The progress and prospect of world semiconductor cluster research:

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-9479.2025.07.20230901

Abstract

Abstract:

This study utilized Bibliometric analysis method and conducts co-word analysis and keyword cluster analysis via Citespace V, by collecting literature data of semiconductor clusters from Web of Science database between 1994 to 2024. Though the review of extensive and relevant literature, this paper comprehensively revisited and commented on the location distribution, organizational structure, enterprise pattern, influencing mechanism and cluster network of semiconductor clusters in typical countries / regions worldwide. Of particular concern was the semiconductor cluster pathways of U.S., Japan, South Korea, China's Taiwan and Singapore. The paper concludes that: ① California School focuses more on the geographic agglomeration and highly localized network of small and medium-sized startups and spin-offs in Silicon Valley, comparatively, New industry cluster School puts more emphasis on the hierarchical organization of large vertically integrated semiconductor manufacturers in the U.S. and Japan, where it forms three cluster types: pure agglomeration, industrial complex and social network. ② As for divergent pathways, plenty of small-sized and specialized local companies reach ascendancy in China's Taiwan semiconductor, supporting power of government role, i.e., public sector, government research institution and science-base industrial park. Whereas semiconductor of Japan and South Korea pay more attention to the private sector, led by a few large diversified and dramatically monopolistic Zaibatsu / Chaebol. House System and Integrated Devices manufacturing dominate the semiconductor market while small medium-sized enterprises are relatively under-developed. Singapore establishes export-oriented semiconductor clusters through the technological leverage as the influx of multinationals locally. Moreover, the paper critically suggests big picture and the long arc of the future in China's semiconductor cluster, with a turning focus on semiconductors clusters in different value production segments, inter-cluster linkages from global value chain perspective, as well as the reconfiguration of semiconductor clusters in the context of latest geopolitical challenges and U.S.-China rivalry.

Key words: semiconductor industry, industrial clusters, organizational pattern, state, influencing mechanism

摘要：

基于Web of Science中1994—2024年经济地理学领域半导体产业集群研究文献数据，采用Citespace V软件文献计量分析法对相关文献资料进行回顾，梳理和评述了世界典型国家/地区的半导体集群的区位分布、组织结构、企业形态、影响机制及集群网络，厘清了美国、日本、韩国、中国台湾、新加坡的半导体产业集群发展路径。研究发现：①加州学派更关注硅谷中小初创企业的地理集聚和高度本地化网络，新产业集群研究更加强调美日大型垂直集成半导体厂商的层级组织，形成了纯集聚型、产业综合体型和社会网络型集群三种集群模式。②中国台湾半导体产业以大量小规模、专业化的公司为主导，且严重依赖政府公共部门、GRI、科技园区的力量；日韩更注重私营部门，由少数大型多元化和生产高度垄断的财团/财阀主导，大型家族集团企业所塑造的系统厂商与IDM企业占核心，而中小规模企业相对不发达；新加坡通过跨国公司的技术杠杆作用建立了外向型半导体集群。最后，本文从半导体价值链细分环节集群、全球价值链中集群间联系以及地缘政治危机下的半导体集群重组视角，提出未来研究展望。

关键词: 半导体产业, 产业集群, 组织模式, 国家, 影响机制

Qing LIU, Desheng XUE, Quan GAO. The progress and prospect of world semiconductor cluster research:[J]. World Regional Studies, 2025, 34(7): 69-82.

刘清, 薛德升, 高权. 世界半导体产业集群的研究进展与展望[J]. 世界地理研究, 2025, 34(7): 69-82.

Figures/Tables 5

Fig. 1 Citespace of literature research on semiconductors clusters

Fig. 2 Firm patterns in semiconductor industry cluster of Silicon Valley

Fig. 3 Hierarchy structure in the large-scale integrated semiconductor manufacturers of U.S. and Japan

Fig. 4 The supporting mechanism of Taiwan authorities and other related public sectors on TSI

Fig.5 The pathways of Japanese and South Korean semiconductor depended on large-scale private sectors

