Innovation Networks and Evolution of Technology Clusters

Although knowledge spillovers have long been considered a critical element of economic growth in technology clusters by facilitating innovations, the relationship between characteristics of knowledge spillover network and regional cluster development is ambiguous. Based on patent co-authorship data, we construct inventor networks for two telecom clusters, New Jersey and Texas, in which the former state represents a traditionally vigorous telecom cluster but currently being stuck in a stagnant stage, whereas the latter is on a significant growth path. By analyzing the network structures and performance, we attempt to answer the following questions: 1) do the structures of the inventor networks vary by the characteristics of the geographical clusters; 2) are the patterns of similarities/differences in network structure persistent over time as the clusters go through different stages of development; 3) how do the changes in network properties, if any, reflect the viability of the cluster. Using multiple analysis methods, including quantitative examination of network performance and structure, network visualizations, interviews with the inventors representing key nodes of the networks, we demonstrated that the typology of industrial districts is a determinant factor for network structure and performance of the inventor mobility network. Compared with Texas’ telecom industry which represents a mixedtopology industrial district, New Jersey-based telecom cluster with a typical hub-andspoke typology features a rather centralized inventor mobility network, which suggests the labor market for hub-and-spoke clusters is relatively inflexible –workers move back