Clustering is a current trend in economic-development planning and the backbone of some of the world’s foremost well-functioning economies. Developing effective cluster policies represent a major shift from traditional economic policy development. This session focuses specifically on the definition and identification of industry clusters, the factors driving cluster development, and cluster policy and application in emerging markets. 

KEY ISSUES 

1. What defines a favorable environment?

2. What are the relationships between industrial clusters, development of SMEs and well-functioning economies?

3. What industrial-clustering policies have produced great economic and social benefits for their respective nations?

4. How did such policies enable linkages between Industry, University and Research Institutes?

5. What are the role of incubators in promoting cluster innovation and SME memberships?

6. Can best practices in cluster policies in areas such as informatics, engineering & electronics, peer-to-peer learning, genetic engineering and supply chain be replicated across emerging regions?