The paper is structured as follows. Section 1 introduces learning as a process of change in cognitive structure, and considers the learning model of Nooteboom (2000). Section 2 discusses the genesis of Italianate industrial districts, analysing the role of social capital in this regard and considering their innovation performance. Section 3 addresses the importance of dissimilar regional clustering processes for learning, focusing on a case of locked-in cluster development. Section 4 considers the impact of various regional clustering and networking processes in the light of Nootebooms learning models. Section 5 presents some conclusions.