Regional Strategies Study OECD

Abstract

The report was the Swiss contribution to the Specialization and Regional Cluster project realised by the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Nutek) and the OECD. This project had the following objectives: 1) assess the significance of regional specialization and clusters for competitiveness; 2) assess the rationale of public policy to support regional specializations and clusters; and 3) to develop policy recommendations. In order to fulfil these objectives regions which specialize in one of four clusters (automotive, information and communications technology, life sciences/biotechnology or logistics and related services) were compared. NUTEK and OECD designed a questionnaire which was answered by the study team at FHNW for the life sciences cluster in Northwestern Switzerland. The information was collected from published and unpublished documents and through interviews with regional experts.