References 36

[1]	彼得·迪肯,著.刘卫东,译.全球性转变:重塑21世纪的全球经济地图.北京:商务印书馆, 2007.
	DICKEN P. Global Shift: Reshaping the Global Economic Map in the 21st Century. Translated by LIU W. Beijing: The Commercial Press, 2007.
[2]	苗长虹, 魏野华, 吕拉昌. 新经济地理学. 北京: 科学出版社, 2011.
	MIAO C, WEI Y, LYU L. New Economic Geographies. Beijing: China Science Publishing and Media Ltd, 2011.
[3]	王洪海. 世界ICT产业及集群发展研究. 上海: 华东师范大学, 2005.
	WANG H. A preliminary study on the development of the ICT industry and its clusters in the world. Shanghai: East China Normal University, 2005.
[4]	周灿, 曾刚. 经济地理学视角下产业集群研究进展与展望. 经济地理, 2018, 38(1): 11-19.
	ZHOU C, ZENG G. Progress and prospect of international research on industrial cluster: A perspective from economic geography. Economic Geography, 2018, 38(1): 11-19.
[5]	曾晓丽. 加拿大ICT创新网络研究. 武汉: 华中科技大学, 2011.
	ZENG X. A study on the ICT innovation networks on Canada. Wuhan: Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 2011.
[6]	DENNIS W, LIEFNER L, MIAO C. Network configurations and R&D activities of the ICT industry in Suzhou Municipality, China. Geoforum, 2011, 42(6): 484-495.
[7]	赵蕾,韦素琼,游小珺. 基于SNA的全球电子信息制造业贸易网络演化特征及机理研究. 世界地理研究,2021,30 (4): 708-720.
	ZHAO L, WEI S, YOU X. Evolution and its mechanism of global trade network for electronic information manufacturing industry based on SNA. World Regional Studies, 2021, 30(4): 708-720.
[8]	李光勤, 金玉萍, 郭细根. 中国ICT对外贸易的时空格局及其演变特征. 世界地理研究, 2022, 31(1): 29-40.
	LI G, JIN Y, GUO X. The temporal and spatial pattern of China's ICT foreign trade and its evolution characteristics. World Regional Studies, 2022, 31(1): 29-40.
[9]	BATHELT H, MALMBERG A, MASKELL P. Clusters and knowledge: Local buzz, global pipelines and the process of knowledge creation. Progress in Human Geography, 2002, 28(1): 31-56.
[10]	张云伟. 跨界产业集群之间合作网络研究: 以张江与新竹产业为例. 上海: 华东师范大学, 2013.
	ZHANG Y. The study on cross-border network between industrial clusters.Shanghai: East China Normal University, 2013.
[11]	余盛. 芯片战争. 武汉: 华中科技大学出版社, 2022.
	YU S. Chip War. Wuhan: Huazhong University of Science & Technology Press, 2022.
[12]	克里斯·米勒,著. 蔡树军,译. 芯片战争:世界最关键技术的争夺战. 杭州:浙江人民出版社, 2023.
	CRIS M. Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology. Translated by CAI S. Hangzhou: Zhejiang People's Publishing House, 2023.
[13]	段德忠, 杜德斌, 张杨. 中美产业技术创新能力比较研究——以装备制造业和信息通信产业为例.世界地理研究 2019, 28(4): 24-34.
	DUAN D, DU D, ZHANG Y. Comparative research of industrial technology innovation capability between China and the United States.World Regional Studies, 2019, 28(4): 24-34.
[14]	吴聘奇. 中国台湾省IC产业的发展模式与空间扩散研究.上海: 华东师范大学, 2008.
	WU P. The study on the development pattern and spatial diffusion of IC industry in Taiwan. Shanghai: East China Normal University, 2008.
[15]	WONGLIMPIYARAT J. The dynamic economic engine at Silicon Valley and US Government programme in financing innovations Technovation, 2006, 26(9):1081-1089.
[16]	HARRISON B. Concentrated economic power and Silicon Valley. Environment and Planning A, 1994, 26: 307-328.
[17]	ZHANG J.High-tech Start-ups and Industry Dynamics in Silicon Valley.San Francisco:Public Policy Institute of California, 2003.
[18]	SAXENIAN A.Regional Advantage: Culture and Competition in Silicon Valley and Route 128.Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1994.
[19]	MOORE G, DAVIS K. Learning the Silicon Valley Way. In T. Bresnahan & A. Gambardella (Eds.), Building High-Tech Clusters: Silicon Valley and Beyond. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004.
[20]	METHÉ D T. Technology, Transaction Costs, and the Diffusion of Innovation: The Evolution of the United States and Japanese Dram Industries. Irvine: University of California, 1985.
[21]	LÉCUYER C. Making Silicon Valley: Innovation and the Growth of High Tech.New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007.
[22]	ADAMS S. Stanford and Silicon Valley: Lessons on becoming a high-tech region.California Management Review, 2005, 48: 29-51.
[23]	ETZKOWITZ H, GULBRANDSEN M, LEVITT J. Public Venture Capital: Government Funding Sources for Technology Entrepreneurs. New York: Harcourt Professional Publishing, 2000.
[24]	McCANN P, ARITA T. Clusters and regional development: Some cautionary observations from the semiconductor industry. Information Economics and Policy, 2006, 18: 157-180.
[25]	ARITA T, FUJITA M. Local agglomeration and global networks in the semiconductor industry: A comparative study of US and Japanese Firms. Review of Urban and Regional Development Studies, 2001, 13(2): 85-109.
[26]	ARITA T, MCCANN P. The spatial and hierarchical organization of Japanese and US multinational semiconductor firms. Journal of International Management, 2002, 8(1): 121-139.
[27]	YOKURA Y. Regional Innovation and Networks in Japan. Singapore: Springer Singapore, 2021.
[28]	LEE K, YOON M. International, intra-national and inter-firm knowledge diffusion and technological catch-up: The USA, Japan, Korea and Chinese Taiwan in the memory chip industry. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 2010, 22(5): 553-570.
[29]	LIU C. Government's role in developing a high-tech industry: The case of Taiwan's semiconductor industry. Technovation, 1993, 13(5): 299-309.
[30]	MATHEWS J. A silicon valley of the East: Creating Taiwan's semiconductor industry. California Management Review, 1997, 39(4): 26-54.
[31]	HU M-C. Evolution of knowledge creation and diffusion: The revisit of Taiwan's Hsinchu Science Park. Scientometrics. 2011, 88: 949-977.
[32]	HONGWU, SAM, OUYANG. Agency problem, institutions, and technology policy: Explaining Taiwan's semiconductor industry development. Research Policy, 2006, 35:1313-1328.
[33]	MAHLICH J, PASCHA W. Korean Science and Technology in an International Perspective. Heidelberg: Physica Heidelberg, 2012.
[34]	CHON S. Destroying the myth of vertical integration in the Japanese electronics industry: Restructuring in the semiconductor manufacturing equipment industry. Regional Studies, 1997,31(1): 25-39.
[35]	OKADA Y. Struggles for Survival. Tokyo: Springer Tokyo, 2006.
[36]	MATHEWS J. A Silicon Island of the East: Creating a Semiconductor Industry in Singapore. California Management Review, 1999, 41(2): 55-78.