Over the past decade the 'cluster model' has been seized on as a tool for promoting competitiveness, innovation and growth on local, regional and national scales. However, despite its popularity there is much about it that is problematic, and in some respects the rush to employ 'cluster ideas'...

"The aim of this book is to consider theoretically the notion of the global competitiveness of regions, as well as giving attention as to how such competitiveness may be empirically measured. With this in mind, the book has three specific objectives: first, to place the concept of regional...

1. Introduction : knowledge economies everywhere! -- 2. Innovation, clusters and knowledge-based commodity chains -- 3. Innovation geographies in the UK life sciences -- 4. Innovation governance in the Scottish life sciences -- 5. Innovation imaginaries in the European life sciences -- 6....