Proposal for the Creation of a New Economic Cluster in Northeast Ohio:

Adaptive Community

Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies SPIRE Institute December 2011


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I. INTRODUCTION
GEORGETOWN-SPIRE PARTNERSHIP CITY LAB COURSE

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II. CONCEPT
MISSION ADAPTIVE COMMUNITY THE IDEA BEHIND AN ECONOMIC CLUSTER RATIONALE FOR NORTHEAST OHIO

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III. BUSINESS MODEL

PRODUCTS CONTRIBUTORS

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IV. BENEFIT AND RISK ASSESSMENT

CONTRIBUTORS POLITICAL

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V. COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
KEY PUBLICS BRAND POSITIONING MESSAGING STRATEGIES AND TACTICS

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REFERENCES

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Executive Summary
This document presents a proposal for the creation of a new economic cluster for the Northeast Ohio region that will be centered on the adaptive community. This new economic cluster will create new jobs, industries, technologies, and human capital for the benefit of the region and its people. This proposal is the result of student and faculty research and work for the course City Lab, which was offered in the fall 2011 academic semester through a joint partnership between Georgetown Universitys School of Continuing Studies and the SPIRE Institute. This proposal presents the following: an overview of City Lab, a history of economic clusters, rationale for the creation of a new Adaptive Cluster, a business plan, a benefit and risk assessment, and a communications plan. Mission The mission of City Lab is to pioneer the development of a sustainable Northeast Ohio economic cluster that attracts, connects, and creates entities that generate the research, products, and opportunities to serve the stakeholders of the adaptive community. The creation of this new Adaptive Cluster will: Promote Economic Sustainability Develop Human Capital Foster Entrepreneurship Ignite Community Connection

Adaptive Cluster The proposed economic cluster will harness the existing strengths and entities of the Northeast Ohio region and create a set of new products and services. Through the interactions of seven (7) key contributors, four (4) new products and services will be created. The following products will result from the new Adaptive Cluster: Medical Devices

Human Motion and Control Adaptive Sports Equipment Clothing

The expertise and resources from the following contributors will be essential for the creation and success of the new Adaptive Cluster: SPIRE Institute Georgetown University Government Non-Profits Medical Institutions Academic Institutions For-Profit Companies and Manufacturers

Next Steps Following the presentation of this proposal to key stakeholders, there are two necessary steps that should happen in order for the Adaptive Cluster to be created. The first is to convene requisite capital and financial backing from interested parties. A financial model or schema should be created to illustrate and communicate how funding will be used. The second is to create a timeline for the implementation of the Adaptive Cluster that includes the interactions of the products and contributors, communicating the integration of products and services with stakeholders.

I. Introduction
Georgetown-SPIRE Partnership
The Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies (SCS) has partnered with the SPIRE Institute, located in Geneva, Ohio, to provide custom educational programming that answers todays most pressing challenges. In partnership with SPIRE, Georgetown will provide expert resources, faculty and curriculum while SPIRE will provide classroom and training space at its new state-of-the-art facilities. Together, the two institutions will work to advance the shared purpose of unlocking human potential and impacting communities. Georgetowns School of Continuing Studies was originally created in 1956 to develop new academic programming for the adult, non-traditional, and local markets in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, extending the capacity of Georgetowns mission of educational outreach and inclusivity. The School has a record of creating applied academic programs that uphold the standard of excellence that has existed at Georgetown for more than 200 years. The School provides adults and professionals with opportunities to advance both personally and professionally, and fulfills Georgetowns mission of creating women and men in the service of others. The SPIRE Institute is a non-profit organization whose mission is to unlock the full potential of the human spirit via athletics, academics, and service at its state-of-the-art facilities in Geneva, Ohio. SPIRE was founded to be an accessible living-learning laboratory, and is within driving distance of twothirds of the U.S. population. It serves U.S. and International participants including high school, collegiate, and professional athletes; clubs, camps, and teams of various levels; Olympians, Paralympians, Special Olympians, and Wounded Warriors, among others. Its ultimate vision is to lead as a one-of-akind non-profit in order to cultivate character and produce good citizens who know how to cooperate, compete, and lead.

City Lab Course

City Lab is a new multidisciplinary course offered through a partnership between Georgetown and SPIRE that brings theory to practice with an educational experience that takes students from the classroom in Washington, D.C. to the SPIRE facilities in Geneva, Ohio, a living learning laboratory. The course offers an opportunity for students to work collaboratively on solving multiple urban 5

challenges facing Northeast Ohio, bringing together the skills and talent from various disciplines and fields, with the ultimate goal of creating a new economic cluster that will impact the region. The inaugural fall 2011 course roster has brought together students and faculty from many SCS programs, including the masters programs in sports industry management, human resources management, public relations & corporate communications, real estate, and technology management, as well as the bachelors and masters programs in liberal studies. The rigorous, multidisciplinary curriculum is pushing the boundaries of applied higher education by creating an entirely new way of coalescing institutions and communities around solving some of the worlds most pressing challenges. Through City Lab students have studied reports on the Northeast Ohio region, read texts on economic clusters and social capital, heard lectures from expert faculty members, and met with community leaders and townspeople from Geneva. Through classroom and field collaboration, as well as market research, the fall 2011 class targeted the adaptive community as a possible segment for creating an engine of economic growth in the Northeast Ohio region. This proposal for the creation of an Adaptive Clustera new economic cluster that will connect existing area industries, coalesce leaders and politicians, and create jobsis the culminating project of the City Lab course and was produced by Georgetown students under the guidance of faculty. Students Students in the fall 2011 City Lab course come from six Georgetown masters programs and one Georgetown undergraduate program, bringing together the talent and skills from across industries and disciplines. Such an academically and professionally diverse roster ensured that the course, as well as this proposal, is inimitable in todays higher education landscapetruly putting theory into practice in an impactful way. The students, under faculty guidance, were the sole creators of this document. The students and their respective academic programs are as follows: Tyrishma A. Allen, Masters in Real Estate Eugenie W. Bostrom, Bachelors in Liberal Studies Chris Carrington, Bachelors in Liberal Studies Carlos P. Casseus, Masters in Technology Management Clarence R. Daniels, Bachelors in Liberal Studies

Mary C. Dixon, Masters in Liberal Studies Tamara Filipovic, Masters in Human Resources Management Emmanuel Isaac Flatto, Bachelors in Liberal Studies Joseph S. Friend, Masters in Real Estate Kelly Holdcraft, Masters in Public Relations & Corporate Comm. Ireene C. Leoncio, Masters in Public Relations & Corporate Comm. Simon A. Manka, Masters in Real Estate Lizette L. Salvador, Masters in Human Resources Management Matthew Scheel, Masters in Real Estate Itiah S. Thomas, Masters in Real Estate Marshall Williams, Masters in Technology Management

Faculty Faculty co-teaching the fall 2011 City Lab course represent myriad industries and academic disciplines, bringing together experts with decades of combined professional and teaching experience. Their expertise and guidance served in the creation of this document. The faculty and their respective credentials are as follow: Albert Calogero Supervising Media Editor/Producer, WUSA-TV, Washington, D.C.; Adjunct Professor, Journalism, University of Maryland Kesha Christoph Special Projects Manager, SPIRE Institute Marty Conway Principal, Way Forward Associates LLC; faculty member, Sports Industry Management masters program, Georgetown University; former business development executive at AOL; former VP marketing for the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles Stuart Cordell Attorney, Warren and Young PLL, Ashtabula, Ohio Bobby Goldwater President, The Goldwater Group; faculty member, Sports Industry Management master's program, Georgetown University

The Hon. William Bill Hudnut, III Principal, Bill Hudnut Consultants, LLC; Senior Fellow Emeritus, Urban Land Institute, Washington, D.C.; former mayor of Chevy Chase, Maryland, 2004-2006; former mayor of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1976-1992; former member of U.S. House of Representatives, Indianas 11th district, 1973-1975 Robert L. Manuel, Ph.D. Associate Provost and Dean, School of Continuing Studies, Georgetown University Christina Roberts Chief of Staff, School of Continuing Studies, Georgetown University

II. Concept
Mission
The mission of City Lab is to pioneer the development of a sustainable Northeast Ohio economic cluster that attracts, connects, and creates entities that generate the research, products, and opportunities to serve the stakeholders of the adaptive community. The creation of this new Adaptive Cluster will: Promote Economic Sustainability Foster synergies with existing and potential entities to create a diverse and robust economic cluster through continuous research, innovation, and development. Develop Human Capital Identify the workforce skills needed to support and serve the economic cluster and facilitate the knowledge and training required through partnerships with businesses, institutions of education, and government. Foster Entrepreneurship Nurture a culture that supports entrepreneurship and innovation by providing education, business relationships, and funding targeted at the needs of the economic cluster. Ignite Community Connection Seek the involvement and provide a platform for communication for all Adaptive Cluster stakeholders (i.e. residents, local business owners, and lawmakers) through grassroots marketing campaigns, social networking, and community gatherings.

Adaptive Community
To adapt is to make something suitable for a new use or purpose through modification, adjustment, and/or alteration. The term adaptive community, though, is hard to trace as it is a relatively new term. The word adaptive is used as an adjective to modify the word community in an effort to describe persons who display some physical limitation either from birth or as a result of disease, incident, or another cause. Members of the adaptive community come

from all walks of life: children, war veterans, disabled, wheelchair-bound persons, Paraolympians, the elderly, and other persons from nearly every category imaginable. What all members of the adaptive community share in common is the desire to live life fully, without limitations.

