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Mapping a nation of regional clusters

Harvard Business School U.S. Economic Development Administration
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  • 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?

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    Are there overlaps between the clusters?

  • 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?

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

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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.

    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
  • 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?

  • 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?

  • 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
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Harvard Business School U.S. Economic Development Administration

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  3. Nelson Mail: Clusters help rural business to blossom

Nelson Mail: Clusters help rural business to blossom

by cmp.admin Wed, 10/29/2014 - 15:03

Ifor Ffowcs-Williams, Nelson Mail -- The evidence on economic development from throughout the world is quite clear: regions that are home to dynamic clusters and companies that are rooted in such clusters (such as Silicon Valley, home to Apple, Adobe, Cisco, Facebook, eBay, Google, Yahoo, YouTube and 7000 other firms) do better. One cluster I have visited is in Reykjavik, Iceland, a city familiar to many involved in Nelson's fishing industry. I have visited Hampidjan, whose New Zealand operations are based in Nelson, and Marel, the world's leading manufacturer of portion control machinery. Equipment from both Icelandic firms is on many Nelson trawlers. But Reykjavik is not resting on its laurels.

There is an Iceland Ocean Cluster initiative with a broad development agenda, supporting 60 high-growth firms which service and add value to their fishing resource. Evolving clusters such as Silicon Valley and Reykjavik provide economic stability to their region. More than 1000 clustering initiatives are under way throughout Europe, initiatives that bring together firms, public agencies, training and research and development organisations. A strong economy in the global environment is no longer a little of everything - rather a number of deep specialisations with clusters of related firms and support organisations.

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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.