Table 1 Interviewees list

• PAM founder—serial entrepreneur in the field of biotech, formerly an academic, currently manages, and runs the “Park of Active Molecules” (PAM)

• Head of University department—academic in the field of pharmaceutical chemistry at the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute)

• Chairman of the cluster Board of Directors—a “Big Pharma” representative (holds a top management position at the Kaluga subsidiary of AstraZeneca)

• Cluster organization representative—Executive director of “Kaluga Pharmaceutical Cluster” (KFK) association

• Regional government official—Director General at the “Agency for innovative development—Centre for cluster development of the Kaluga region”

• High-tech SME owner-manager—entrepreneur (business process management, digitalization for manufacturing companies), formerly an academic

• Academic, high-tech entrepreneur—lecturer, researcher at Kazan National Research Technical University, runs an R&D services company

• Chairman of the cluster HR committee—representative of one of the cluster’s “anchor” companies (Ford-Sollers), HR director

• Cluster organization representative 1—Vice-president of “Innokam” association

• Cluster organization representative 2—Head of the Innovation Development Service at “Innokam”

• Regional government official—Director at the “Centre for Cluster Development of the Tatarstan Republic”