Social capital, cooperation and innovation in the energy sector clusters

ABSTRACT

This paper analyses the relationship between the location of companies in specialised environments, social capital, cooperation and firms’ performance in terms of innovation. After calculating the degree to which the Spanish energy sector is agglomerated at the provincial level, the research hypotheses are tested using the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique. The results show a positive and significant relationship between industrial agglomeration in territorial clusters and the firms’ innovative performance, besides the mediating effect of social capital and cooperation in this relationship. It is concluded that business location in specialised environments is of strategic importance for companies, especially in terms of innovation.

KEYWORDS:

• agglomeration
• cluster
• innovation
• social capital
• cooperation

JEL:

• D83
• O31
• R12
• R30

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. SABI is an Iberian balance sheet analysis system.

2. Figures for 2019, extracted from the MINECO report 2021 (Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Government of Spain) (www.mincotur.gob.es).