Research-Intensive Clusters (RICs) are groups of research-oriented organizations located in the same geographical area. These groups may be informally designated, or may have some formal association. Member-organizations are often universities, businesses, and non-profit research institutes. [1]

Closely-related concepts include research associations (in general), research parks, 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 area, and are not sharing the same exact location. RICs differ from economic clusters because they focus on more research than on economic development, 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 on the goal of improving economic development (regardless of research-intensity) - usually by providing services to technology companies. Business parks provide infrastructure/facilities to businesses, again regardless whether or not the businesses are doing any research there.

List of research-intensive clusters

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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 Neatherlands, 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

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  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
  • Phillip Raines. "Developing Cluster Policies in Seven European Regions" European Policies Research Center, University of Strathclyde; December 2000.
  • Philip Cooke. "Life Sciences Clusters and Regional Science Policy." Urban Studies, Vol. 41, Nos 5/6, 1113–1131, May 2004.