Cluster Formation, Institutions and Learning : The Emergence of Clusters and Development in Chile

By exploring the emergence of new clusters, this paper departs from traditional research focused on established clusters and enriches recent studies on their development dynamics. The analysis of two successful clusters in Chile, one in agroindustry and the other in salmon aquaculture, highlights interactions between the state, local firms and multinationals, and the conditions enhancing collective firm learning. The argument is that the emergence of dynamic clusters depends on building institutions that enable coordinated learning among firms to improve capabilities, processes and products