Towards a competence theory of the region

This paper argues the case for extending the competence theoryof the firm, or more generally the competence perspective, toanalysis of the region. The relevance of the perspective followsfrom the characterisation of productive systems such as firmsand regions as ensembles of competences that emerge from, butare not reducible to social interaction. Attention is drawnto an identifiable (although unacknowledged) convergence ofideas in the recent regional literature, arguing that theseideas are best re-conceptualised in terms of regional competences.The cluster of high-technology firms in the Cambridge regionof the UK is briefly referred to in order to illustrate themain ideas of the paper.