Author(s)

G. L. L. Reniers

Abstract

This paper discusses drivers and partner collaboration characteristics within the Antwerp-Rotterdam chemical cluster, the largest chemical cluster worldwide. A questionnaire was used to assess the characteristics’ impact and to evaluate whether respondents give significantly different scores to comparable influencing factors depending on the type of collaboration (i.e., vertical or horizontal). The survey results show that for decision makers within the AR region both the factors ‘investments needed for collaboration’ and ‘internal stakeholder support’ turn out to be more essential in the case of horizontal collaboration. Also, the ‘fit between the cooperating organizations’ and the ‘innovation potential of the partner’ are deemed to be more cardinal partner characteristics in the case of horizontal collaboration. Since safety cooperation within a chemical cluster is mainly horizontal, strategic multi-plant safety collaboration can be enhanced taking these findings into account, eventually leading to the set up of a cluster safety culture. Keywords: safety collaboration, horizontal collaboration, chemical cluster.

Keywords

safety collaboration, horizontal collaboration, chemical cluster