Exploring the microgeography and typology of U.S. high-tech clusters

Abstract

Despite the principal role of high-tech clusters in local planning practice and research, their location and sectoral typology at the granular level have been rarely studied. This study explores the location of U.S. high-tech clusters at a micro-scale by employing firm-level data sets and spatial statistics and examines their sectoral typology using market concentration indices in 52 large U.S regions. The majority (80 %) of the 627 tech clusters we identify have multiple dominant tech industries or are specialized in professional services. Furthermore, while clusters form the major regional hubs for the high-tech economy, they are home to a very small share (7 %, on average) of regional population. U.S. regions also have widely diverse spatial patterns of high-tech clusters; although some regions have scattered clusters, the New York and Northern California high-tech booming regions have clusters concentrated in central business districts (CBDs). Last, U.S. high-tech clusters and the overall high-tech economy are strongly shaped by the location and performance of professional services, i.e., consulting, legal, computer, engineering, and architectural services.