The interest in becoming globally competitive through network strategies - particularly networks between small and medium-sized firms in local business communities - is high among academic researchers, economic development agencies and growth orientated firms. This book: addresses a leading topic in economic development - clusters and competitiveness; contains chapters by international experts from Sweden, Italy, France, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, UK, US, and Canada; is multidisciplinary, with contributions from business, economics, geography, planning and regional science; and combines theory and empirical evidence to address the limits and drawbacks to clustering, as well as how clusters contribute to competitiveness.