Who Are We, and Do We Need to Change? Cluster Identity and Life Cycle

S<sc>taber</sc> U. and S<sc>autter</sc> B. Who are we, and do we need to change? Cluster identity and life cycle, <italic>Regional Studies</italic>. Collective identity is a frequently mentioned but understudied intangible feature of clusters, highlighting what is central, distinctive, and enduring about the character of clusters as they move through the stages in their life cycle. This study examines identity as a socially constructed phenomenon containing both enduring and mutable attributes, which allows clusters to adjust to environmental change. The analysis of historical data on two long-lived clusters in South West Germany suggests that the dynamic mix of persistent and flexible identity elements becomes most visible during periods of cluster upheaval, particularly at a time when stagnant and declining clusters attempt to revitalize.