Un paso al frente: el sector metalmecánico asturiano ante la reconversión industrial, 1978-2000

Abstract

This paper analyzes the evolution of the Asturian metal-mechanic network between the industrial restructuring and the turn of the millennium, showing a revisited view of Asturias as a deindustrialized territory. The agglomeration of processing activities around mining and metallurgy since the mid-19th century triggered the progressive generation of external economies, which ended up generating a clustered environment that would allow the metal-mechanic industry to overcome the downturn of the big hegemonic sectors and to reorient its activity beyond its traditional markets. The leap was taken by an emerging set of internationally focused companies, specialized in high-tech projects. Moreover, this approach could represent a new line of research in the study of other steel-producing regions in decline, through the analysis of long-term dynamics that lead to the development of activities related to Industry 4.0.