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Mapping a nation of regional clusters

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

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

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    • 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.

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    • 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.

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  • 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.

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    • 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.

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    • 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?

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    • 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.

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Harvard Business School U.S. Economic Development Administration

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Topics

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

Sources

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  • U.S. Cluster Mapping
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Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Academic Research

Breakthrough Inventions and Migrating Clusters of Innovation

by William R. Kerr, Journal of Urban Economics March 21, 2014

We investigate the speed at which clusters of invention for a technology migrate spatially following breakthrough inventions. We identify breakthrough inventions as the top 1% of US inventions for a technology during 1975–1984 in terms of subsequent citations. Patenting growth is significantly higher in cities and technologies where breakthrough inventions occur after 1984 relative to peer locations that do not experience breakthrough inventions.

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Tools and Technical Documents

The Added Value of the Industry Cluster Approach to Economic Analysis, Strategy Development, and Service Delivery

by Mary Jo Waits, Economic Development Quarterly March 21, 2014

Economic development always has been a moving target. Not surprisingly, there is growing evidence that the shape of economic policy and practice is changing significantly in many American states at the dawn of the 21st century. This new approach has public officials addressing new issues, using new tools, and beginning to experience new types of results. It is called cluster-based economic analysis and strategy development. This article reviews key literature and events that point to a new phase emerging in state economic development.

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Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Tools and Technical Documents

Next-Generation Clusters: Creating Innovation Hubs To Boost Economic Growth

by Anne Lange, Doug Handler, and James Vila, Cisco March 21, 2014

As the world struggles to emerge from economic recession, national, regional, and local governments are seeking new, cost-effective ways to stimulate growth and job creation. One of the most interesting strategies is the development of economic clusters of innovation. Traditionally, these clusters have been defined by specific geographies and colocation. The Cisco® Internet Business Solution Group (IBSG) hypothesizes that with the advent of new communication and collaboration technologies, geography need not be the overriding factor for a successful cluster.

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Economic Policy
Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The Geography of Innovation: The Federal Government and the Growth of Regional Innovation Clusters

by Jonathan Sallet, Ed Paisley, and Justin Masterman, Science Progress March 21, 2014

Innovation is the critical component of long-term economic prosperity, driving productivity growth and (if spread across key sectors of the economy) ensuring broad-based economic growth. Sparking innovation, however, requires capital (which is threatened by the current economic downturn), skilled-labor, scientific and technological advances, and creative collaboration between government and the private sector. Innovation cannot be dictated, but it can be cultivated.

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Tools and Technical Documents

Unlocking Rural Competitiveness: The Role of Regional Clusters

In an era of increasing global competition and urbanization, many rural areas in the United States struggle to maintain their economic vitality and viability. Although there is no single comprehensive measure of economic performance, researchers agree that rural areas of the United States, in general, have historically underperformed urban areas. Typically, per capita income is lower than in metropolitan areas overall, the incidence of poverty is higher, and education levels lag.

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Tools and Technical Documents

Cluster-Based Strategies for Growing State Economies

by National Governors Association and Council on CompetitivenessMarch 21, 2014

Cluster strategies have the potential to accelerate regional economic growth, but only if they are properly understood and applied. This Governor’s Guide examines the changing economic environment in which clusters function, summarizes the lessons learned from recent experience, and offers practical recommendations for cluster initiatives that governors can take to strengthen their states’ economies.

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Economic Policy
Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The New 'Cluster Moment': How Regional Innovation Clusters Can Foster the Next Economy

by Mark Muro and Bruce Katz, Brookings, Metropolitan Policy Program March 21, 2014

Twenty years after Harvard Business School professor Michael Porter introduced the concept to the policy community and 10 years after its wide state adoption, clusters—geographic concentrations of interconnected firms and supporting or coordinating organizations—have reemerged as a key tool and rubric in Washington and in the nation’s economic regions. 
 

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Cluster
Economic Policy
Tools and Technical Documents

Trends in Tech-based Economic Development: Local, State and Federal Action in 2013

by Rhiannon Skipper, SSTI March 21, 2014

Investing in activities that support the creation and expansion of high-growth companies and jobs is at the forefront of technology-based economic development (TBED). TBED fosters a climate where new and existing companies that develop technology and continuously innovate will thrive. Understanding the trends that are affecting and influencing TBED can help guide investment priorities for practitioners and policymakers across the nation.

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Economic Policy
Tools and Technical Documents

The Role of Transit in Support of High Growth Business Clusters in the U.S.

by Chandler Duncan and Glen Weisbrod, Economic Development Research Group, Inc. and American Public Transportation Association March 21, 2014

There has been significant attention in the transportation research field regarding the extent to which transit investment supports “agglomerations 
economies” – the ability of business firms to realize productivity gains because of greater labor market access. This research study addresses 
this same general issue of business productivity, market access and transit service, but from a different perspective. 

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Cluster

Drive! Moving Tennessee's Automotive Sector Up the Value Chain

by Mark Muro, Scott Andes, Kenan Fikri, Martha Ross, Jessica A. Lee, Neil G. Ruiz and Nick Marchio, Brookings, Metropolitan Policy Program March 21, 2014

Advanced industries like the auto sector—with its significant R&D investment and STEM-worker intensity—are important because they drive regional and national prosperity in the United States. For its part, Tennessee’s auto industry has led the state’s post-recession recovery and has managed to increase its share of North American motor vehicle manufacturing employment since the Recession. However, with fundamental changes in the global auto industry ratcheting up competitive pressures, Tennessee will need to find new ways to compete in the years ahead.

  • Read more about This is a test blog post  →
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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.