Workshop on Tracking the Dynamics of Network Relations in Industry Clusters
George Washington University
November 7, 2014

An introduction to and assessment of the tools, models, and metrics of network-based cluster analysis. 

Read more

America has lost millions of manufacturing jobs since 1980, which has been a serious economic blow to many U.S. metropolitan areas.

In response, metros have pursued an array of economic development strategies, some aimed at protecting or enhancing their manufacturing base, others at diversifying their local economies and attracting new kinds of industries, particularly service firms. 

The Administration is committed to fostering the development of a clean and energy-efficient economy; that is, a “green” economy. This means encouraging the development of green businesses and green products and services, which in turn will create “green jobs.”

With 38,000 workers at more than 170 companies in 22 million square feet of buildings over 7,000 acres, Research Triangle Park is the largest research park in North America. And RTP isn’t just about its big corporate campuses—it has five buildings devoted to start-up ventures, and 60 percent of its companies have 20 employees or fewer. But today’s entrepreneurs, Mr. Geolas said in an interview, want more-inclusive settings where they can meet with one another, share ideas, find new workers, and just enjoy themselves.

Michael E. Porter launched the new U.S. Cluster Mapping tool on September 29, 2014 in Minneapolis as part of a two-day conference called Mapping the Midwest’s Future, held by the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. The conference hosted over 150 business leaders, policymakers, economic development officials and academics from twelve Midwest states and four Canadian provinces. The Humphrey School of Public Affairs has compiled a full listing of presentations from the conference, with documentation where available.

In keeping with the objectives outlined in its 2012 Technology Innovation Roadmap, EPA aims to encourage technological innovation by supporting the development of clusters focused on environmental technology. This report reviews existing literature on industry clusters by Porter, Smilor, Gibson, Kozmetsky, Phillips, and others to summarize the prerequisites for the successful creation of a technology innovation cluster and promote the practices that will sustain it.

Universities and national labs have the power to drive Illinois’ 21st-century knowledge economy by infusing talent and technology across a spectrum of industries to create new products, companies, and jobs. According to the state’s recently published economic development plan, for every new high-tech position in metro areas, an average of five additional local jobs are created—two in professional fields and three in nonprofessional fields. Given this economic multiplier, fostering research activity within the state is an important priority.

Nearly five years after the Great Recession of 2008, the road to economic recovery has been sluggish nationwide – with employment and economic activity still below levels recorded before the severe recession hit. Of particular concern is that the growth in Maine, along with that of the rest of New England, continues to lag behind even the sluggish growth of the overall U.S. recovery.

The California Employment Development Department's Labor Market Information Division has produced a series of products titled "Regional Economic Analysis Profiles" to help target clusters for investment in the fields of workforce development, economic development, and education in California. The purpose of this report is to help align the state’s workforce institutions and programs around the needs of regional industry clusters.