As defined by The Brookings Institution, clusters are "geographic concentrations of interconnected businesses, suppliers, service providers, and associated institutions in a particular sector."

The development of regional innovation clusters is important to diversify Northeast Ohio’s economy in order to:

• Transition from unemployment or underemployment to high-skill jobs

• Create new, higher wage job opportunities

• Develop regional business opportunities that are less susceptible to off-shoring

• Engage and stabilize diverse communities by re-purposing idle assets and human capital

• Manufacture products in region for export to other markets, driving revenue back to the region.