Comunita e Innovazione and held in Milan on June 19 and 20, 2001 under the aegis of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei (founded in Rome in 1604), one of the oldest and most famous national academies of science in the world. Fondazione Comunita e Innovazione encourages research and the dissemination of knowledge about social, economic, cultural and civil issues. It promotes research and innovation related to local production systems and industrial districts, with special reference to: the interactions between large companies and SMEs (small and medium-size enterprises), the effects of industrial districts on the development and welfare of their communities and of neighbouring areas, the effects of globalisation on these local systems of productions. Fondazione Comunita e Innovazione was created in Milan in 1999. It supports studies, publications, and events, both on its own and in cooperation with corporations, research institutes, foundations, associations and universities. It also grants scientific sponsorship to research that is in line with its mission, as set forth in its by-laws. The founding member of the Fondazione is Edison (formerly Monted:son). The other subscribing members, in historical order, are: Ausimont, Tecnimont, Eridania, Accenture, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

The system of Italian industrial districts seems to have produced a "model of capitalism" that is different from those of the "Anglo-Saxon" and "Rhine Valley". However, the Italian model - which might be defined as "horizontal or network capitalism" - is not limited to Italy. Starting from a detailed look at the relations between general theories of complexity and an analysis of the economic dynamics of industrial clusters, this volume considers two different applications. Firstly, models of industrial clusters, and secondly, success cases of clusters around the world. The volume includes papers from well-known international authors. These papers were first presented at a conference organized by Fondazione Comunità e Innovazione in 2001 under the aegis of Edison (formerly Montedison) Group and of Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei.