The Contribution of Networking Innovation Process to Successful Innovation within Industrial Clusters: Theory and its Framework

The research of industrial clusters, forming the basis of regional economic growth, has moved rapidly from academy to policy. For improving the innovation performance for enterprises within clusters, influencing factors of cluster have been investigated to intensify the extent of networking during innovation process, as well as accelerating the innovation speed within clusters. Recently, however, industrial clusters in China are confronted with the problems of incomprehensive external networking, inefficient internal innovation process and shortage of technological innovation capability, all of which impede the cultivation of the innovative advantage of clusters. This paper focuses on innovative and net-working activities and the reasons why we need a better understanding of both the innovation process and the process of networking.