Skip to main content
Home

Mapping a nation of regional clusters

  • About
    • I am an Economic Developer

      Are you trying to determine a strategy for your organization, region, or industry? Then follow our Economic Developer path.

      Follow Economic Developer Path
    • I am a Policymaker

      Are you hoping to effect change in the economic landscape through federal, state, or local government policy choices? Then follow our Policymaker path.

      Follow Policymaker Path
    • I am an Academic or Researcher

      Are you interested in learning more about clusters and conducting action-oriented research? Then follow our Academic or Researcher path.

      Follow Academic or Researcher Path
    • I am in the Private Sector

      Are you looking into the economic competitiveness of a region through the lens of the private sector? Then follow our Private Sector path.

      Follow Private Sector Path
  • Cluster
    • Data by Cluster

      A cluster is a regional concentration of related industries that arise out of the various types of linkages or externalities that span across industries in a particular location. The U.S. Benchmark Cluster Definitions are designed to enable systemic comparison across regions. View and compare clusters across the U.S.

      View Data by Cluster
    • Frequently Asked Questions

      How do I compare different clusters on a national level?

      How do I find my region’s strongest cluster(s)?

      How do I identify which cluster my industry belongs in?

      How do I compare local vs traded clusters?

      Are there overlaps between the clusters?

  • Region
    • Data by Region

      A region is broadly defined as a county, economic area (EA), metro/micropolitan statistical area (MSA), or state. The U.S. Benchmark Cluster Definitions use the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis defined economic areas. View and compare regions across the U.S.

      View Data by Region
    • Frequently Asked Questions

      How do I compare different regions?

      How do I build a region to meet my needs?

      How is my region doing, especially in comparison to its peer regions?

      How do I find subregions related to my region?

      How do I use the map view to visualize economic data across the country?

  • Community
    • Organizations

      View Organizations
    • Blog

      View Blog
    • Resources

      View Resources
    • Community

      The Community of Practice enables practitioners to share Resources, post Blogs, and find partner Organizations. View and contribute content of interest to the cluster based economic development community.

      View Community Page

Search form


  • Register
  • or
  • Sign in
Harvard Business School U.S. Economic Development Administration

Resources

Add Organization
Add Blog Post
Add Resource
Compare Region

Topics

  • All Topics
  • Cluster
  • Regional Economy
  • Economic Policy
  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation
  • Academic Research
  • Tools and Technical Documents

Sources

  • All Sources
  • U.S. Cluster Mapping
  • Other Sources

Clusters of Innovation Initiative: Research Triangle

by Michael E. Porter, Council on Competitiveness, Monitor Group, and ontheFRONTIER, Clusters of Innovation Initiative November 15, 2013

This report on the Research Triangle region of North Carolina is the fourth of five regional reports completed as part of the Clusters of Innovation Initiative, a private-led collaboration aiming to inform key decision makers across the U.S. on the value of cluster-based regional economic competitiveness. This project is unique in its coverage of five regions and 15 individual clusters using a common methodology, individually and comparatively.

The Research Triangle was chosen because of the way it emerged from its dependence on tobacco and textiles over four decades ago to become one of the country's fastest growing, diverse economic regions. Significant investment in research and development, important formal and informal connecting institutions between industry and academia and government, the recruitment of major corporations, and the vision, entrepreneurial spirit, and concerted action of business and government leaders enabled the Research Triangle to develop this economic diversity and attain competitive positions in advanced industry clusters such as information technology, communications equipment, and pharmaceutical/biotechnology.

PDF icon Clusters_of_Innovation_Initiative-_Research_Triangle_in_NC.pdf
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Regional Economy
Source: 
U.S. Cluster Mapping
Regions: 
North Carolina ,
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC ,
Raleigh-Cary, NC ,
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ,
Dunn, NC
Author: 
Michael E. Porter, Council on Competitiveness, Monitor Group, and ontheFRONTIER
Publication/Specific Source: 
Clusters of Innovation Initiative
  • Share
  • Affiliated Sites
  • Contact Us |
  • Partners |
  • Privacy Policy |
  • Terms of Use
Reporting Copyright Infringment

Copyright © 2018 President and Fellows of Harvard College.
All rights reserved.

The U.S. Cluster Mapping Project is led by Professor Michael E. Porter at the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, Harvard Business School.

This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration.