Research On Shanghai Photonic Industry Cluster From Economic Geography View

Industrial cluster, especially high-tech industrial cluster, is one of the key topics for academic studies. Photonic industry, as one of the sunrise industries and strategic industries in 21st century, has a trend of agglomeration and networking. In recent years, many scholars have a study on the photonic industry cluster from different disciplines such as economics, management, sociology and economic geography. However, there are some limitations in those studies. On the one hand, most scholars from other disciplines did not consider the regional difference enough. On the other hand, the economic geography mainly has a research on photonic industry cluster based on the cases of developed regions. So it is valuable for the author study the photonic cluster in Shanghai from economic geography view.Based on the review about related theories and international experiences in photonic industrial cluster and the investigation and interview of companies, government in Shanghai, the paper gives an analysis on the current status, cluster networks, formation mechanism of photonic cluster of Shanghai. The author considered that the interior collaboration network in the laser industrial cluster is better than the networks in the LED and TFT-LCD industrial cluster. Moreover, the author considers that the external environment and internal mechanism of Shanghai photonic industrial cluster are both immature, so that the cluster is still in the forming stage. According to the problems existed, some policy suggestions were then put forward to the photonic cluster of Shanghai, such as strengthening cooperation among research institute, company and government, improving the service platform.The whole paper is divided into six parts. Firstly, a brief framework was given on the significance, content and the research base. Secondly, the paper has a review on related theories in photonic industrial industry and clusters. Based on the concept and theory of photonic industry and cluster, the author summarizes the characteristics of photonic cluster, and illustrates the global spatial pattern in this field. Thirdly, the paper discusses the main factors such as research institute, capital, related industry, industry association and government affecting the form and development of photonic industrial cluster. Then the author analysis detailed on the development, networks in the cluster and form mechanism of Shanghai photonic industrial cluster. In the last. the author gives some suggestions and makes a few conclusions with this paper.