Clusters in the Canton of Zurich

Clusterdefinition Porter (2003) defines a cluster as a “geographically proximate group of interconnected companies, suppliers, service providers and associated institutions in a particular field, linked by externalities of various types” Spatial agglomeration clusters or sectoral clusters Clusters vary in terms of scale (local, national, international) Clusters show a vertical and horizontal dimension (and sometimes even a diagonal) dimension

Why do firms cluster? because…. …. there is an `industrial atmosphere` (Marshall) the firms obtain benefits by locating near each other and achieve economies of localisation (Hoover 1937) there is a spread of innovation and intensive knowledge spillovers (Jaffe 1986) there are certain economic, social, political and institutional relationships that generate a collective learning process because companies compete and cooperate (Michael. E. Porter 1990) Because of the importance of networks, the generation of ‘tacid’ knowledge and ‘global pipelines’ (Malmberg 2011) cluster conzept as a `fuzzy set`

Porter’s diamond model Factor conditions: workforce, physical resources, knowledge, capital… Demand conditions: buyers lead to competetive advantages in the home market Firm strategy and rivalry: creates pressure to innovate, competetive advantage Government: can influence each of the four determants of competitiveness

Types of clusters (Enright 2001) Working clusters (critical mass of local knowledge, expertise, personnel, and resources) Latent clusters (critical mass of firms in related industries sufficient to acquire the benefits of clustering but have not yet reached the level of interaction and information flows) Potential clusters ( have some of the elements necessary for the development of successful clusters which must be enforced) Policy driven clusters ( driven by governments for support, but which lack a critical mass of firms or favourable conditions for organic/self- reinforced development) “Wishful thinking clusters” (policy driven clusters that lack, not only a critical mass but any particular source of advantage that might promote organic/self-reinforced development)

Clusters in the Canton of Zurich Major Clusters in Zurich Finance (Banks, Insurances, Funds) Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Life Sciences (Pharma, Biotec, Meditec, Foodtec) Further Clusters: Creative Cluster Tourism Cleantec Nanotecnology Aerospace

Financial Cluster Canton of ZurichSwitzerland Employees Workplaces Net added value (billion CHF) % of GDP22 %12.5% Companies: Credit Suisse, UBS, Bank Julius Bär, Vontobel, Zurich Financial Services, SwissRe, SwissLife, Axa Winterthur Institutions and Organisations: Zurich Banking Federation University of Zurich Swiss Banking Institute Swiss Finance Institute ZHAW Centre of Alternative Assets and Risk Management Source: Cluster Report Zurich

ICT Cluster Canton of ZurichSwitzerland Employees Workplaces Net added value (billion CHF) % of GDP5.5 %3.7 % Institutions and Organisations: Disney Research Zurich ETH ETH transfer Hasler Foundation: mio Unitectra: cooperation of UZH and Companies Companies: CREALOGIX Group: e-banking Noser Engineering Co.: Android Cinergy Co.:event-database; online/mobile portals for entertainment Source: Cluster Report Zurich

Life Science Cluster Canton of ZurichSwitzerland Employees Workplaces Net added value (billion CHF) % of GDP4.0 %6.5 % Branches: Pharma, Biotec, Meditec, Foodtec Institutions and Organisations: BIO-TECHNOPARK Schlieren ETH transfer Grow Wädenswil ZHAW Company: ESBATech One of the Leaders in R&D for eye medicine Source: Cluster Report Zurich

Bibliography: Kiese, M. & Schätzl, L. (2006): Cluster- und Regionalentwicklung. Theorie, Beratung und praktische Umsetzung. Hannover. Volkswirtschaftsdirektion Kanton Zürich (2010): Cluster Bericht Zürich.