Indusrty Clusters in Peripheral Regions: A Biotechnology Case Study

Abstract

This chapter examines a nascent biotechnology cluster in a city that lies outside Canada’s industrial heartland. The purpose of the study was to focus attention on the nature of cluster development in peripheral regions. The research findings reveal that many support services are provided to Halifax-based biotechnology companies and made use of by companies. However, barriers to development still exist, and support organizations and companies are not certain that a cluster truly exists in Halifax at this time. What results is a case study of a cluster at an early stage in its development cycle and in a peripheral region. The authors encourage other researchers to examine cluster development outside of major industrial centers.