The focus was on how innovation and high value-added industry could best be promoted and supported over the next decade in increasingly competitive marketplaces, with particular reference to clustering.

The presentations from this high-level event are available, and can be downloaded here.

• Matthew Bullock, Norwich & Peterborough Building Society:
  "Understanding Regional Economies and Clusters: The Eastern Region"

• Professor Richard Lester, the Industrial Performance Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT):
  "Universities and local systems of innovation: A Strategic Approach"

• Professor Ron Martin, Department of Geography, and The Cambridge-MIT Institute, University of Cambridge, and Paul Miller and Steve Mayes, Trends Business Research, Newcastle Upon Tyne.
  "The 'New' Economy: Myths, Realities and Regional Dynamics"

• Dr Andy Cosh and Professor Alan Hughes, Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge:
  "Knowledge-Based Firms: Constraints, Collaboration and Innovation"

• Dr Steve Casper, Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge and Professor Fiona Murray, Sloan School of Management, MIT:
  "Building Biotechnology Clusters: A comparative analysis of the role of scientific and technical labour markets in the development of biotech firms and biotech clusters"

• G M Peter Swann, Manchester Business School, University of Manchester:
  "High-Technology Clusters: Specialisation, Interaction and Transportation"