The Idea Behind an Economic Cluster

What is cluster-based planning for economic development? Michael E. Porter, one of the worlds most influential thinkers on strategy and competitiveness, as well as the development practitioner largely credited with popularizing the theory of economic cluster strategy, defines clusters as geographic concentrations of interconnected companies, specialized suppliers, service providers, and associated institutions in a particular field that are present in a nation or region (Porter, 2011). Other leading economic theorists and development practitioners define clusters more simply as a spatial and sectoral concentration of firms (Bresnahan, Gambardella & Saxenian, 2001), or more explicitly as concentrations of businesses that collocate because of trading (buyer-supplier) relationships and/or to share common factor markets (including infrastructure, knowledge resources and labor) and/or common goods markets (Luger, 2005). Since the 19th century, economic clusters have existed in various places throughout the U.S. to promote prosperity and economic development in specific market segments. The genesis of these clusters varies, with some sprouting up organically while others were strategically planned and implemented. The ultimate success of economic clusters can largely be attributed to the amount of financial capital invested through the use of various funding sources, including government grants, venture capital firms, and private entities. The three most famous examples of U.S. clusters are Californias Silicon Valley, Bostons Route 128 Corridor, and North Carolinas Research Triangle Park (RTP). Both Silicon Valley and Route 128 clusters started in the 1960s, while RTP dates back to the late 1950s (Saxenian, 1996). The first two focus on the high-tech industry with various specializations, including software and medical devices (Harvard Business School). The latter focuses on the life sciences sector, while specializing in a range of industries like pharmaceuticals and biotechnology (Harvard Business School). These three clusters also represent the complexity of the overall economic cluster strategy, in that this approach is not one size fits all and it does not begin in the same way everywhere. In fact, clusters can begin organically or

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intentionally. The origins of the Silicon Valley and Route 128 clusters are often described as indigenous and spontaneous. This distinction is in reference to the fact that both Silicon Valley and Route 128 depended on the growth of existing firms and the start up of new ones by entrepreneurs with roots in the state (Schalin, 2010 & 2011). RTP, on the other hand, began intentionally or in a planned fashion. It was conceived of before it existed and it relied on outside firms relocating to the area (Research Triangle Foundation, 2011). As such, the RTP cluster depended on formally organized efforts, officially referred to as cluster initiatives, to promote cluster growth and competitiveness (Mills, Reynolds, & Reamer, 2008). At the same time, all three clusters have two key characteristics in common. The first is that they each exist in specific geographical regions and the second is that they are high-tech. That they form a geographic cluster indicates their ability to better leverage the necessary economic inputs and key players due to their proximity and agglomeration in one place, region, or area. That they are all high-tech indicates their ability to take advantage of renowned universities and research centers in a way that fosters high-tech research, development, manufacturing, and markets for the benefit of regional economies. Ultimately, the presence and strength of these three clusters positively impacted their regions economic performance in the following ways: Higher gross domestic product per capita (Ketels, 2008) Higher housing prices (EDA) Higher regional and traded sector wages (Porter, 2003; Delgado, 2011; Gibbs, 1997; Wheaton, 2002) Higher number of New Business Formations and patentsa measure of innovation (Delgado, 2011) Higher number of successful transitions from unemployment or underemployment to high-skill jobs (EDA)

Such impact indicates that the performance of regional economies is strongly influenced by the strength of local clusters (Porter, 2003). What determines the strength of most clusters is the extent to which their collaborative process involves government at multiple levels, companies, teaching and research institutions, and centers for collaboration, in order to research and develop, produce, and market for emerging industries. This strategic and dynamic interconnectedness allowed all three aforementioned clusters to create resilient, robust, innovative, sustainable, and competitive regional economiesand it is something City Lab intends to create for Northeast Ohio.

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However, with respect to cluster-based development in other regions, a common critique of economic cluster strategy is that you cant copy and paste a Silicon Valley cluster model anywhere youd like to spur economic growth and recovery (Wadhwa, 2010; Saxenian, 1996). While the above noted examples are relevant to the cluster model we propose in this document for Northeast Ohio, they are not used in a copy and paste fashion. The noted characteristics of these clusters help to clarify the unique strengths of the Northeast Ohio regions existing networks and assets that in turn help identify the economic cluster strategy as the best suited economic development approach for this region. It is from this perspective and foundation in the economic cluster strategy where the germination of an Adaptive Cluster to reinvigorate Northeast Ohio was born.

Rationale for Northeast Ohio

Northeast Ohio [is] home to both innovation and manufacturing assets that could be at the forefront of a resurgent national economy. Regional Business Plan, April 2011 Even before it formally joined the Union in 1803, the state of Ohio was exalted as a land of promise and a realm of varied resources (Havighurst, 1976). Such praise can even be found in George Washingtons journals, dating back to 1770, when he first explored the Ohio River valley and wrote that, The great valleywould soon attract a great population; it would be settled and civilized more rapidly than any similar domain in history (Havighurst, 22). The first President was not wrong in his prediction, for it didnt take long before Ohio was at the forefront of an emerging U.S. industrial economy that started at the end of the 19th century. From that time until the 1960s, the U.S. economic development model relied heavily on government-driven policy decisions and incentives that built worldleading industries, which provided well-paying jobs and economic prosperity across the nation. During this time, Northeast Ohio was one of the countrys premier assembly and parts-manufacturing centers, home to auto plants, steel mills, tool and die manufacturing, and a range of related industries that produced diesel engines, construction and industrial vehicles, aircraft parts, and more. Above all, this industrial heritage depended on the regions ability to pull together its inherent assets (i.e. natural resources, skilled human capital, and manufacturing and transportation infrastructure) for the production of industrial components that generated huge reserves of wealth for the region.

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However, beginning in the 1960s, Northeast Ohio started to experience losses in the production of rubber tires, steel products, and in its auto industry as a whole, along with contraction in its manufacturing employment base (Fund for Our Economic Future & Advance Northeast Ohio, 2011). On a broader scale, the U.S. began losing its dominance across myriad industries and business functions, including market share and jobs. With the arrival of global competition these old economy industrial models with their hierarchical and centralized structures, wherein inputs and supply-chains operated in silos, could not continue to compete and survive in the post-industrial economy that demanded more horizontal, decentralized, and diverse operating systems. It was during this time when it became clear that a new economic development model was needed. Clustersare a fundamental fact of national economies, and a critical enhancer of regional economic performance. Brookings Institution, 2010 In 2008, the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program called on a new federal approach to economic development. The federal government should move to promote cluster development and growth nationwidethe federal government should boost the nations competitiveness by catalyzing increased cluster activity in U.S regions, Brookings stated (Mills, Reynolds, Reamer). In 2009, the U.S. government heeded the call for this new economic development approach when its Economic Development Administration (EDA) partnered with Michael E. Porter to lead the creation of the Obama Administrations cluster mapping project. More recently, in his Federal Budget for 2012, President Obama appropriated $325 million to EDA to support regional economic competitiveness initiatives, including a proposal for a competition to identify 20 potential clusters that would receive a share of $2.5 billion in funds (Leonard, 2011). It can be said that the federal governments embrace of the economic cluster strategy is long overdue, considering the fact that since the 19th century some form of an economic cluster has existed in the U.S. to promote prosperity and economic development, including Northeast Ohios Plastic Parts Cluster that started in 1935 (Harvard Business School). What is more, Northeast Ohio already recognizes this particular strategy as a planning mechanism for economic growth and recovery. In their April 2011 Regional Business Plan, the Fund for Our Economic Future and Advance

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Northeast Ohio identified six high-potential, emerging industry clusters that the region should focus on. These six industry clusters include: biosciences/health care, advanced manufacturing, cleantech/advanced energy, electronics, advanced materials, and information and communication technologies. According to the report, these six areas leverage both the Northeast Ohios research strengths based on its nationally recognized institutions and its traditional manufacturing strengths. It is clear that the regions leaders understand that the economic cluster strategy is an apposite approach whereby the regions existing strengths can be used to generate research, products, and opportunities in ways that are innovative, sustainable, and relevant for the new economy of the 21st century. Transitioning to a more innovation-driven economy requires leveraging the regions existing strengths and building clusters in emerging industries. Regional Business Plan, April 2011 As the above quote indicates, the Northeast Ohio region already has the companies, specialized suppliers, service providers, and associated institutions in particular fields ready to compete in a geographic and advanced-tech cluster that serves an emerging industry. These strengths include: large concentration of medical institutions; nationally recognized academic institutions; growth of non-profits; increasing public-private partnerships; diversification and transition of the regions manufacturing sector; and an innovative private sector. Thus, what Northeast Ohio needs is to intentionally develop a cluster that would influence the necessary linkages and spillovers across firms and associated institutions, which already generate the aforementioned strengths (Porter, 2003). That being said, the question remains: Which emerging industry would this cluster best serve? By accelerating and nurturing the interaction of the regions existing resources and competencies to serve the healthcare industry through the medical devices, human motion and control, adaptive sports equipment, and clothing markets, Northeast Ohio has the opportunity to pioneer the development of a sustainable NE Ohio economic cluster that attracts, connects and creates entities which generate the research, products and opportunities to serve the stakeholders of the adaptive community. We are calling it an Adaptive Cluster, an economic cluster that targets segments within the adaptive community. This economic approach is powerful for the following three reasons. First, this Adaptive Cluster would be a sub-section of one of the largest industry sectors in northeast Ohio. The Center for Economic Development within the Maxine

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Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University describes the healthcare industry in Northeast Ohio in the following way: From 1978 to 2003, the national population grew by 31 percent, while the national healthcare industrys employment increased 116 percent (1.63 ratio). In Cleveland, the population has remained almost unchanged (3%), while the healthcare industry grew 80 percent (1.86 ratio). Therefore, during the long-term period, Clevelands healthcare cluster grew faster than the national rate when controlling for the change of population. Second, the Adaptive Cluster does not exist anywhere else in the world. And third, there is no unified economic cluster in existence today that serves the worldwide adaptive community. For these reasons alone, the development of this economic cluster offers Northeast Ohio a decisive sustainable competitive advantage over other places in the nation and the world. Overall, this regional cluster has the potential to achieve the following four goals: ignite community connection, promote economic sustainability, develop human capital, and foster entrepreneurship. The potential for this new Adaptive Cluster is based in an economic development strategy that builds upon the mindset that already exists in Northeast Ohio about thinking, planning, and acting like a region in accordance with its inherent place-based advantages. The economic cluster proposed in this document is in line with two of the six areas that were identified for cluster development in the aforementioned Regional Business Plan (2011, April), which are (1) biosciences/healthcare and (2) advanced manufacturing. Finally, this Adaptive Cluster would also help achieve a number of goals that the Ashtabula County Port Authority Economic Steering Committee identified in their August 2010 Strategic Plan (28-31). These include the following: define what economic regionalism can mean in development; create synergy among businesses and organizations to promote economic growth; identify relevant partnerships and encourage participation; establish an advanced materials technology center and business incubator; coordinate with SPIRE to capitalize on future potential; expand growth partnership role in all types of business expansion; encourage local entrepreneurship; and active engagement in existing regional collaborative. City Lab is prepared to make the economic possibilities in the region a reality through the creation of an Adaptive Cluster.

