Global Cluster of Innovation theory and practice in the 21st century: COI Components

The Cluster of Innovation [COI] Framework provides a set of tools and structures to help articulate, visualize, understand, and navigate the rapidly evolving innovation economy. The Framework functions as a lens that brings the elements (components) of the COI and their behaviors into sharp focus and allows observers to track their evolution over time. This is of increased importance as the innovation economy disseminates around the world. This chapter provides an introduction to the COI Framework, extended with an enhanced perspective that has evolved since its first introduction in 2009. Of utmost significance are two key findings. First, the ecosystems' interactions and functions can be clarified by sorting the participants into two broad categories: core and supporting components. Second, the behaviors of the participants, how they interact, are more important than a strict definition of the components. Simply said, "Culture rules". This insight should have profound impact on innovation policy, strategy and practice.