Networks of knowledge and communication: Innovation in the Calgary wireless cluster

The Calgary wireless cluster is a highly differentiated industry with several local niche market players. Wireless is global, however strong local informal relationships facilitate innovation in the local industry. The main feature of the Calgary cluster is the tightly integrated and highly mobile talent pool inspired by the "entrepreneurial spirit of the West." The talent pool functions as a tightly knit interpersonal network where players are similar in background, education, training, gender and social class (homophilus). This network provides a forum for information and knowledge exchange. Diversity of local industry knowledge is shared widely and new information can be brought into the network via local players with global reach (weak links) which helps drive innovation. The research took place from summer 2001 through to autumn 2003 and is based on seventy interviews with a variety of stakeholders within the cluster.