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III. Business Model

With the mission of City Lab as the foundation, the goal of the new economic cluster is to nurture the environment for the creation, incubation, expansion, transformation, funding, and attraction of people and entities that research, design, develop, manufacture, maintain, provide education and training, regulate, and promote the use of (1) medical devices, (2) human motion and control, (3) adaptive sports equipment, and (4) clothing, to form a new Adaptive Cluster for the Northeast Ohio region. The Northeast Ohio region consists of 16 counties with a population of 4.1 million people. The regions $170 billion annual economy places it in the top 25 nationally and at number 42 globally. We have identified these four emerging market segments that exhibit opportunities to create products and services that will harness Northeast Ohios strengths. These strengths are characterized by the regions existing institutions, companies, non-profits, and public and private partnerships (these entities are detailed in depth in the section: Contributors [p. 26]). These contributors will work in tandem to attract human capital to the region and to further economic goals by way of the bioscience, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing industries. Contributing partners will be crucial to the success of the new Adaptive Cluster and will be essential in reaching the ultimate goal of benefitting the global adaptive community. The proposed business model is based on the interactions between two groups of entities: products and contributors. Through interaction, connection, and engagement, a new regional exercise based in the intellectual and practical pursuits of people will create a new economic cluster, the Adaptive Cluster. This new economic cluster will become greater than the sum of its parts, for no single product or contributor can advance or succeed without the mutual interactions and support from other entities. Whats clear in the research on economic clusters, as well as Northeast Ohios existing industries and functions, is that there is a unique opportunity that exists during this moment in time to formally validate an Adaptive Cluster that will become an economic hub for the region, the country, and the world. Moreover, this new economic cluster will be immensely impactful on human lives. Members of the adaptive community, ranging from children to Paralympic athletes to war veterans, demonstrate a hunger for and need for the creation of industries around adaptive technologies. Through the creation of the Adaptive

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Cluster, members of the adaptive community will be living examples of how a small idea can grow into a life-changing product through the coordination of industries. Most importantly, members of the adaptive community will come to the region to engage with the products and the contributors of the adaptive cluster, affecting meaningful and impactful change on a large scale. The model below illustrates the interactions between the four (4) products (creations) and the seven (7) key partners (contributors), forming the genesis of the new Adaptive Cluster. These entities have mutually exclusive relationships and, together, will form the new Adaptive Cluster.

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Products
There will be four (4) market segments that the new Adaptive Cluster will create products or services for. The sections below describe each product segment and articulate the respective opportunities of the markets. 1. Medical Devices The Northeast Ohio region is poised to become the next destination for a sustained medical device research, manufacturing, and practice as part of the proposed Adaptive Cluster. The thrust in the medical technology sector has incrementally increased over the last three or four years and this momentum is expected to continue as more companies are established, become profitable, and expand in the region (Magaw, 2011). The long-term goal is to have Northeast Ohio become synonymous with the medical device industry, much like it once was with the automotive, steel, and rubber industries. In a January 2011 article in Crains Cleveland Business, BioEnterprise Corp.s President, Baiju Shah, said to expect the region to be largely defined by health care technology within the next 10 or 20 years as Northeast Ohio will have been through several entrepreneurial generations (Magaw). The medical device market comprises all instruments, apparatuses, implements, appliances, implants, machines, in vitro reagents, and software that are used to prevent, diagnose, monitor, mitigate, treat, or cure medical conditions (Wipperfurth, 2010). Examples include products such as surgical appliances and supplies, electro-medical equipment such as imaging and patient-monitoring systems, and in-vitro diagnostic substances. The assistive technologies (AT) market is a subset of the medical devices industry, and is a segment targeted for the Adaptive Cluster. These products include clinical and at-home rehabilitative equipment, mobility aids such as wheelchairs, motorized scooters and canes, and aids of daily living such as respiratory care, speech and communication aids, and grip assists. While the preference is for producing medical devices that serve the adaptive community, the intent for this market segment is not limited to this audience. The medical devices segment (also referred to as the MedTech market) of the healthcare industry is greatly driven by innovation, which generates high demand for the latest and best equipment. In 2000 the medical devices market was sized at approximately $145 billion globally (World Health Organization, Geneva, 2003). The industry more than doubled its projected sales in excess of $300 billion in 2011 (Zacks Equity Research, 2011). The U.S. represents the

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greatest share of the market in terms of consumption and production, with estimated sales of $95 billion in 2010 (Zacks Equity Research) and $108 billion in 2011 (IBISWorld). Japan is the second-largest medical devices market after the United States, of which U.S. firms account for roughly 60% of all medical devices imported to Japan (Zacks Equity Research). Medical device companies tend to be concentrated in regions characterized by advanced technology, particularly in the industries of microelectronics, telecommunications, instrumentation, biotechnology, and software development (International Trade Administration, 2010). There were roughly 5,300 medical device companies in the U.S. in 2007, mostly small and medium-sized businessesabout 73 percent of which had fewer than 20 employees (International Trade Administration). With the help of an increase from an average of $30 million a year of venture capital investments from 1996 through 2001 to $150 million a year since 2005 (Davidson, 2011), 625 FDA-registered medical device and component makers cropped up in Ohio in 2008 alone. This put Ohio ahead of Minnesota, Michigan, and Indiana in terms of the number of FDA-registered medical device and component makers, and second only to Illinois among Midwestern states (Michaels, 2011). Nationally, the medical device industry employed more than 365,000 people, earning an average annual wage of approximately $60,000 in 2007 (International Trade Administration). In Ohio, medical device-related employment is growing statewide, as reflected in an almost 20 percent growth in bioscience jobs from 2000 to 2009 (Michaels). The sector employed 55,465 people in 1,253 bioscience-related firms (Stackhouse, 2010). Moreover, 34 percent of the states MedTech jobs are concentrated in and around Cleveland, located in Northeaast Ohio (Michaels). This represents a big shift from a region whose employment was previously dominated by the automobile and manufacturing sectors. Faced with decades of industrial decline, manufacturing companies in Northeast Ohio have invested in new ways to grow and sustain their operations by turning to advanced manufacturing. Equipped with the regions skilled and eager industrial workforce, companies have successfully transitioned from traditional to advanced manufacturing in segments such as specialty chemicals and fabricated metals. Year-over-year, manufacturing employments gained 8,000 jobs, growing by 3.7 percent to now account for 13 percent of all jobs in the region (McFee, 2011). Northeast Ohios manufacturing sector is reportedly growing faster than any other sector in the region and is outpacing sector growth on a national level by nearly 10 percent (Smith, 2011). This trend of diversification in the Northeast Ohio regions manufacturing sector has also helped to fuel its gradual recovery from the 2007 recession, as the benefits have

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had a multiplier effect in the realms of sales increases, market share growth, company expansion, employment boosts and continued new-product development (The Plus, 2011). Many small manufacturing companies have already shifted their focus to include the production of medical devices and their inputs. Companies such as Astro Manufacturing & Design, Superior Products, and Prince & Izant Co. are excellent examples. Astro, which primarily produced auto and aerospace components, is now also producing medical devices and meeting regularly with physicians at the Cleveland Clinic to work on new products. Sales for Superior Products grew 80 percent in four years, in part by expanding their offerings from valves and fittings for industrial compressed gas systems to also include products for medical oxygen systems. Sales for Prince & Izant grew 300 percent in one year, a precious metals company that now also makes platinum electrodes for implantable medical devices (Cleveland.com, 2008). Northeast Ohio is also home to well-established companies that solely manufacture medical devices. U.S.Endoscopy designs and supplies niche diagnostic, therapeutic, and supports accessories used in the GI endoscopy and urology markets. Founded in 1991, U.S. Endoscopy is a major contributor to Northeast Ohio regions medical device sector, employing 362 people, maintaining distributor partnerships in over 50 countries, and serving almost 5,000 customers worldwide (The Plus, 2011, April). AxioMed is developing a product line to help restore spinal function to patients with degenerative spine diseases. The companys first product, the Freedom Lumbar Disc, is in clinical trials while their latest device, an artificial cervical spine disc, recently received a $500,000 state loan. Since being formed in 2001, AxioMed has secured over $34 million in private equity financing (The Plus, 2011, April). Not only are there a number of medical device companies that have originated in Northeast Ohio, but ten of the countrysand arguably worldstop eighteen medical device manufacturers have recognized the importance of having facilities in the Cleveland area. These companies include Johnson & Johnson, GE Healthcare, Philips Medical Systems, and Steris. Northeast Ohio can further anchor itself in the medical devices sector by harnessing the $465 million Cleveland Medical Mart & Convention Center in order to gain global recognition and boost revenues. This showroom and conference facility is slated to open in fall 2013 and it is the worlds first market facility designed specifically for the healthcare industry, enabling medical device companies to exhibit their products and services (BioEnterprise, 2011).

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2. Human Motion & Control Human motion and control often falls within the orthopedic prosthetics market. The market includes a range of products and therapies to treat a variety of conditions that primarily concern the spine, such as herniated discs, spinal deformity, and fracture of the spine. Examples of products include items such as ankle, wrist and back braces and supports, hip, knee and spinal implants, and upper and lower extremity prosthetic devices. These specialized devices that directly impact mobility will be a life-transforming element as part of the proposed Adaptive Cluster. The development of advanced prosthetic implants involving better fixation, cementless design, and wear-resistant material is enhancing growth prospects in the industry (Magaw). Trends in growth can also be attributed to demographic and social aspects, including an aging global population, rising incidence of degenerative joint diseases, increase in the rates of road traffic accidents, and the desire to maintain active lifestyles that increases the demand for less invasive and bone preserving technologies. Research into the normal biology of musculoskeletal tissues, the diseases and injuries associated with these tissues, and the underlying mechanisms of musculoskeletal tissue regeneration continue to gain importance as part of the human motion and control devices market. In 2005 the U.S. market for prosthetics, orthotics, and cosmetic enhancement products was valued at $6.8 billion and was expected to increase to $10.8 billion in 2010 at an average annual growth rate of 9.9 percent (BCC, Inc.). The global orthopedic prosthetics market is projected to reach $19.4 billion by the year 2015 (Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA), 2011). The U.S. and Europe collectively account for a major share of the global market. Developing nations such as India, China, Russia, South Africa, and Brazil offer extreme growth potential for orthopedic companies due to their steady economic growth and the presence of large elderly populations. Warsaw, Indiana is described as one of the most robust and concentrated medical equipment development sectors in the world (Stackhouse). This community holds more than half of the U.S. market share and supplies twothirds of the worlds demand for orthopedic devices (BioCrossroads - BC Initiative, Inc./CICP Foundation, 2009). It is home to key industry players such as Biomet, Zimmer Holdings, and DePuy Orthopedics. Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc accounts for 27 percent of the orthopedic prosthetics patient care market in the U.S. alone. Hangar Prosthetics and Orthotics also has a partnership with the Wounded Warriors Project to provide veterans who have lost multiple limbs with secondary rehabilitation for prosthetic care to maximize

