The Micro-nanotechnology Cluster of Grenoble, France

This chapter analyses the emergence and establishment of the micro-nanotechnology cluster in Grenoble, which has been recently labelled the Minalogic “pôle de compétitivité” by the French government. Grenoble is a particularly good example of a cluster that emerged “endogenously” from a critical mass of human and social capital but with strong support from targeted initiatives by the public sector. The chapter demonstrates the role that public authorities can play in supporting a cluster and the importance of establishing strong private-public and public-public partnerships. It shows how innovation has occurred in a collaborative but highly competitive environment. It highlights the importance of human and social capital and the need for “co-ompetition” as key ingredients of an internationally successful cluster.