O'Dell, Oliver J.; (1995) The potential for a British technopole: A study of Hertfordshire. Masters thesis (M.Phil), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

With the recent years of recession having taken their toll on the British economy many theorists have turned their attention increasingly towards the historical thinking of a Russian economist Kondratieff and subsequent writings of current economic thinkers. Kondratieff created Long Wave Theory, whereby product or process innovation leads to economic growth in fifty year cycles. We are presently at the end of the Fourth Wave, based on a Post-Fordist society characterised by computers and electronics. A potential Fifth Wave is on the way. Current thinking focuses on the importance of innovation as a stimulant to economic growth. The concern for the planner is to stimulate localised or regional economic growth. The concentration of innovative activity is best seen in technopole regions where high-technology firms, typified by research and development activities, cluster together. Successful planned technopole regions can be found in mainland Europe, but not so far in Britain, despite clusters of high-technology firms. One such region in Britain is Hertfordshire which, according to location quotient scores, has a large high- technology presence, historically based on the declining defence industry. This research will analyse the potential for Hertfordshire to become a British technopole region in the fixture. A Weberian "Ideal Type" analysis will be conducted using theoretical models, and two successful European examples to assess whether Hertfordshire has both the necessary elements for it to function as a technopole, and whether inter-firm and institutional relationships are strong enough to allow this to happen. The two European examples are Cite Scientifique, Ile-de-France Sud, in France and Baden-Wurttemburg in Germany. Both are known technopole regions and exhibit networking activities as integral to their success.

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