Cluster Case Studies
How Silicon Valley, Shenzhen, and Danish wind evolved over decades
Your Progress
Section 4 of 5Learning from Iconic Clusters
Clusters evolve through distinct lifecycle stages: Emergence (early pioneers, experimentation), Growth (rapid firm entry, supply chain formation), Maturity (dominant position, institutionalization), and Decline or Renewal (disruption or reinvention). Silicon Valley emerged from Stanford's engineering culture (1930s–1950s), grew with semiconductors and PCs (1960s–1980s), matured as the global tech hub (1990s–2000s), and renewed with mobile/AI (2010s–). Shenzhen went from fishing village to electronics capital in 40 years through deliberate policy (SEZ status, infrastructure), manufacturing prowess (Foxconn), and entrepreneurial hardware culture (Huaqiangbei market). Danish offshore wind started with energy security concerns (1970s oil crisis), grew through feed-in tariffs and early deployment (1990s–2000s), and achieved global cost leadership through Ørsted and Vestas. Clean tech lessons: Clusters take decades to mature. Early policy support (tariffs, R&D funding) is critical. Anchor firms (Intel, Huawei, Ørsted) catalyze ecosystems. Renewal requires embracing disruption—Silicon Valley pivoted from chips to internet to AI; Denmark now targets green hydrogen.
Interactive Cluster Evolution Timeline
Explore how clusters develop over time. Use zoom controls to see different detail levels.
💡 Key Insight
Successful clusters combine patient capital with aggressive timelines. Denmark invested in wind R&D for 20 years before cost breakthroughs. Shenzhen built infrastructure in 10 years to attract firms. Silicon Valley tolerated decades of semiconductor losses before PC boom. Clean tech clusters need similar long-term commitment with near-term deployment milestones to maintain momentum.