Global competitiveness: exploring dynamic linkages between clusters and global value chains

• Grant number: 22/09976-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2024
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Administration - Administration of Specific Sectors
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Carlos Di Serio
• Grantee: Luiz Carlos Di Serio
• Host Institution: Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo (EAESP). Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Alexandre de Vicente Bittar ; Ely Laureano Paiva ; Luciano Campos Batista
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/10998-6 - Analysis of the Impact of Technological Innovation on Automotive Clusters and Global Value Chains, BP.TT

Abstract

Over the past twenty years, the study of the cluster phenomenon has attracted increasing attention from both academic and those responsible for public policy development. In Brazil, research on this phenomenon and its application as a tool for regional development have gained more room since early 1990's by major research projects conducted by prominent authors. Such was the recognition of this issue, that the same has been incorporated under the "Planos Plurianuais" since 2004 as the preferred approach for the development of small and medium enterprises. Given the dynamic characteristics of the global economy, researchers around the globe have focused on studying the functioning of the clusters and how these phenomena benefit firms, regions and countries. However, little has been produced on their evolution and their critical role in global value chains. Therefore, our primary objective of this project is to assist in filling this gap by proposing an approach to the analysis, identification and characterization of stages of development of clusters competitiveness, the key factors influencing their evolutionary stages, and the role they play in the competitiveness of global value chains.Studies on interorganizational relations and global chain governance are intensifying. Understanding how private governance, in which transnational corporations lead their supply chains, has been the focus of recent academic studies (Vieira and Traill, 2008; Mattli, 2003; Van Huijstee and Glasbergen, 2010). The Global Value Chain model is useful for the analysis and evaluation of global industry sectors (Gereffi, 2001). However, the intersection between global value chains and clusters has not receive attention from the literature. Does the cooperation of organizations in a cluster works in the same way in a global value chain? How conflicts in governance due to diverse global and local relationships affect the cooperation?In this context, an inherent important topic is the effect of technological upgrading on the organization, governance, and competitiveness of clusters across different global value chains. How may technology upgrading affect one cluster life cycle? The proposed methodology comprises three key perspectives and elements, namely: (a)The different conceptual perspectives about the industry concentration with specific emphasis on Clusters and Global Value Chains; (b)The transformational dynamics concerning the competitiveness of Clusters and related Global Value Chains; (c)Case studies that were selected in the previous phase (b). A multiple case study will be conducted in two Brazilian automotive clusters and two European automotive clusters. Automotive industry was chosen because it is undergoing significant technological advances mainly related with electric car and self-driving vehicles. Technological upgrading is an externality that affects product, process, functions inside companies, and may also affect clusters. Choosing different countries will benefit the evaluation and comparison of the perspectives and elements studied. (AU)