Introduction

This chapter aims to sum up and draw some conclusions about the sectoral systems studied in the book. The concept of the sectoral system has proven a useful tool in various respects:

• for a descriptive analysis of the differences and similarities in the structure, organization and boundaries of sectors;

• for a full understanding of the differences and similarities in the working, dynamics and transformation of sectors;

• for the identification of the factors affecting innovation and the commercial performance and international competitiveness of firms and countries in the different sectors;

• for the development of new public policy indications.

The chapter presents a brief characterization of the sectors examined in this book (section 1), followed by a discussion of the results concerning the role of the three building blocks – knowledge and technologies, actors and networks, and institutions (section 2) – and of the actual geographical boundaries (section 3) of sectoral systems in Europe. Then the main coevolutionary processes (section 4) are examined. Sectoral systems in services are different from those in manufacturing, and their differences are discussed in section 5. Finally, the international performance of Europe in the six sectors and the factors affecting it (section 6), the policy implications of a sectoral system approach (section 7) and the challenges ahead (section 8) are discussed.

As mentioned in the introduction, in the chapters of this book concerning specific SSIs sectors have been defined broadly: pharmaceuticals, chemicals, telecommunications, software and machine tools.