Learning at the biotechnology interface : an activity theory perspective

This paper seeks to extend our understanding of learning in biotechnology clusters. The development of the biotechnology industry is recognised to be a geographically-concentrated phenomenon. A widely-held explanation for this clustering is posited to be the enhanced learning that occurs in such agglomerations. In the existing literature, however, there is a dearth of studies that examine these processes. We begin to address this gap. Drawing on activity theory, we develop a framework for the analysis of learning in biotechnology clusters. We argue that this approach enables the study of these processes within context, and allows for more nuanced conceptualisations of learning and knowledge in clusters. We also demonstrate how this framework could be applied to examine a specific mechanism of learning in clusters, collaboration.