The High-tech Cluster of Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

This chapter provides an overview of the transformation of the hightech cluster in Oxfordshire following industrial restructuring in the UK. The case study illustrates the importance of the entrepreneurial dynamic as a source of talent, spin-offs and critical mass. It highlights the challenges faced by the Oxfordshire cluster in networking among the actors of the “virtuous circle” for clusters, and the ways in which these actors have been involved in order to fulfil the unmet needs of the cluster. The success of the cluster has been underpinned by the attractiveness and self-organisation of the territory. This chapter also outlines the key role played by the core actors of the cluster in tackling environmental challenges and social inequalities.