Click below to skip to a particular chapter
Join state and local policymakers, members of the Obama administration, and leaders from the business, academic, and philanthropic sectors for a conversation about the significance of regional innovation clusters to the future of the American economy.
Hear from CEOs and regional leaders who are leveraging the power of clusters—networks of interconnected, geographically concentrated businesses, and related actors in the same industries—to boost entrepreneurship and job growth. Also learn about new directions in federal policy aimed at tapping the potential of clusters to enhance regional and national economic performance.
8:00—8:45 a.m.
Registration and breakfast
8:45—9:00 a.m.
Welcome and framing of the day
Bruce Katz, Brookings Vice-President and Director, Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings
Derek Douglas, Special Assistant to the President for Urban Affairs, Domestic Policy Council
9:00—9:30 a.m.
Opening keynote
The Honorable Gary Locke, Secretary of Commerce, U.S. Department of Commerce
9:30—10:30 a.m.
Panel discussion: Clusters as job creators
Moderated by:
William Bates, Vice President for Government Affairs, Council on Competitiveness
Panelists:
Albert Green, CEO, Kent Displays
Allison Hooper, Founder, Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery
Ashutosh Misra, Senior Vice President, Ascent Solar Technologies
Helen Greiner, Founder, iRobot
10:30—10:45 a.m.
Break
10:45—11:45 a.m.
Panel discussion: Regional actors strengthening clusters
Moderated by:
Matthew Chase, Executive Director, National Association of Development Organizations
Panelists:
Luis Proenza, President, The University of Akron
Richard Lunak, President and CEO, Innovation Works
Duane Roth, CEO, CONNECT
Betsy Biemann, President, Maine Technology Institute
11:45 a.m.—12:15 p.m.
Break
12:15—12:45 p.m.
Lunch
12:45—1:15 p.m.
Luncheon keynote
Introduction by:
Deborah Wince-Smith, President & CEO, Council on Competitiveness
Keynote:
John Lechleiter, Ph.D. ,Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eli Lilly and Company
1:15—1:45 p.m.
Afternoon framing remarks
Introduction by:
Sarah Rosen-Wartell, Executive Vice President, Center for American Progress
Remarks by:
Jason Furman, Deputy Director, National Economic Council
1:45—2:45 p.m.
Panel discussion: Federal cluster policies and initiatives
Moderated by:
Kate Gordon, Vice-President of Energy Policy, Center for American Progress
Panelists:
Karen Mills, Administrator, Small Business Administration
John Fernandez, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development and Administrator, Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce
Kristina Johnson, Undersecretary for Energy, Department of Energy
Victor Vasquez, Deputy Under Secretary, Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture
2:45—3:15 p.m.
Closing remarks
Introduction by:
Sarah Rosen-Wartell, Executive Vice President, Center for American Progress
Keynote:
The Honorable Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture