Innovation clusters have been the key concept underlying economic development theory and practice since the concept was re-energized in the 1990s. Worldwide efforts promoting cluster development are supposed to be informed by research on cluster dynamics. The plethora of articles and reports on this globally hyped concept often add to the confusion, calling for a systematic synthesis. In academia, the discussion of innovation clusters is characterized by separate literature dealing with agglomeration, institution, and built-environment. This literature review addresses each of those three dimensions, respectively, by discussing both classic perceptions and potential directions for future research.

This article addresses a gap in the literature; a lack of research on peri-urbanisation in central China. China’s ‘factory of the world’ is gradually, but perceptively, moving from the coastal region to the central region. In the central region, the manufacturing economy is dominantly found in peri-urban areas, replicating the coastal pattern. Based on a case study of Wuhan’s Dongxihu District, the authors probe characteristics of manufacturing-led central region peri-urbanisation, concluding that current central region peri-urbanisation more closely resembles first phase coastal peri-urbanisation than the more diversified leisure and consumer-oriented peri-urbanisation, such as Disneylands and second homes, emerging in coastal areas. Interior peri-urban areas are closer to their core cities. Accordingly, residential spillover effects from the core city compete for peri-land. Domestic firms are prevalent, given the lower costs of start-up and operations. Shorter distance, more hinterland-oriented migratio...