Regional Competitiveness: Key Players in Industrial Cluster in Knowledge-Based Industrial Cluster

Regional Competitiveness is often emphasized on the comparative advantage of such region in a particular country. A competitive region is one that attracts and maintains achieved companies, while improving inhabitats’ standard of living. Skilled workforces, regional resources and investments are often drawn to a competitive region. Storper (1997) defined regional competitiveness as “...the ability of an economy to attract and maintain firms with stable or rising market shares in an activity while maintaining or increasing standards of living for those who participate in it”. Kitson et al. (2004) added that “...ultimately competitive regions and cities are places where both companies and people want to locate and invest in”. To enhance regional competitiveness of a region, the regional comparative advantage could thus be drawn by different factors such as human resources, financial resources, infrastructure, innovation, natural capital and community support.