Data Spotlight: EMSI paper on innovation clusters

EMSI economists have completed a new study titled “Identification of Knowledge and Innovation Clusters: A GIS Application of Concentration, Co-Existence, and Correlation.” The paper, which was presented at the Pacific Northwest Regional Economic Conference, identifies regions with a high level of high-tech industry clustering, human capital, and innovation.

These regional “knowledge clusters” were identified using several data elements:

  • High-tech industry and industry clusters
  • High-knowledge occupation clusters
  • College degree attainment
  • Patent generation
  • Relative density of higher education institutions

After condensing all this information in to a single “innovation index,” the authors plotted a map of the hottest innovation zones in the U.S.

Download the draft paper (PDF): PNREC 2008 Paper - Knowledge and Innovation Clusters