The Convoy Model as a new "glocal" growth accelerator metaphor for the economy in the next decade

For some 20 years, regional and city based innovation and economic development policy focused on

clustering, based on Michael Porter's (1990) Competitive Advantage of Nations. However, there are

still those who are doubtful about whether clusters foster economic development.

In this article an alternative is proposed: the convoy model. The evidence that clusters lead to

successful inter-firm regional interaction is inconclusive. Is it time for a rethink?

In the current economic climate, and bearing in mind the importance of creating new models to

foster the competitiveness of our SME, it is necessary to redefine the model that has been widely

implemented, i.e. the Cluster Model. We need a new model that will become the metaphor for

accelerated and new economic, technological and societal growth in the decade to 2020.

Convoy is a more powerful metaphor than cluster to describe a local economic development

strategy and is worthy of equal attention.