Topology and Evolution of Collaboration Networks: The Case of a Policy-Anchored District

This study uses social network analysis to investigate the topology and evolution of collaboration networks in a policy anchored, high-tech district in Italy. The district involves lead firms from strategic industries such as defense, military, transports, energy, and aerospace along with public and private institutions. The governance of the district is based upon an active and formal management of project partnerships. The authors use prespecified blockmodeling to identify the structural configuration of collaboration at each time point from 2005 to 2013, tracing the evolutionary path of collaboration within the district. Empirical results show that collaboration initially took a core–periphery configuration characterized by a single, small bridging core of research organizations. This configuration gradually changed, developing a large cohesive nucleus connected to global partners through generalized brokerage. An assessment of the district management strategy is provided.