New Silicon Valleys or a new species? Commoditization of knowledge work and the rise of knowledge services clusters

► KSCs are geographic concentrations of lower-cost skills serving global demand for increasingly commoditized knowledge services. ► KSCs combine features of, yet are distinct from high-tech clusters and low-cost manufacturing clusters. ► KSCs attract most client projects if service commoditization is medium allowing for sufficient scale economies and distinctiveness. ► Both high specificity and high commoditization lower KSC attractiveness because either global demand decreases or global competition increases. ► KSC growth is further promoted by strong connections with client economies through MNC operations and professional communities.