A quick note to those looking to “build an industry cluster.”
Industry clusters are not formed because a firm received a tax break, or a municipal bond, or a politician’s support. Incentives, by definition, are used to influence otherwise logical, strategic decisions.
Clusters are formed out of necessity.
And necessity is either market-driven or resource-driven.
Market does not just mean end-consumer, just as resource-driven does not just mean capital.
In a secondary position, there are also options for convenience-driven (let’s keep our money where our attention is!), people-driven (we have tons of unemployed construction workers, and no construction!), partner-driven (all these home-shopping networks and catalog websites, limited local products!), or vision-driven (the world should operate differently, let’s start here!) necessities.
But “copy-cat-ism” does not work.
But, Daniel, it worked in Idaho.
Good for them!
Let’s stop filling our head with how great it would be to start an energy cluster, or software cluster, or any other cluster.
Let’s get down to the real work of identifying what unique, distinctive necessity we have. Identify opportunities. And, most of all, reward wins!
Necessity is how you build a cluster. Pass it on.