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mobility and help regain independence (SPIRE is partner of the Wounded Warriors Project). Other well-recognized companies include DJO Incorporated, Ossur hf., Bauerfeind AG, DeRoyal Industries, Otto Bock, Smith & Nephew, TRS, Wright Medical, Stryker Corp, Medtronic, and Opto Circuits. Northeast Ohio has various companies committed to furthering adaptive technology and exo-skeletal research in the human motion and control market. Such companies include Prosthetics Design Inc, Acor, Inc, AcuTemp, AMT Systems Engineering, Inc., AxioMed Spine Corporation, and Ace Prosthetics. WillowWood, located in Mt. Sterling, Ohio, is an industry leader in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of prosthetic products. In addition, located just east in Elyria, Ohio, is Invacare, a major manufacturer of homecare products that keep consumers active in their own homes and communities (INVACARE). Ashtabula County may be considered the epicenter of the reinforced fiberglass composite industry in the U.S. as companies within it produce more polymers and plastics per capita than anywhere else in the country (Getchey, 2010). Reinforced fiberglass composite materials could play a major role in adaptive equipment production and exo-skeletal research and development, positively impacting the lives of members of the adaptive community. Ashtabula County is also home to the SPIRE Institute, one of the largest indoor, multi-sport, training and competition complexes in the world. SPIRE has fostered an alliance with Parker Hannifin, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Cleveland, to study human motion control technologies. Parker Hannifin is known for its engineering of motion and control technology for machines, but its interest in exploring human motion control makes SPIRE an ideal partner as the institute offers a venue where both able-bodied and para-athletes will be training, rehabilitating, and learning. Parker Hannifin can observe these athletes and create products from their studies for SPIRE and global athletes to use, as part of the Adaptive Cluster. SPIRE also has a plan to create a comprehensive rehabilitation center, which will incorporate the latest technology in prosthetics and robotics research. It is a possibility that Parker Hannifin will establish their human motion and control R&D center within SPIRE to take advantage of the opportunities to study and test how to apply their technology to humans. The public sector has also helped to promote research and development that has resulted in new technology, benefitting members of the adaptive community. The most recent example is the National Science Foundation, who just finished building the worlds fastest two-legged robot (National Science Foundation, 2011). This breakthrough will help to bring exo-skeletal technology one-step closer to reality for many people who are in the adaptive community.

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Because technology innovation is at the forefront, the human motion and control market tends to favor large, established companies with ample money to spend on R&D, production, FDA approval, commercialization, and the legal protection of products once developed. Historically, stringent U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations make for an approval process that can take years to complete, which could delay production and expansion. Manufacturing must take place rapidly as this market has extremely short lead times, which can be as short as 60-90 days. Due to these unique circumstances, the orthopedics and prosthetics industry rarely sees newcomers enter the market. When those newcomers do enter the market, they are often not start-ups but companies that are well established in another market segment, like Parker Hannifin. With the plan for an Adaptive Cluster, existing players in the market may gain greater agency to expand their operations. The success of the human motion and control market as part of the Adaptive Cluster would most likely depend on its ability to attract existing companies more so than focusing on incubating start-ups. The economic cluster will need to create advantages for companies, such as helping to mitigate costs or supplying needed resources. The cost of doing business in Northeast Ohio is already lower than most major urban areas, mainly attributed to cheaper real estate, lower cost of living, and central proximity to North American markets, which reduces shipping time and rates. The regions ports, railroad, airport, and highway transportation systems offer a robust logistics infrastructure, while continuing state tax advantages and government incentives for specific locales will offer incentives for productivity. 3. Adaptive Sports Equipment The adaptive sports equipment market includes products such as a golf clubs made shorter for a person in a wheelchair, wheelchairs enhanced for racing, or a sled modified for ice hockey players. The goal of the industry, and thus for the proposed Adaptive Cluster, is to adapt existing sports equipment for use by members of the adaptive community. It is presumed that the biggest driver for the sale of adaptive sports equipment is that the adaptive community seeks to join or reengage in a physically active and fit lifestyle. Participating in sports is a great way to enjoy socializing with friends, teammates, and competitors while also building physical strength, resilience, and self-confidence. The majority of adaptive sports products and technologies are currently being used by a variety of people with backgrounds, ranging from the novice athlete to gold medal-winning Paralympians. Interestingly, the Internet has also aided in the adoption of adaptive sports

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equipment by adaptive demographics, such as children, wounded veterans, and para-athletes, by making information available on various equipment manufacturers and sporting facilities that make participation. Today, the rate of veterans with similar injuries has increased due to recent wars. And their eagerness to return home to an active lifestyle has led to an increased demand in grants, donations, athletic training, and publications regarding the adaptive community and has augmented the demand for adaptive sports equipment. The Wounded Warriors Project is probably the most recognizable entity that provides goods and services to disabled veterans to help them move beyond rehabilitation and toward a full and productive life. In doing so, the organization provides programs focused on physical health and wellness. It has strong partnerships with high quality, specialized disabled sports providers, making year-round sports and fitness programs available in snowboarding, skiing, bicycling, golf, fly-fishing, rafting, camping, and the like (Wounded Warrior Project, Inc.). Athletes with disabilities have experienced great inclusion within the Olympic arena as well. The origin of the Paralympic games has its roots as a sports competition involving World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries, which was hosted in Stoke Mandeville, England in 1948 (Paralympic Games). The number of athletes participating in the Summer Paralympic Games has increased from 400 athletes from 23 countries in Rome in 1960 to 3,951 athletes from 146 countries in Beijing in 2008 (Paralympic Games). The USOC and Team USA athletic organizations have formed partnerships with companies that produce adaptive sports equipment to create endowments for the advancement of American Paralympic athletes. This partnership allows athletes to receive the training and equipment that they need to compete at a reduced cost or for free. In return companies get exposure by marketing globally via the Olympics. The adaptive sports industry is unique to North America, with most manufacturers of this technology based in either the U.S. or Canada. Corporate innovation has provided many opportunities in the fields of engineering and sports science. Many well-established companies are already committed to providing the next wave of technology for the adaptive community. Some of the major players are Invacare, TRS, Spokes NMotion, and Enabling Technologies. TRS has a Sports and Recreation division that unveiled products designed to duplicate the flexion and extension characteristics of the hand and wrist with a scoop shaped palm surface to enhance bi-lateral ball handling, which is excellent for contact sports (TRS, Inc., 2011). Spokes NMotion is a specialist in the production of sleds for adaptive cycling, sailing, and team sports like hockey

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and rugby, in addition to numerous other all-terrain applications. The company is also one of the top producers of sports-specific devices for adaptive skiing (i.e. monoskis, bi-skis, dualski, superlite outriggers) and accessories, in addition to a full range of equipment for use by stand-up and sits down skiers (Spokes 'n Motion). Enabling Technologies, located in Denver, Colorado, is a premiere design and manufacturing company of adaptive recreational equipment for the physically challenged. Their skis, outriggers, and crutches are sold throughout the world and are recognized for their durability, versatility, and superior workmanship (Enabling Technologies, LLC, 2011). Invacare, located in Elyria, Ohio, is one of the biggest manufacturers of adaptive sports devices, generating $1.8 billion dollars in revenue in 2010. Invacares Sports and Recreation Rehab Division, known as Top End, has been making sports and recreation products since 1986, first specializing in racing chairs then in sport-specific chairs designed for basketball, quad rugby, and tennis (Top End). Advances in adaptive equipment technology have greatly enhanced the performances of athletes with disabilities off the field, too. Cycling research has been applied to wheelchairs and as a result wheelchairs are lighter and are much easier to transport. Changes in wheelchair design have also been impacted, with innovations in wheel sizes and hand rims so that individuals can be more comfortable in everyday activities. Just as with the human motion and control market, the majority of adaptive sports device manufacturers are not located in Northeast Ohio, so there is work to be done to attract these companies to the region. Unlike the human motion and control market, the barriers to entry are much lower for new companies looking to either make products or provide adaptive sporting venues. Northeast Ohios geographic landscape is also an opportunity to become a destination for members of the adaptive community to take part in outdoor sporting activities living the adaptive innovation born in the region. 4. Clothing The goal of the adaptive clothing market is to engage entities in the research, education, innovation, design, development, and manufacturing of adaptive clothing for individuals who live without the use of an extremity, a prosthetic device, or a device to aid in mobility. This may include clothing for sports, recreation, performance, fashion, and work.

