Research-Intensive Clusters

Research-Intensive Clusters (RICs) are regions with a high density of research-oriented organizations. These regions may be informally designated, or may be represented by a formal association. Member-organizations are often universities, businesses, and non-profit research institutes.[1]

Closely related concepts include research associations (in general), research parks, technology clusters, and economic clusters. RICs differ from generic research associations in that the member organizations must be geographically close to one another. RICs differ from research parks in that the member organizations are in separate locations within a geographical region, and are not sharing the same exact location. RICs differ from technology and economic clusters because they focus on more research rather than on economic development per se, though for-profit businesses may certainly be members of both types of groups.[1]

Other similar concepts include technology alliances and business parks. Technology alliances focus economic development, often regardless of research-intensity or geographic density. Business parks provide infrastructure/facilities to businesses, but there is no requirement for research-intensity and all the member organizations share facilities in exactly the same location.

Contents

List of research-intensive clusters

Name Location Nation Anchor Universities/Institutes
(or Companies)
315 Research Corridor Columbus, OH U.S. Ohio State University, Battelle Institute, etc.
Edinburgh Science Triangle Edinburgh U.K. Alba Innovation Center, Biocampus, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh Technopole, Heriot-Watt Research Park, Pentlands Science Park, Roslin BioCentre
Eindhoven-Leuven-Aachen triangle (ELAt)[1] Eindhoven-Leuven-Aachen Netherlands, Belgium, Germany (many)
Golden Triangle (UK Bioclusters)[1] Oxford, London and Cambridge U.K. (many)
Innovation Cresent Atlanta, GA and Athens, GA U.S. Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, University of Georgia, etc.
Medicon Valley Öresund Region Denmark and Sweden University of Copenhagen, Lund University, etc.
Michigan Life Sciences Corridor Michigan U.S. Michigan State University, Wayne State University, University of Michigan, Van Andel Institute
OstWestfalenLippe Maschinenbau[1] East Westphalia Germany (many)
Oklahoma Research Corridor Oklahoma U.S. University of Oklahoma (OU), OU Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma State University (OSU), University of Tulsa (TU)
(Oulu Region)[1] Oulu Finland University of Oulu, Technopolis Plc
Red River Valley Research Corridor North Dakota U.S. North Dakota State University (NDSU) and University of North Dakota (UND)
Research Triangle Raleigh-Durham-Cary-Chapel Hill, North Carolina U.S. North Carolina State University, Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Salzburg Wood Cluster[1] Salzburg Austria (many)
Silicon Fen (or the Cambridge Cluster)[1] Cambridge U.K. University of Cambridge
Silicon Valley southern San Francisco Bay Area U.S. (many)
Styrian Autocluster[1] Styria Austria AVL List, Magna Steyr, Lear Corporation, Johnson Controls, etc.
University Research Corridor Michigan U.S. Michigan State University, Wayne State University, University of Michigan

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Christian Saublens. "Regional Research Intensive Clusters and Science Parks" report prepared for the European Commission, September 2007. http://ec.europa.eu/research/regions/pdf/sc_park.pdf