Understanding Local Networks and Their Links to Competitiveness: Global competitiveness and local networks - a review of the literature, Peter Brown and Rod B. McNaughton; Clusters, industrial districts and competitiveness, Frank McDonald and Giovanna Vertova; Networks and proximity - theory and evidence from the car and telecommunications industries, Anastassios Gentzoglanis; Region knowledge and competitiveness, Sean B. O'Hagan and Milford B. Green. Innovation in Local Networks: Spatially binding linkages in manufacturing product chains, Edward J. Feser and Stuart H. Sweeney; Skills networks and local dynamics, Patrick Burlat and Sophie Peillon; Birthing biotech - agglomerations in San Diego and Atlanta, Susan Walcott; Innovation networks in reconversion regions - the case of Styria, Franz Todtling, Michaela Trippl and Hubert Bratl. The Constraints of Local Networks: Limits of local networks - use of local and external knowledge in technological adaptation in the Seto Ceramics industry, Hiro Izushi; Lean and its limits - the Toyota production system in Chukyo and Northern Kyushu, Japan, David W. Edgington; Local and global networks in the economics of SMEs - is proximity the only thing that matters?, Mario A. Maggioni and Alberto Bramanti; The spatial configuration of inter-firm networks in producer service agglomerations, Neil Coe and Alan Townsend. Contexts of Network Strategies: Rural entrepreneurs - using personal networks as a business strategy, Mae Deans; Developing and co-ordinating regional networks for international competitiveness - the case of Queensland agribusiness exports, Sheelagh Matear, Brett Tucker, Andrew McCarroll and Les Brown; Integration in the multinational corporation - the problem of subsidiary embeddedness, Ulf Andersson and Mats Forsgren.