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Adaptive clothing is defined as clothing specially designed for people with physical disabilities, the elderly, and the infirm who may have difficulty dressing themselves due to an inability to manipulate closures, such as buttons and zippers, or due to a lack of a full range of motion required for self-dressing. Adaptive clothing can also be specially designed and made to suit seniors, handicapped, hospital patients pre- and post-surgery, rehabilitation, or patients with temporary or permanent disabilities (Disabled World). There are several reputable companies that make adaptive clothing for children and persons with special needs using the following adaptations: flat seams to reduce friction, discrete adaptations to make the clothing look as normal as possible, easy access with snaps, the use of Velcro and stretchy fabric, roomy bottoms to accommodate diapers for all ages, longer rise in the back to accommodate sitting in wheelchairs, elastic waist for increased comfort and ease in dressing, and meeting safety through flammability standards. In addition, the same companies can also make custom clothing tailored for specific needs of individuals. Companies are beginning to realize that creating clothing for the adaptive community is profitable and worthwhile. Quick Change Clothing is an innovator of design and manufacturing of adaptive clothing. Other examples of companies that make clothing for children with special needs include: Mini Miracles Children's Clothing, Adaptations by Adrian, Talon Clothing, The Callhans, and Silverts. The global apparel industrys total revenue in 2006 was $ 1,252.8 billion and was predicted to reach a value of $1,781.7 billion by the end of 2010 (Fashionproducts). The Asian Pacific region constitutes the largest amount of production and trade in the apparel industry worldwide (35.4%), followed by Europe (29.4%) and then America (22.3%) (Fashionproducts). Its clear that adaptive clothing can easily fit into the industrys massive scale of product offerings. There are two existing models for product delivery in the clothing market: the buyer-driven and the producer-driven. Firms that fit the buyer-driven model, including retailers like Wal-Mart, Sears and JC Penney, athletic footwear companies like Nike and Reebok, and fashion-oriented apparel companies like Liz Claiborne, Gap and The Limited Inc., generally design and marketbut do not manufacturetheir products. They are manufacturers without factories, with the physical production of goods separated from the design and marketing. Unlike producer-driven chains, where profits come from scale, volume and technological advances, buyer-driven chains profit from combinations of high-

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value research, design, sales, marketing, and financial services that allow the retailers, designers, and marketers to act as strategic brokers in linking overseas factories and traders with niche products in targeted markets. Clothing design and manufacturing in the Adaptive Cluster would most likely follow this buyerdriven model, vertically integrating all steps to deliver products to the adaptive community. Clothing is arguably the one product of the Adaptive Cluster that will require the greatest number of resources to make a reality. According to the Career Guide to Industries 2010-11 Edition report for the State of Ohio, there are currently seven clothing manufacturers and 332 textiles companiesbut few adaptive clothing companies. Given the propensity for clothing to be produced in the Asian Pacific region, even if the manufacturing itself does not occur in Northeast Ohio initially, there is opportunity to influence the buyer-driven model of product delivery where the focus is on high-value research, designing, marketing, and manufacturing. The economic cluster can try to produce a new brand of clothing line for the adaptive community or could create one within an established companys brand. Either way, clothing could be tested and developed based on research that could be gathered from interacting with participants at SPIRE Institutes comprehensive rehabilitation center.

Contributors
In order for the proposed Adaptive Cluster to be successful it must identify and bring together potential participants and other stakeholders. The business, philanthropic, government, academic, sports, and medical entities below are in the position to collectively lead the development of the vision, strategies, and tactics to create an Adaptive Cluster. When this community is convened it will also lay the groundwork for two important tenets of the economic cluster: collective knowledge and regional proximity. In the same way, pooling the collective knowledge and bringing all the stakeholders together benefits everyone involved, including the companies and people in the Northeast Ohio region. 1. SPIRE Institute SPIRE Institute is one of the largest indoor, multi-sport, training and competition complexes in the world. With more than 750,000 sq. ft. indoors and acres of outdoor facilities, it has the unique capability to simultaneously host clubs, leagues, tournaments, and championship events no matter the season. Every consideration has been taken to create an unparalleled experience for the

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athlete, coach and the spectator. Moreover, SPIRE exists to unlock the full potential of the human spirit[it] is for high achieving athletes training to reach their peak, but it is just as tailored to high school students and active seniors, Paralympians and Special Olympians, Wounded Warriors and weekend warriors. But SPIRE is more than a facility; because of the relationships that it has already fostered within and outside of the region, it has the potential to be the home base for the incubation of the proposed Adaptive Cluster. The economic cluster can use SPIREs momentum of mission, programming, innovation, publicity, multiple partnerships (i.e. philanthropists, educational institutes, students, sports associations, professional athletes, veterans, local government, Georgetown University, Parker Hannifin, and other local companies), and facilities for convening users and suppliers of medical devices, clothing, adaptive sports equipment and human motion and control devices. In this sense, the Institute becomes a true living learning laboratory, where ideas arent just produced but lived. SPIRE could play host local medical exhibits, conferences, trade shows, and seminars relevant to the adaptive community. Adaptive sports equipment and other adaptive devices could be tested and further developed based on research that could be taken from observing naturally able-bodied athletes at the Institutes facilities. SPIRE also has a plan for a comprehensive rehabilitation center, which will incorporate the latest technology in prosthetics and robotics research. Moreover, SPIRE will assist the women and men in uniform that return home wounded by offering rehabilitation and therapeutic services and educational programming on site. 2. Georgetown University Georgetown University is one of the worlds leading academic and research institutions, offering a unique educational experience that prepares the next generation of global citizens to lead and make a difference in the world. The University is a vibrant community of exceptional students, faculty, alumni, and professionals dedicated to real-world applications of our research, scholarship, faith and service. Established in 1789, Georgetown is the nations oldest Catholic and Jesuit university. Drawing upon this legacy, the University focuses on educating the whole person through exposure to different faiths, cultures, and beliefs. Moreover, its programming aims to fulfill the Universitys mission of creating women and men in the service of others, with a focus on social justice and intercultural understanding that impacts the world.

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In early 2011, Georgetown Universitys School of Continuing Studies entered into a relationship with SPIRE Institute as the official educational partner to provide resources, faculty, and curriculum for new multidisciplinary programming. The relationship demonstrates the joint commitment to creating innovative programming that helps students of all ages maximize their potential for future achievement. This partnership is designed to connect the educational expertise of Georgetown SCS with the state-of-the-art capabilities of SPIRE, to create a living learning laboratory for high school summer curriculum, prep year, post-secondary and non-degree programs. The goal is to help students apply theory to practice, resulting in the development of essential skill sets like leadership and creativity. 3. Government The federal government is using economic cluster theory as a framework for job growth to help get the economy back on track. President Obama's 2012 budget proposes a competition to identify 20 potential clusters that would then receive a share of $2.5 billion in funds (Leonard, 2011). Northeast Ohios government has also recognized the regions opportunity and stepped into its role as a catalyst of economic activity by providing financing and encouraging high levels of synergy amongst the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. A recent example is the Ohio Third Frontier, a $2.3 billion publicprivate partnership aimed at stimulating the economy through investment in new tech-based industries. The initiative has contributed $235 million into biomedical research and start-ups in Northeast Ohio since 2002 (Davidson, 2011). The Innovation Ohio Loan Fund, administered through the Ohio Third Frontier, was created to assist existing Ohio technology companies to develop and commercialize next generation products and services by financing the acquisition, construction, and related costs of technology, facilities, and equipment. The Fund attempts to combat companies difficulty with securing financing from conventional sources due to technical and commercial risk factors associated with the development of a new product or service (Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber). The JobsOhio Network is referred to as the Kasich Administration's privatesector response to the state's economic challenges. It is a web of regional economic development groups supporting a statewide jobs agency with the goal of crafting regional economic strategies and ink deals with companies arriving, expanding and staying put in the state (McFee, 2011). The Ohio Department of Development looks to local partners like Team NEO (one of the

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states six JobsOhio Network regional partners) via JobsOhio to increase Ohio's ability to keep companies there and help them grow, something the Department acknowledges that it has never been able to do effectively on its own (McFee, 2011). In 2011 the Ohio Third Frontier also provided a one-year, $4.1 million grant to Team NEO to operate a regional JobsOhio office in Northeast Ohio and fund proposals from groups in the region for initiatives that would create more jobs, increase capital investment, and boost some of the regions competitive strengths (Baker, 2011). The Adaptive Cluster will look to local, state, and federal incentives to help put the plan in action. 4. Non-Profits Northeast Ohio has the benefit of having a business ecosystem that includes non-profits as major contributors to supporting business incubation and workforce and entrepreneurial training that advances economic development. The Fund for Our Economic Future is a collaboration of philanthropic organizations and individuals that have united to strengthen the economic competitiveness of Northeast Ohio through research, civic engagement, and grants. Its main goal is long-term economic revitalization that strengthens the regions core cities, encourages inclusion, and enhances the regions quality of life (The Fund for Our Economic Future, 2011). Launched in 2007 by the Fund for Our Economic Future, Advance Northeast Ohio creates the region's economic competitiveness agenda. It articulates a vision for the region by establishing a set of values and beliefs that guide how the region will act and specifying strategic priorities and goals to make the region more competitive in the global economy. Partners in Advance Northeast Ohio are from all sectors of the region and use the agenda to shape the regional collaborations that promote more business growth, strengthen talent development, encourage inclusion, and promote more efficient, effective government. Team NEO advances Northeast Ohios economy by serving as the 18-county regions private-sector economic development hub. It builds collaboration among the regions economic development organizations, attracts new businesses from around the world, and connects the region to the states JobsOhio program. Since 2007, the organization has attracted new company operations, 4,800 new jobs, and almost $173 million in annual payroll to

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Northeast Ohio, leading to a total annual regional payroll benefit of $281 million (TeamNEO, 2011). Jumpstart is a non-profit venture capital organization that directly invests in and assists entrepreneurs leading high growth companies in Greater Cleveland. It also exists to grow and strengthen the regions entrepreneurial ecosystem by raising funds for other organizations and by managing a network of 20 incubators, accelerators, and investors (JumpStart, Inc., 2011). BioEnterprise Corp is described as Northeast Ohios medical device industrys nerve center. It is a non-profit that fosters the creation and growth of healthcare and bioscience companies in the region by recruiting medical firms to the region, helping start-ups obtain venture capital and state money, and matching manufacturers with suppliers (Davidson). The founders and partners are the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University, Summa Health System, and BioInnovation Institute in Akron. Additional technology partners include the NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland State University, NorTech, and BioOhio. BioOhio is a non-profit organization designed to build and accelerate a globally competitive bioscience industry, involving innovation, research, and education in order to drive economic growth and improve quality of life in Ohio. BioOhio has partnered with top pediatrics, cardiology, and teaching hospitals, is the largest global contract research organization, is a member of Fortune 35 companies, and is a nationally ranked institution (BioOhio, 2006-2011). The Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron, Ohio has a Medical Device Development Center, which is a collaboration of Akron Childrens Hospital, Akron General Health System, Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), Summa Health System, and The University of Akron. This strategic alignment of institutional, state, federal, and philanthropic support, accompanied with Akrons rich legacy in industrial and materials science, is working to pioneer the next generation of life-enhancing and life-saving innovations that will transform Akron and the surrounding region into a model for biomedical discovery and enterprise (ABIA). An organization that helps to plan the Adaptive Cluster could also be its own 501 (c) 3non-profit. For example, at Research Triangle (RTP) in North Carolina, the actual park was originally developed as a private, profit-seeking entity, while the Research Triangle Council was a non-stock, non-profit entity (Schalin, 2011). Although the origins were modest, the RTP organization spun off various

