The role of cluster policy on leadership: evidence from two Pôles de compétitivité

Since the late 1990s researchers have looked at cluster policies, highlighting multilevel governance processes and the resulting complexity for both public and private actors as well as measuring the impact of these policies on firms. From an institutional perspective I point out that this policy development calls for the study of the impact on leadership: have cluster policies played any role in leadership emergence in clusters? I take the launch of the <i>Pôles de compétitivité</i> in 2005 as an illustration. I first review the literature and point out the gaps in dealing with (cluster) leadership and the policy context. Second, I present comparative and empirical results of two clusters located in Brittany, France. Third, by discussing these results, I show the implications both for the study of French <i>dirigisme</i> (an interventionist and directive policy style) and for current research on cluster policies by outlining the emergence, dynamics, and limits of the leadership process. <br> <b>Keywords:</b> cluster policies, leadership, France, dirigisme, Pôles de compétitivité/competitiveness clusters