Compete.org — Council on Competitiveness

Publications

  • Engage

    “Engage.”

    A Practitioner’s Guide for Effective Engagement of Business Leaders in Regional Development

    One of the biggest challenges in implementing regional development efforts is recruiting business leaders who lend their insight, influence and financial resources to these projects. This guide lays out a series of recommendations aimed at helping regions recruit, develop and sustain the involvement of business leaders. It is the result of a partnership between the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration’s (ETA) Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) Initiative and the Council on Competitiveness.

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  • Talent_Kempner Chapter B

    “The Talent Imperative for Older Industrial Areas.”

    Chapter 3 of Retooling for Growth

    In Retooling for Growth, experts present new frameworks, cutting-edge analysis, and innovative policy solutions through which the nation's government, business, civic and community leaders can sculpt a sustainable and supportable economy for older industrial areas. The unique focus on rehabilitating weak market cities outlines ideas for reshaping the role of public agencies, the workforce, business organizations, and technology. Implementation of these measures addresses challenges such as fostering entrepreneurship, reducing poverty and inequality, and maintaining and augmenting the number of skilled professionals who reside and work in a community, among others.

    Randall T. Kempner, vice president of Regional Innovation for the Council on Competitiveness, contributed the chapter “The Talent Imperative for Older Industrial Areas”, focusing on the global labor-related challenges these areas face.

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  • Cooperate

    “Cooperate.”

    A Practitioner’s Guide for Effective Alignment of Regional Development and Higher Education

    This guide is the result of a partnership between the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration’s (ETA) Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) Initiative and the Council on Competitiveness. It examines the critical importance of institutions of higher education to the global competitive advantage of regional economies.

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  • Asset Mapping Roadmap

    “Illuminate.”

    Asset Mapping Roadmap: A Guide to Assessing Regional Development Resources

    This guidebook is designed to help regional leaders understand the theory and practice of asset mapping, make a decision about what level of asset mapping is appropriate for their region and provide an easy-to-use guide for implementation.

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  • Mid-Michigan Regional Innovation Assessment

    “Mid-Michigan Regional Innovation Assessment.”

    The Mid-Michigan Innovation Team, through a Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grant from the Department of Labor, has made significant progress in addressing the challenges facing the Mid-Michigan region.

    This assessment was presented by Randall Kempner, vice president for regional innovation at the Council, at the Mid-Michigan Innovation Team Town Hall Meeting in spring 2007 and used public data, interviews with community leaders and a survey of business leaders to evaluate the innovation assets, networks and culture of the 13 counties in the Mid-Michigan region.
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  • Governor’s Guide to Cluster-Based Strategies for Growing State Economies

    “Governor’s Guide to Cluster-Based Strategies for Growing State Economies.”

    A collaboration with the National Governors Association

    Cluster strategies have the potential to accelerate regional economic growth, but only if they are properly understood and applied. The Governor’s Guide examines the changing economic environment in which clusters function, summarizes the lessons learned from recent experience, and offers practical recommendations for cluster initiatives that governors can take to strengthen their states’ economies.
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  • National Cluster

    “Clusters of Innovation Initiative: Regional Foundations of U.S. Competitiveness.”

    This national report draws heavily upon five regional studies and synthesizes the implications for any region that seeks to improve its economic performance. The report examines the composition and performance of regional economies, how industry clusters develop and innovation arises, how clusters affect a region's economic future, and how a region can establish a strategy and action program to drive its economy and clusters forward. The framework employed and the lessons learned apply to every region of the country.

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  • Catalyzing Cross-Border Innovation: The Mexican Life Sciences Initiative

    “Catalyzing Cross-Border Innovation: The Mexican Life Sciences Initiative.”

    Phase I Report December 2005

    The Regional Innovation Initiative, in partnership with the Council’s global team and Global Bioeconomy Consulting, performed a cluster study of the Life Sciences sector in Mexico. The study analyzed the regional capacity in the life sciences sector in three regions: Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara. This report provides recommendations to support the growth of the industry in these regions.
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  • Measuring Reg Innovation 0308

    “Measuring Regional Innovation.”

    A Guidebook for Conducting Regional Innovation Assessments

    Measuring Regional Innovation has been created to help regions assess their regional innovation environment. It outlines a process for collecting data on key measures of innovation that can then be used to drive regional economic development policies and programs. In addition, the guidebook metrics can be used to develop an ongoing evaluation tool for regions tracking their innovation economy.
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  • Regional Innovation National Prosperity

    “Regional Innovation National Prosperity.”

    Prepared for the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration

    Regional Innovation, National Prosperity is a summary of the Regional Competitiveness Initiative as well as the proceedings of the National Summit on Regional Innovation, held in April 2005. Integrating the Council’s findings from the past two years and the conference discussions, this report identifies five key cross-cutting issues faced by regions seeking to build innovation-based strategies and suggests potential responses to these challenges.
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