The Role of Clusters in the Development of Innovation Capabilities in China

Industrial clusters have long been recognized as important elements of an innovation system and are very prevalent in China. While they can be important forces for development, they do not always contribute to innovative results. This chapter will look specifically at the development of clusters in China, the forces facilitating their success and their contribution to the economy, and the long-term enhancement of innovation capability. By presenting a conceptual framework combining determinants and elements of a cluster innovation system, this chapter aims to contribute to the theoretical construct in order to capture the main features and relationships of a cluster innovation system.