Economics and Business Review

This paper argues that provision of industrial commons (IC), might be considered
as a crucial factor of a cluster’s attractiveness in digital transformation, e.g. in
Industry 4.0 (I4.0) time. By drawing on the qualitative case study method of Hamburg
Aviation cluster (HAv), it aims at exploring the nature of IC in the leading German
I4.0 cluster. Proximity emerges, even if sometimes not explicitly, as the recurring topic
facilitating the provision of IC, along with the advancement of I4.0. As Industry 4.0
stipulates much uncertainty, the closeness featuring in clusters, seems to bring various
benefits, which can help address challenges associated with I4.0, and faced mainly by
small and medium firms (SMEs). The vicinity to key actors and the gains of networking,
reflect the importance of (un)articulated proximity