Internationalization strategies: from local clusters to extended networks

Abstract

The paper focuses on internationalization strategies to be adopted by industrial district firms facing the deep change related to the world wide market opening process. Critical factors and threats are pointed out, in order to identify developing strategies that can enforce a co-ordination role of districts firms within internationalized supply chains and distribution channels. Moreover, policy intervention areas ere identified to address firms’ choices towards consistent directions in order to strengthen their competitiveness and the overall efficiency of the local system, both in its internal and external networks.internationalization, strategies, industrial districts, SMEs