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Mapping a nation of regional clusters

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    • I am an Economic Developer

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

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    • 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.

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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.

      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

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    • Blog

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    • Resources

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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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  1. Blogs
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Transatlantic cluster cooperation kicks off with fruitful U.S. - EU exchange

by StuartMVG December 16, 2015

Christophe Guichard and Tshanda Kalombo - From 17 to 19 November 2015, 77 national and regional cluster policy-makers, experts and researchers from both the United States and the European Union gathered in Boston and Washington for a workshop to exchange experiences and best practices on cluster mapping, cluster portals and cluster-based economic development policies.

Read the full report here

  • StuartMVG's blog
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Site News

U.S. Cluster Mapping Portal Announces Soft Launch of Regional Comparison Tool

by cmp.admin January 8, 2015

The U.S. Cluster Mapping Portal has soft-launched its Region Comparison Tool, which will allow users to directly compare different regions (States, Economic Areas, Metro/Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Counties) across various clusters and indicators. See below for a walkthrough of the process of creating and saving a custom region comparison.

  • cmp.admin's blog
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U.S. Cluster Mapping mention in blog on British digital tech news site

by jzhao October 1, 2014

Saleha Riaaz, Digital by Default -- techUK has published its manifesto titled ‘Securing our Digital Future: the techUK manifesto for growth and jobs 2015-2020, where it urges politicians and policy-makers to recognise the critical significance of the global digital revolution. Here is our pick of the five most important recommendations in the manifesto.

  • jzhao's blog
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Minneapolis StarTribune Blog: Harvard prof says economy "disturbing," but not because of recession: 5 takeaways

by jzhao October 1, 2014

Adam Belz -- Michael Porter was in the Twin Cities on Monday talking about regional clusters, American stagnation and the country's failed economic development efforts. He was helping roll out Cluster Mapping, which he, the U.S. Department of Commerce and many others hope will be a tool for better economic development policy. For the purposes of this blog, here are five takeaways from Porter's presentation, and from the data:

1.  Most Americans are struggling in the economy and it's not because of the recession.

  • jzhao's blog
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Minneapolis StarTribune: Making the case for industry clusters

by jzhao October 1, 2014

Adam Belz -- Economic development efforts in the U.S. have typically focused on cutting taxes and regulation, or giving incentives to individual companies. None of this works, according to Michael Porter, a strategist at Harvard Business School who spoke Monday at the University of Minnesota. What drives high-wage job growth, higher patenting rates and economic resiliency is industry clusters, Porter said, and government should be investing in them by helping to launch training initiatives, for instance.

  • jzhao's blog
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Harvard’s Michael Porter Unveils New Tool to Improve Economic Development

by jzhao September 29, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS—Michael E. Porter, Harvard’s Bishop William Lawrence University Professor, based at Harvard Business School, launched the new U.S. Cluster Mapping tool this morning in Minneapolis as part of a two-day conference called Mapping the Midwest’s Future and held by the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.

  • jzhao's blog
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Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter to Launch New U.S. Cluster Mapping Tool

by jzhao September 17, 2014

A unique new tool based on pathbreaking research led by Michael E. Porter, Harvard’s Bishop William Lawrence University Professor, based at Harvard Business School, has been created to provide detailed data on the presence of “clusters” -- regional concentrations of related industries – and the profiles of regional economies throughout the United States.

  • jzhao's blog
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RENACER: Inclusive Cluster Sustainable Development Program

by RENACER September 9, 2014

The RENACER program and framework consists of highly customizable and practical training programs, prepared and delivered by the specialized institutions and individual stakeholders collaborating with the program, which will:

  • RENACER's blog
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Labor Market Information Institute Training on U.S. Cluster Mapping held on July 29, 2014 in Sacramento, CA

by jzhao August 8, 2014

On July 29 and 30, 2014, the LMI Institute held its latest training session in Sacramento, CA. The training covered two different economic analysis topics: Cluster Mapping and the Basics of Economic Impact Analysis. Over twenty participants spent two days learning about these topics through a variety of presentations, group exercises and other interactive activities. On July 29th, Sarah Jane Maxted and Jenny Zhao of Harvard Business School instructed participants about the U.S.

  • jzhao's blog
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National Economy and Policy ,
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Forbes Magazine: EDA Defines Economic Development

by jzhao August 7, 2014

The homepage of EDA—America’s lead agency on economic development—was recently updated with a definition of “economic development” that might be considered somewhat unorthodox. At first glance, it might not seem strange to the unaided eye.  But notice what it does not say.  It does not say that economic development comes only from constructing roads, bridges, buildings, or other physical infrastructure.  It does not mention the common tactic of recruiting companies to relocate from other regions.

  • jzhao's blog
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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.