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entities over time to effectively manage new ventures, making that biopharmaceutical cluster the success it is today. 5. Medical Institutions Northeast Ohio boasts a large concentration of hospitals, including University Hospitals, MetroHealth Medical Center, Summa Health Systems, the Veterans Hospital, Genevas local hospital, and the renowned Cleveland Clinic. Medical institutions role in the Adaptive Cluster can be categorized as providing medical services, conducting independent and joint ventured research for the advancement of medical science, and purchasing disposable and durable medical equipment. For example, to expand on their role as a major medical equipment purchaser, in 2005 the national health expenditure for durable medical equipment and non-durable medical products was $67.6 billion and reached $78.1 billion in 2009 (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2011). In 2009, the national health expenditures for these same categories were projected to be $83 billion in 2011 and reach $127.4 billion by 2020 (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services). The annual spending for fixed and movable equipment was $12.4 billion in 2001 and increased to $15.9 billion in 2007 (Schuhmann, 2009). Such large-scale spending is due largely to needing to replace dated equipment caused by rapid advancements in scientific and medical research. The Cleveland Clinic is ranked as the number one cardiology and heart surgery hospital in the world (U.S. News & World Report). It is number two on the list of the top 100 grossing hospitals in America as of August 29, 2011, reporting $9.14 billion is gross revenue (Oh, 2011). In 2010 roughly $275 million of Cleveland Clinics revenue was generated from grant, contract, and federal research investment in the Clinic (The Cleveland Clinic, 2010). Cleveland Clinic Innovations, the Clinics technology commercialization arm, maintains the Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center, which incubates startups focused on the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. The Cleveland Clinics concentration on treating heart disease was instrumental in spurring 16 cardiovascular companies to move to the region since 2008. Furthermore, the Cleveland Clinic has just launched an Aquatic Therapy Program that is focused on aiding rehabilitation for the adaptive community. 6. Academic Institutions Higher education and access to world-class universities play a big part in the sustainability of any economic cluster, and will play an important role in the

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Adaptive Cluster. Academic institutions really have an opportunity to spur the development of the Adaptive Cluster by providing R&D and innovation, encouraging human capital development via curriculum, and attracting knowledgeable workers who want to extend their study. There is a large concentration of academic institutions in Northeast Ohio: 14 public universities, 24 branch campuses, 23 community colleges, and more than 120 adult workforce education centers and training programs, many of which are known for their achievements in scientific research, innovation, and application. Universities are often responsible for the research and development of new technologies that directly impact industries. Moreover, there is demonstrated growth in the demand for educated and certified individuals in the healthcare field as it requires the attraction and retention of talented individuals to fill technical roles. For instance, the physical therapist industry in the US is expected to grow to $26.9 billion of revenue in 2011 (IBISWorld.com). Many universities in the Northeast Ohio region also have robust engineering programs with a focus on new technologies, helping to train the next wave of innovators. Cleveland State University, home to the Fenn College of Engineering, offers a specialization in Applied Biomedical Engineering in conjunction with the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic Foundation. The Ohio State University has the top ranked engineering program in Ohio, which is also among the top 20 public engineering programs in the U.S. Other local universities like Youngstown State University are investing in interdisciplinary science programs. Youngstown State University (YSU) is the first university in Ohio to create a College of STEM science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Case Western Reserve University ranks 12th among private institutions and 24th overall in federal expenditures for science and engineering research development. Moreover, the Case Western Reserve University School of Engineering ranks among the nation's top 50 graduate engineering programs by U.S. News & World Report, and top 10 in biomedical engineering (Case Western Reserve University, 2011). Case Western Reserve University and the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation have created a $20 million endowment that is aimed at translating biomedical research into commercial products and clinical practices. Cuyahoga Community College began offering a course to supply area firms with more skilled workers by educating out of work line manufacturing workers who aspire to learn computer-controlled milling for medical device production (Davidson, 2011). The Department of Labor provided a grant that afforded free classes for people who wanted to attend.

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7. For-Profit Companies and Manufacturers In order to innovate in the growing field of adaptive equipment, for-profit companies and manufacturers need talented people. The 2010 Fund for Our Economic Future Dashboard of Economic Indicators stated, For companies, human capital is likely the hardest factor to move and to find. The quality of the workforce, as well as quality of capital (such as sites, buildings and access to technology), all lead to a companys ability to produce, compete and survive. In both earnings and unemployment, education and training matter. Northeast Ohio offers a solid, available workforce with experience that is relevant to the task of creating the Adaptive Clusterthe challenge is to get the regions companies and manufacturers on board by supporting the local workforce and building inroad with partner organizations. Capital is mobilecompanies will invest where they can get the most return. Commodity products that use low-skilled labor cannot be produced as cheaply in Northeast Ohio or the U.S. as they can be produced in China and throughout the Asian Pacific region. To paraphrase a former chief economist for a major automaker regarding global competition: People all over the world want to work, and can be trained to do the work we need. When competing in a global economy, Northeast Ohio workers need to create products that are differentiated with a greater return or higher value added. The Adaptive Cluster is an opportunity for the region to compete in a global market by forging partnerships with area companies who already have deep ties on a global level, and to reinvigorate and evolve existing manufacturers into makers of new technologies.

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IV. Benefit and Risk Assessment

Part of developing a strategy that will ensure the long-term growth and success of the Adaptive Cluster is to focus on opportunities that will minimize risk and maximize benefits. City Lab had created the following principles to ensure the success of the new economic cluster: Focusing on targeted markets through aggressive marketing Differentiating the products through exclusiveness and brand awareness Developing strategic partnerships with both industry leaders and competitors Building a relationship-oriented business that fosters long-term sellercustomer relationships, not just "single-transaction" deals Fostering social responsibility through a commitment to programs that transform lives (i.e. SPIRE donates 5% of all proceeds towards "Feed the Children" and other charities)

With the implementation of any new business plan comes inherent risk; but it is the potential benefits that outweigh perceived threats. We have identified two categories or entitiescontributors and governmentthat will be essential for the creation and success of the Adaptive Cluster. The following sections articulate identifiable risks while also anticipating impactful benefits and, in certain cases, the control and mitigation that will be used to negotiate a constructive and productive balance between the two. These are strategic points of importance that will be used to convene these entities and begin conversations about how they can constructively contribute to the creation of the Adaptive Cluster and maintain involvement over time.

Contributors
1. Local Public Sector: Geneva, Ashtabula, and the Greater NE Ohio Region and Its Politicians Risks Public investments of local/state/federal dollars do not produce anticipated returnsthe money is considered lost or wasted. Elected officials are attacked for supporting the Adaptive Cluster, either based on financial considerations or quality of life issues such as 35

increased congestion/infrastructure needs, higher land and real estate prices/taxes, and how cluster development affects local quality of life. Benefits Economy of local area flourishes as new local businesses are created. Tax revenues increase allowing for better public schools, infrastructure, parks, etc. New jobs created for those currently unemployed or underemployed with the promise of job growth. Businesses from elsewhere establish relationships with the Adaptive Cluster that will further create jobs in the local area. New training programs in academic institutions that raise the skills and educational achievement of local people so that they are more employable for the 21st century economy. Northeast Ohio becomes home to a thriving economic cluster (i.e. Research Triangle in North Carolina). Private investment from SPIRE shares funding burden Control/Mitigation Manage expectations from the beginning. The project should not be oversold to begin with anticipated results should be discussed in advance of decisions to finance. The Adaptive Cluster should be presented as a reasonable investment, given what is known and can be inferred. Facts in the form of regular progress reports that can support positions taken with regard to use of public monies should be part of an ongoing communications program. Less favorable facts must be communicated in the appropriate context before they are characterized by others to the detriment of the cluster. While public investments may exceed anticipated results, it is wise to restate that this is a long-term investment. The comparable cluster Research Triangle, which was only one of the three best known clusters to have been created rather than grow organically, is thriving today but it was a very modest effort 50 years ago that grew steadily rather than exponentially.

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2. Parker Hannifin, Invacare, and Other Corporate Partners Risks Investments do not pay off in corporate strategic planning time frame. Stock prices negatively affected where publicly traded companies are involved. Research done at SPIRE does not lead to innovative strategies to meet market needs. Work force needed for onsite tasks associated with research at SPIRE is not available or properly trained. Benefits SPIRE facility means lower upfront costs for corporate research. The Geneva/Ashtabula County area offers significant cost benefits in terms of location over Colorado and Georgia, home to Olympic training facilities, and over Massachusetts and California, home to Route 128 and Silicon Valley. Geneva/Ashtabula County has lower cost of living, affordable real estate, less congestion, and is located within two hours of major transportation hubs Cleveland and Pittsburgh and within five to eight hours of the entire eastern seaboard. Ashtabula County is the cradle of the reinforced (composite) industry in the U.S. and produces more polymers and plastics per capita than anywhere in the country. The adaptive sports industry is unique to North America, with most manufacturers of this technology based in either the U.S. or Canada. The Geneva/Ashtabula County location of SPIRE provides prime access to both able and disabled athletes for research and development of new products/technologies/protocols for the adaptive community. Adaptive Cluster provides for cross-fertilization among companies which stimulates more creative output and faster development of new products and services. Control/Mitigation Marketing to present the myriad assets currently associated with partnerships in the Adaptive Cluster should be ongoing and should include events that allow company representatives to interact with local officials and business owners.

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Targeted and free media outreach to create buzz so that the cluster establishes a leading presence in the adaptive arena and becomes the de facto geographic location for all things adaptive. Convene conferences/meetings at SPIRE to address issues associated with adaptive community in order to capture the knowledge and create repositories of expertise. Work with firms to understand and meet their needs.

3. USOC, Veterans Administration, Department of Defense, and Other Medical Partners Risks Tax dollars and private contributions could be invested in projects that do not work out (i.e. Solyndra). Funds appropriated are subject to congressional action and may not be reliable or sustainable. Funds from the USOC are subject to their fund raising process and also may not be reliable or sustainable. Contracting process for federal dollars is long and arduous, further imperiling time lines and stability. Criticism of public investments and of agency management of the contracting and oversight process. Possible need for bricks and mortar federal facilities at SPIRE raises costs to unsupportable levels. Public requirements for transparency, accountability, and public participation may clash with private corporate proprietary information preferences and intellectual property protection. Benefits For relatively small investments the Department of Defense, the VA, the USOC,and medical partners obtain access to first-rate facilities at SPIRE that can provide them with valuable applied research opportunities. Partner organizations can test and prototype rehabilitation strategies at SPIRE, gaining valuable data for better design of future products, and can work collaboratively as part of the Adaptive Cluster. This public investment pays off much better than anticipated in terms of knowledge gained and advances for the adaptive community.

