This project has received funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no. 319855 (REMCap - Resource Efficient Maritime Capacity)

Thesis Cork Institute of Technology, 2018.

Bibliography: (pages 285-324)

"Industry clusters (Porter, 1990, 1998b) have been the focus of numerous studies, and public policy programmes in recent decades (Ketels, 2013b) The maritime sector in particular has seen a number of maritime cluster organisations established in recent years as policy tools for regional development. Cluster analysis has focused on identifying and mapping clusters, yet comparatively little research has been undertaken on the optimal structure for cluster organisations (or initiatives) as additionally policy tools, to achieve the aim of strengthening cluster linkages and boosting the innovation capacity of cluster firms. Therefore this research addresses the following questions: 1. To what extent is there a functioning maritime cluster in the Cork region, what model best describes its structure, and its development to date? 2. How effective is the IMERC cluster organisation in its role of bridging 'innovation gaps' and facilitating linkages between the cluster actors? A nested methodology incorporating an analysis of cluster firms' linkages utilising the V-LINC methodology; participatory evaluation conducted in the form of a Delphi study; and case studies; is used to analyse the effect the structure of a cluster organisation has on linkages within clusters. The analysis concludes that there is a functioning nascent maritime cluster in the Cork region. It also finds that the IMERC cluster organisation is playing an effective role in bridging 'innovation gaps' between cluster actors". Abstract