October 3, 2014

Mapping a nation of regional clusters

The U.S. Cluster Mapping tool (ClusterMapping.us) provides over 50 million open data records on industry clusters and regional business environments to promote economic growth and U.S. competitiveness.  The project is led by Professor Michael Porter through Harvard Business School's Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Economic Development Administration.

October 2, 2014 webinar walkthrough, presented to SelectUSA
Harvard Business School Press Release: Michael Porter Unveils New U.S. Cluster Mapping Tool to Improve Economic Development

MINNEAPOLIS -- Professor Michael Porter launched the new U.S. Cluster Mapping tool on September 29th as part of a two-day conference called Mapping the Midwest's Future, hosted by the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs. The conference hosted over 200 business leaders, policymakers, economic development officials and academics from twelve Midwest states and four Canadian provinces.

In his speech, Professor Porter laid out a cluster-based approach to economic development and growth, focusing on competitiveness and innovation. He emphasized the need for a bottom-up approach led by the private sector. There are many positive examples of clusters helping to drive regional development initiatives in the Midwest, from Milwaukee's Water Council to NorTech, a technology-focused organization that strengthens Northeast Ohio by accelerating regional innovation.   
Learn more
Presentations from the U.S. Cluster Mapping Launch in Minneapolis

Professor Michael Porter delivered a keynote speech at the launch event of the new U.S. Cluster Mapping tool in Minneapolis on September 29th, which focused on U.S. competitiveness and cluster-based economic development, to reshape the approach to economic development in the U.S. based on a deeper understanding of the drivers of competitiveness in the modern global economy.  PDF of PowerPoint Presentation

Professor Mercedes Delgado from Temple University's Fox School of Business and Professor Scott Stern from MIT Sloan School of Management delivered a presentation at the launch event of the new U.S. Cluster Mapping tool in Minneapolis on September 29th, which focused on the underlying research and methodology behind cluster mapping.  PDF of PowerPoint Presentation

Videos and additional presentations from the event will be available next week at clustermapping.us
Minneapolis StarTribune Coverage of the U.S. Cluster Mapping Launch Event: Making the Case for Industry Clusters
 
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. "When this president came in, he and his team saw the limitations on how economic development was done, and that led to the new approach on focusing on regional innovation and regional clusters," Porter said.  Learn more
U.S. Small Business Administration Announces Four New Regional Innovation Cluster Awards
 
WASHINGTON - U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet today announced the SBA's support of four new Regional Innovation Clusters across the country. The awardees, ranging from $500,000 to $550,000, were selected from more than 40 applicants and represent a wide range of geographic areas and industries.  From urban to rural, and clean technology to autonomous systems, these cluster initiatives focus on the most effective approaches to linking small businesses to regional networks of leading research, commercialization tools and financing.  Learn more
NorTech Announces 2014 Innovation Award Recipients
 
The NorTech Innovation Awards highlight Northeast Ohio's technology and innovation assets by celebrating individuals and organizations that are accelerating the pace of innovation in the region. Established in 2000, the event recognizes new technologies, products and innovative business solutions that have transformed companies and research institutions, revitalized the region's economy and created new opportunities for Northeast Ohioans of all backgrounds.  Learn more
Interested in attending an event, or wish to recommend one? Contact us! 

Northeast

October 7-8, Boston, MA: Innovation and the City (District Hall) Register

November 3-4, Boston, MA:  
AURP 2014 Northeast Regional Meeting (Association of University Research Parks; Boston University BioSquare)  Register
 
Mid-Atlantic

October 16-18, Washington, DC: Global Entrepreneurship Research and Policy conference (The George Washington University Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence)  Register
 

South


November 17-18, Nashville, TN: Global Action Summit (Global Action Platform)  Register

December 2-5, Boca Raton, FL:
 AURP 2014 International Conference: Regionalism for Innovation & Growth (Association of University Research Parks; Research Park at Florida Atlantic University)  Register

Midwest

October 22-24, Dublin, OH: 2014 OEDA Annual Summit (Ohio Economic Development Association) Register

October 27-28, Minneapolis, MN:  
Midwest Innovation Summit (Midwest Cleantech Open)  Register

West

October 12, Portland, OR:
  AUBER 2014 Fall Conference (Association for University Business and Economic Research)  Learn more

October 28-29, Denver, CO:  Industry Growth Forum (National Renewable Energy)  Register

International

November 10-13, Monterrey, Mexico:  17th Annual TCI Global Conference  Learn more

U.S. Department of Commerce $15M Competition for Regional Innovation

On September 4th, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced the launch of the U.S. Economic Development Administration's (EDA) $15 million 2014 Regional Innovation Strategies Program competition to spur innovation capacity-building activities in regions across the nation. Under this program, EDA is soliciting applications for 3 separate funding opportunities, including: the i6 Challenge, science and research park development grants, and cluster grants to support the development of seed capital funds. The deadline for applications is November 3, 2014.  Learn more | Apply

Partners: MIT Sloan School of Management - Temple University, Fox School of Business - Phase2 Technology
Massachusetts Technology Collaborative - 
University of Minnesota, Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Oregon Business Council - New Carolina - STATS America - Regional Innovation Acceleration Network