Evolution of the Bangalore ICT Cluster : A Stage-Theory Based on Crystal-Growth Model (Full Version)

Through a longitudinal analysis of Bangalore’s development over two centuries leading to its present status as Asia’s largest ICT cluster, it is observed that cluster-development is primarily a function of the entrepreneurial activities of people rather than a of an ‘ecosystem’ created by certain enterprise-supporting elements such as physical and communication infrastructure, R&D institutions, venture capital companies, education and training institutions, etc. In fact, the so-called ecosystem is more often a consequence of cluster development rather than its cause. The process of cluster-development is explained through an analogy of the chemical process of crystal-growth, whereby the stages of cluster-development are identified as: Incubation, Nucleation, Agglomeration, and Attrition. A major factor stimulating the development of a region and its people is found to be their interaction with other cultures on a continuous basis. The paper therefore proposes inter-cultural interaction as a pre-requisite for development of people and regions