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Other federal agencies might want to become associated with SPIRE on behalf of other target populations (i.e. Heath and Human Services, MediCarre, etc.) Can complement efforts at SPIRE by increasing demographic spread covered by observation/recording of performance data from partner organizations.

Control/Mitigation Federal requirements for public participation, transparency, and accountability for public involvement and funding can help to mitigate any criticisms. Detailed record keeping of monies, jobs, program management, and public outreach in a timely fashion and on a regular reporting basis can address criticisms effectively. 4. Georgetown University, Case Western Reserve University, Kent State University, and Other Academic Partners Risks University reputations and prestige at risk in any new venture Criticism about academic relevance of involvement in the cluster Use of scarce university resources for project No student or alumni interest/support for outreach programs

Benefits Cluster success adds to reputations of participating universities and schools. Cluster demonstrates value of university outreach programs in terms of knowledge gained and management of resources. Knowledge gained about sociology, economics, and business management of formation and operation of public-private endeavors to solve real world problems. Academic disciplines related to bio-mechanical engineering and design, robotics, electronics, healthcare, physical rehabilitation, and art/aesthetics/fashion gain experience and expertise in real world applications of knowledge and knowledge development.

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University students get opportunities to work on cutting edge science and technology with companies leading change in the adaptive world, perhaps leading to jobs after graduation.

5. SPIRE Institute Risks SPIRE becomes overcommitted too soon, losing focus, and is not able to maintain the intensity needed over time to make the Adaptive Cluster a success. Unable to secure adequate funding in a timely fashion and/or on a longterm basis. Unable to attract students, workers, experts to its facilities. Benefits From the SPIRE Mission statement: SPIRE Institute exists to unlock the full potential of the human spiritSPIRE is for high achieving athletes training to reach their peak, but it is just as tailored to high school students and active seniors, Paralympians and Special Olympians, Wounded Warriors and weekend warriors. Our only criteria for acceptance are a love of sports and a desire to strengthen your mind, body and character. SPIREs mission statement ties directly to the idea of an adaptive community. SPIRE facilities will be maximized for optimal use through Adaptive Cluster ventures. Mitigation SPIRE has already established partnerships that will mitigate the risks potentially associated with development of an Adaptive Cluster. Associations with Parker Hannifin, the VA, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and Georgetown University lend credibility, which lend stability over time. The partnerships established to date speak highly of SPIRE and plans associated with the organization. This means that other government agencies, non-governmental organizations, companies, and universities will be more likely to join and participate.

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Political
1. Government Threats Political/personal agendas of career politicians Slow and manual government processes and procedures Multi-government/territory collaboration Government budget cuts and low human capital Response to communitys distrust/unrest/frustration/issues Growth Cultivate individual relations with the people and community. The role of the politician is to represent the people and what they want. If the cluster gains the approval/acceptance of the people, then the career politician will have to follow suite. Gain a clear understanding of the process and procedures and plan transactions and application packages accordingly. If it is a known fact that the local government takes three months to approve a certain item, then allocate four to five months within the timeline of all projects. Identify early on which government entities (i.e. Ashtabula County, Geneva-On-the-Lake, Harpersfield Township, etc.) are involved or required to execute the project. Plan ahead to allow time to accommodate government approvals and processes. Must deliberately communicate with the community and anticipate how the government will respond to people. If you reach the community first, the government should follow. 2. Regulations Threats Taxes Zoning requirements Permits Rules and regulations need to accommodate the adaptive community Growth

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See if government can offer incentives or have programs that would decrease (if not alleviate) certain taxes. Identify the zoning requirements up front and determine if they are appropriate for the particular project. If not, work with government and communities to see if re-zoning can take place. Offer incentives that would help alleviate government burdens (i.e. develop additional water/sewer lines between spare locations at no cost to the government/taxpayers). Identify what permits are required to implement projects and place that application process within the project timeline with room for flexibility and error. Know your business and customer in addition to the laws and rules already established.

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V. Communications Plan
By developing an innovative Adaptive Cluster, a unique opportunity is presented to revolutionize and revitalize both Northeast Ohio and the adaptive community. A clearly identified brand, consistent messaging, and dedicated partners will aid in shaping the Adaptive Cluster by communicating the economic cluster to a wide set of stakeholders.

Key Publics
1. Colleges and Universities Northeast Ohio has 29 colleges and universities, many with thriving programs committed to the exploration of applied sciences and technologies that can support the Adaptive Cluster in the Northeast Ohio region (U.S. News & World Reports). Cleveland State University is home to the Fenn College of Engineering, which offers a specialization in Applied Biomedical Engineering in conjunction with the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic Foundation, a non-profit academic center. Youngstown State University is investing in interdisciplinary science programs. According to a recent study, Youngstown State University (YSU) is the first Ohio University to create a College of STEM science, technology, engineering and mathematics that led to YSU being designated by the Ohio Board of Regents as urban research university. (Getchey & McCartney, 2010) Case Western Reserve University, located in Cleveland, Ohio, ranks 12th among private institutions and 24th overall in federal expenditures for science and engineering research development. Moreover, the Case Western Reserve University School of Engineering ranks among the nation's top 50 graduate engineering programs by U.S. News & World Report, and top 10 in biomedical engineering (U.S. News & World Reports). 2. Companies: Northeast Ohio There are several corporate leaders in the adaptive technology and XO skeletal research in Northeast Ohio. Parker Hannifin, a Fortune 500 company known for the engineering of motion and control technology, recently announced an alliance with SPIRE Institute to study human motion control technologies. WillowWood, which is located in Mt. Sterling, Ohio, are an industry leader in the

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design, manufacturing and distribution of prosthetic products. In addition, located just west of Cleveland in Elyria, Ohio, is Invacare, a major manufacturer of homecare products to keep consumers active in their own homes and communities. Recently, Invacare has expanded into the service industry, focusing on a wide range of programs like interior design, injury reduction and facility compliance. Also, located in Ohio are the following companies that are vital to the future of a Adaptive Cluster in Northeast Ohio: Prosthetics Design Inc., Acor, Inc., AcuTemp, AMT Systems Engineering, Inc., AxioMed Spine Corporation, and Ace Prosthetics. Ten of the countrys top 18 medical device manufacturers currently have facilities in the Cleveland area, including Johnson & Johnson, GE Healthcare, Philips Medical Systems, and Steris. Additionally, medical devicerelated employment is growing statewide, as reflected in an almost 20% growth in bioscience jobs from 2000 to 2009. 34% of the states medtech jobs are concentrated in and around Cleveland. 3. Companies: External Outside companies with parallel industries that cross-promote the adaptive community market include health care, alternative health care providers, elderly and disabled services, health clubs, specialty hospitals, sports coaching, adaptive and sporting equipment, transportation/mobility, medical devices, athletic wear, and sports teams are prospective targets for supporting the creation of this the economic cluster. 4. Medical Community Along with the strong potential for corporate innovation and opportunity, Northeast Ohio has a significant amount of medical innovation that is also applicable to the Adaptive Cluster. The world-renowned Cleveland Clinic is ranked as the number one Cardiology and Heart Surgery Hospital in the world (U.S. News & World Report). In addition, the Cleveland Clinic has just launched an Aquatic Therapy Program that is focused on aiding rehabilitation for the adaptive community. Geneva, Ohio is serviced by UH Geneva Medical Center, a Federally-designated Critical Access Hospital, part of the University Hospitals healthcare system associated with Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. This center serves a 20 mile radius in Northeast Ohio.

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5. Government Agencies Northeast Ohio benefits from local access to Federal government agencies such as NASAs Glenn Research Center that is committed to scientific research and exploration. Also, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has dedicated resources to the exploration of robotics and XO skeletal technology. Most recently, the NSF just finished building the worlds fastest two-legged robot (National Science Foundation). Other government agencies have committed significant resources to the adaptive community: The Department of Veterans Affairs (Veterans Health Administration) awarded $7.5 million to the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to provide community-based recreation and sport activities for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces. The SPIRE Institute and USOC are currently working towards an alliance, and SPIRE held several sporting events featuring athletes with disabilities, including the U.S. Olympic Mens Wheelchair Basketball Team. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Department of Defenses innovation engine tasked with maintaining the technological superiority of the U.S. military, funded the creation of a robotic exoskeleton suit to aid paralyzed people to walk. The Rehabilitation Services Administration under the Department of Education provides leadership and resources to assist state and other agencies in providing vocational rehabilitation, independent living and other services to individuals with disabilities to maximize their employment, independence and integration into the community and the competitive labor market.

6. Local Region The Northeast Ohio region consists of 16 counties with a population of 4.1 million people. The areas $170 Billion economy places it in the top 25 nationally and at number 42 globally. Residents maintain jobs primarily in the services, manufacturing and retail industries (Cleveland Plus Business). The recent success of the healthcare, manufacturing, aerospace and energy technology industries in Northeast Ohio owe their success to the areas long

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history of innovation and entrepreneurship (Northeast Ohio Trade and Economic Consortium). 7. Adaptive Community The adaptive community is rooted in three main categories: 1) technological advances in adaptive resources focused on athletics and soldiers, 2) inclusivity in educational equity, and 3) accessibility in work places and public spaces. Innovative leaders in embracing the spirit of adaptive and inclusive practices historically have been the sports and recreation industry, the natural resources industry, and the technology industry.

Brand Positioning
It is important that the Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County be the first step in this communications strategy is to create a branding campaign for this community/cluster. It is recommended that it use the following key frames to align its position: Association The brand will need to evoke an image separate from the current perception of the Northeast Ohio Rust Belt, but rather align with the SPIRE Institute mission to to unlock the full potential of the human spirit via athletics, academics and service. Pre-empting Competitors The Adaptive Cluster in Northeast Ohio is without competition in the world. The opportunities presented to our Key Publics are wide open. Credibility The Adaptive Cluster has aligned itself with extremely credible partners including SPIRE Institute, Georgetown University, Michael Johnson, and Aimee Mullins.

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Lifestyle The Adaptive Cluster in Northeast Ohio creates opportunities to increase the quality of life of not only those in the adaptive community, but also those who live in the Northeast Ohio region, and organically to everyone who identifies with the adaptive community.

