AN EXAMINATION OF UNIVERSITY AND CORPORATE ATTRACTIVENESS AS ANCHOR TENANTS IN THE CONCEPTION (PRE-BIRTH) OF A NEW CLUSTER

Using survey results from a single UK case study of the conception or pre-birth stage of a cluster, we investigate the ability of a proposed new university research centre to act as an anchor tenant which attracts SMEs into the region. We examine how SMEs’ attitudes alter when it is proposed that the university centre will be supported by a global original equipment manufacturer (OEM) corporation. Our findings suggest that the attractiveness of the university centre is of moderate attractiveness to SMEs within the related industrial sector. It is greater for SMEs with high levels of R&D activity, than those with medium to low activity. However, when the centre has the strong support and partnership of a global OEM, its attractiveness increases across both high and medium level R&D active SMEs. We suggest that the university centre acts as an anchor tenant for the creation of localised knowledge networks, whereas the corporate partner acts as anchor tenant for the creation of potentially globalised production networks/ value chains. For high-R&D SMEs access to both networks is of interest, whereas for SMEs of medium-low R&D access to global production networks is more important. Moreover, the perceived ‘value’ of the university research centre to SMEs are enhanced by its partnership with a global OEM in the same industry. This gives important insights into the key actors in the conception stage of a cluster lifecycle, their relationship and the respective roles of these in attracting SMEs to the region.