Regional Innovation Clusters: Advancing the Next Economy
The Brookings Institution, the Center for American Progress, the Council on Competitiveness, and the National Association of Development Organizations co-hosted an event on innovation clusters on September 23. State and local policymakers, members of the Obama administration, and leaders from the business, academic, and philanthropic sectors discussed the significance of regional innovation clusters to the future of the American economy.
Panelists also included CEOs and regional leaders who are leveraging the power of clusters—networks of interconnected, geographically concentrated businesses, and related actors in the same industries—to boost entrepreneurship and job growth. The discussion explored new directions in federal policy aimed at tapping the potential of clusters to enhance regional and national economic performance.
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 The Honorable Tom Vilsack, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture |
 Derek Douglas, Special Assistant to the President for Urban Affairs |
 Dr. John Lechleiter, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Eli Lilly |
 (Left to right) Matt Chase, President, National Association of Development Organizations; Duane Roth, CEO, CONNECT; Richard Lunak, President and CEO, Innovation Works; Dr. Luis Proenza, President, University of Akron; Betsy Biemann, President, Maine Technology Institute |
Agenda
9:30 AM -- Panel One: Clusters as Job Creators
Moderator: William Bates
Vice President for Government Affairs
Albert Green
CEO, Kent Displays
Helen Greiner
Founder, iRobot
Allison Hooper
Founder, Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery
Ashutosh Misra
Senior Vice President
10:45 AM -- Panel Two: Regional Actors Strengthening Clusters
Moderator: Matthew Chase
Executive Director
Betsy Biemann
President, Maine Technology Institute
Richard Lunak
President and CEO
Luis Prozena
President, The University of Akron
Duane Roth
CEO, CONNECT
12:45 PM -- Luncheon Keynote
Introduction: Deborah Wince-Smith
President and CEO
John Lechleiter
Chairman, President and CEO
1:15 PM -- Afternoon Framing Remarks
Introduction: Sarah Rosen-Wartell
Executive Vice President
Jason Furman
Former Brookings Expert
Professor of the Practice of Economic Policy - Harvard University
Senior Fellow - Peterson Institute for International Economics
8:45 AM -- Welcome and Framing Remarks
Derek Douglas
Vice President for Civic Engagement - The University of Chicago
Former Nonresident Senior Fellow - Metropolitan Policy Program
9:00 AM -- Keynote Address
Gary Locke
U.S. Ambassador to China
1:45 PM -- Panel Three: Federal Cluster Policies and Initiatives
Moderator: Kate Gordon
Vice President of Energy Policy
John Fernandez
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development and Administrator, Economic Development Administration
Kristina Johnson
Undersecretary for Energy
Victor Vasquez
Deputy Under Secretary, Rural Development
2:45 PM -- Closing Keynote
Introduction: Sarah Rosen-Wartell
Executive Vice President
The Honorable Tom Vilsack
Secretary of Agriculture
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