Messaging
City Lab Mission Statement Pioneer the development of a sustainable Northeast Ohio economic cluster that attracts connects and creates entities, which generate the research, products and opportunities to serve the stakeholders of the adaptive community. Primary Message 1. Considering the history of the adaptive movements and recent technological advances, a Adaptive Cluster is ready to convene. 2. Innovative leaders in embracing the spirit of adaptive and inclusive practices historically have been the Sport and Recreation community, the Natural Resources community, and the IT community. These movements have had varying degrees of success through disparate efforts globally. A centralized geographic location to organize efforts, messaging, and research has been missing to propel this movement forward. Currently there are no competing economic clusters focusing on the adaptive community in the world. 3. Recent technological advances in motion technology and biomedical engineering have made inclusivity in physical activities for those in the adaptive community possible in ways never imagined before. In Northeast Ohio, partnerships between companies like Parker Hannifin, the industry leader in the development of motion and control training since the 1970s, and SPIRE Institute are forming. Secondary Message 1. An Adaptive Cluster would boost national and regional economy, as well as support and magnify national and regional character and innovation.

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2. Economic clusters have proven to boost economy by providing jobs and boosting residency. The positive impacts of clusters on job creation and growth, housing prices, and human capital development can be summarized by the following (Saxenian, 1996): Create a transition path from unemployment or underemployment to high-skill jobs On average, jobs within clusters pay higher wages On average, housing prices within clusters increase Regional industries based on inherent place-based advantages are less susceptible to off shoring. Create many new job opportunities for American workers Connect disenfranchised communities to new career and educational opportunities Stabilize communities by re-purposing idle manufacturing assets, engaging underutilized human capital, and contributing to improvements in the quality of life Increased numbers of business spin-offs Increase regional prosperity

3. Advancing the Adaptive Cluster is a step forward in equality for all people. This cluster aligns with national standards as initiated by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and civil rights movements that strive to increase accessibility and opportunities afforded to each individual despite their physical abilities. Tertiary Message 1. Northeast Ohio is uniquely situated to serve as the nucleus for the Adaptive Cluster. 2. Northeast Ohio is rich in history to support an international economic cluster. Natural resources in Ohio, such as its abundant waterways and tenable land, have supported the regions industries and innovations. Lake Erie provided transportation for early traders and easily navigable shipping routes for goods for industrial manufacturers. Ohios history is also steeped in a tradition of business and ingenuity as exemplified by the success of early Ohioan entrepreneurs like William Proctor, an English-American candle maker, and James Gamble, an Irish-American soap maker, who started Proctor and Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1837.

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3. Other resources include: Healthcare A strong healthcare infrastructure with nationally ranked healthcare providers, such as the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals Health System, and Summa Health System, Akron General Medical Center, and Akron Childrens Hospital, provide world-class healthcare and also drive the region's strong healthcare sector. Recreation Abundant and pristine natural resources to sustain population health and recreation: Northeast Ohio is home to over 200 accessible public green spaces and waterways. SPIRE Institute SPIRE Institute, located in Geneva, Ohio has a mission to to unlock the full potential of the human spirit, combined with cutting edge facilities which can incubate a Adaptive Cluster.

Key Publics Messaging These messages should be used in the initial branding campaign and all strategies/tactics following for communicating the Adaptive Cluster in Northeast Ohio to its Key Publics. These messages can also be tailored to address the specific needs of the Key Publics: Colleges and Universities Emphasis can be placed on the necessity of curriculum development in adaptive sciences for training of the clusters workforce. Corporations: Northeast Ohio Emphasis can be placed on the identification and training of potential workforce, and business opportunities. Corporations: External Emphasis can be placed on funding sources, business relationships, and additional training and skills for entrepreneurship. Government Agencies Emphasis can be placed on aligning regional and national initiatives to job growth. Medical Community Emphasis can be placed on the research and development, and new patient opportunities derived by the cluster.

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Local Region Emphasis can be placed on how the cluster will benefit the region and encourage economic growth by providing more employment and education opportunities. Adaptive Community Emphasis can be placed on a centralized geographic location of research and innovation.

Strategies and Tactics

The following charts illustrate the various strategies and tactics that will be used to implement elements of the communications plan. They include plans for branding and messaging, social media and web, live events, government outreach, and traditional media.

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Branding and Messaging

Medium/ Delivery Method Logo/ Slogan Branding, Internet, Development Connectio Broadcast, n and Print Media Definition Traditional PR To create Internet, campaign press and Broadcast, buzz Print Media, around Social Media events, relationshi ps, information , & highlight accomplis hments Transportation Saturate- Print ads Advertising Brand located at (Airport Connect airports and Banners, and define transportation Metro etc) the cluster, hubs in NE generate Ohio interest and press Tactic Objective

Audience

Type of Message

Start Date Jan 2012

Frequency Fully Developed by March 2012 On-going

All Branding Stakeholde rs

All Branding, Jan 2012 Stakeholde Informational rs , Awareness, Marketing Further Development Engagement Enticing

All Branding, May 2012 Stakeholde Awareness, rs Marketing

As needed

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Social Media and Web

Medium/ Type of Delivery Audience Start Date Message Method Website To provide a Internet-sub Residents Marketing Spring to -Blog discussion site of an Local Informational Summer -RSS Feed forum & a existing Businesses 2012 - Wiki Entry medium that economic Non-Profits can be developmen accessed t website virtually Social Media To provide Internet ie Local Marketing Summer current Facebook, Businesses Informational 2012 cluster LinkedIn and Non-Profits updates & Twitter trends Series of 3- Visibly Internet Government, Informational Jan 2012 Minute connect Viral Potential and , Enticing, Webvideos NEO to Marketing currently Marketing Adaptive local Community Businesses, Developmen Potential and t, mentally current connect the residents,non potential for -profits growth and development Tactic Objective Series of Live Emotionally Internet Webchats engage & Viral give a face Marketing to the cluster Government, Informational Feb 2012 Potential and Enticing, currently Marketing local Businesses, Potential and current residents,non -profits

Frequency Ongoingupdate as needed

Weekly updates

Launch via Website and Facebook Page early Jan 2012, first series of vids begins cycling: 1 new video every 3 days up to 10 videos. First Live Webchat in early March 2012, with 1 every 4-6 weeks to follow up to 6 live webchats.

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Medium/ Delivery Method Web Banners SaturateInternet Brand Viral Connect and Marketing define the cluster, generate interest and press Tactic Objective

Audience

Type of Message

Start Date Jan 2012

Frequency Change add 3 new banners every 4 months in 1st year and change once a year after that

Government, Branding, Potential and Marketing currently local Businesses, Potential and current residents,non -profits

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Live Events
Tactic Community Events (ie. picnics ,BBQs, luncheons) Objective Seek community involvement & build enthusiasm Medium/ Delivery Audience Method Face-to-face Residents Type of Message Start Date Frequency Bi-annually

Marketing Mar 2012 Informational

SPIRE Tours To build Face-to-face All Informational Feb 2012 awareness Stakeholders Marketing of cluster & City Lab Nationally Engage local Face-to-face Government Marketing Spring 2012 Supported and remote Local and Informational Events (ie. citizens in Federal, Engagement Lets Move NEO Local and CAST) Adaptive Business,non supporting -profits activities, Educate the public and institutions on the cluster, generate positive press, align with national and regional objectives

By appointment

Bi Monthly for first year - twice a year after that

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Local, County, State, and Other Government Outreach

Medium/ Type of Delivery Audience Start Date Message Method Strategic To gain Print Governments Informational Feb 2012 Informational support from Face-to-face ,non-profits Outreach Briefings local and and Support national governments - to broaden scope and generate positive press and international awareness Tactic Objective

Frequency Identify local and national champions Develop written briefings to request or hearings or meetings by April 2012 try to align with supporting local and national policy

Traditional Media

Tactic Newsletter

Objective

Press Releases Radio, Television Broadcast

To build awareness & enthusiasm Streamline Print, Email messaging Streamline messaging

Medium/ Delivery Method Email

Audience

Type of Message

Start Date

Frequency Quarterly

All Marketing Jan 2012 Stakeholder Informational s Traditional Informational Jan 2012 Media sources Traditional Media sources Informational Jan 2013

Ongoing

Recordings

Ongoing

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Sustained Outreach and Engagement

Tactic Outreach & Awareness Building Sessions Roundtable Discussions

Objective Inform community of cluster

Medium/ Type of Delivery Audience Start Date Frequency Message Method Face to face Residents Informational Spring 2012 Bi-monthly Local Businesses Local Informational Summer Colleges Marketing 2012 &Universitie s, Vocational Schools Hospitals Bi-annually

Town Hall Meetings

Leverage Georgetown University relationship with Team Services for Prospecting Leverage relationships with USOC, Parker Hannifin, SPIRE, MedStar, etc.

Recruit Face to face institutions that will provide innovation & research as well as workforce training & education To establish Face-to-face a line of communicati on with lawmakers and local businesses To identify Face-to-face and directly communicat e with multinational businesses outside of NEO To identify Face-to-face and directly communicat e with multinational businesses outside of NEO

Local Informational Jan 2012 Businesses Local Government

Quarterly

Outside Awareness, Jan 2012 Businesses Marketing Further Development Engagement Enticing

On-going

Outside Awareness, Jan 2012 Businesses Marketing Further Development Engagement Enticing

On-going

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Medium/ Delivery Audience Method Identify To create Face-to-face All Adaptive relationships Stakeholder Associations with s (less and companies Residents) Conferences and individuals who are thought leaders in Adaptive community Attend To create Face-to-face All Association awareness, Stakeholder Conferences and s (less as presenter relationships Residents) and vendor , communicat e directly with thought leaders and multinational companies outside of NEO Create To convene Face-to-face All Adaptive thought Stakeholder Conference/ leaders and s Summit in multinational coordination companies with around Paralympics Adaptive and/or issues, Wounded advances, Warriors information events at SPIRE Institute Tactic Objective

Type of Message

Start Date

Frequency On-going

Awareness, Jan 2012 Marketing Further Development Engagement

Branding, TBD Informational , Awareness, Marketing Further Development Engagement Enticing

On-going

Branding, TBD Informational , Awareness, Marketing Further Development Engagement Enticing

TBD

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Medium/ Delivery Audience Method Attend the To create Face-to-face All 2012 relationships Stakeholder Paralympics with s (Less in London industry, Residents) thoughtleaders in adaptive paracommunity Tactic Objective

Type of Message

Start Date

Frequency Once

Branding, Aug 2012 Informational , Awareness, Marketing Further Development Engagement Enticing

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