Źródła wiedzy w różnych fazach cyklu życia klastra: przykłady z branży meblarskiej we Włoszech i w Polsce
Sources of Knowledge in Different Stages of a Cluster Life Cycle: the Examples of Furniture Industry in Italy and Poland

Summary/Abstract: Clusters – spatial concentrations of companies and institutions in functionally-related fields – are known as places facilitating the creation and spreading of knowledge. Facing competition from similar firms nearby, cluster firms must constantly search for and utilise new technological and business knowledge. In this paper we present the results of a comparative study conducted in the companies located within two furniture clusters operating in different life cycle stages, which have been determined on the basis of employment, production and export indicators. The first cluster – Livenza is located in the North of Italy and is an example of a mature cluster, the second – in Kępno (Greater Poland region) – as a growing one. Questionnaire survey of the firms located in these areas allowed to state that the firms in the first cluster – in relation to the second one – use more professional knowledge sources, such as: consulting firms, employing “knowledge agents” delivering current knowledge expertise, trainings and actions of public institutions. The results of the study may become a guideline for business environment institutions and public authorities as to the ways of obtaining new, external knowledge which is most expected by the local cluster firms.

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