There are many ways that an industry cluster can start. Some prevalent factors include:
Access to employees with specialized skills
A university research center
Desirable physical location
Well-developed infrastructure
Developing clusters reach a point of critical mass, attracting other businesses, people, and ideas needed for sustenance and growth. Specialized suppliers emerge, local institutions develop training, government works to further develop legislature and needed infrastructure.
For a cluster to succeed, a confluence of factors are necessary, including healthy competition, a climate of entrepreneurship, and strong inter-relationships. There are a number of factors that distinguish today's formalized industry cluster:
A formal business plan
Organizational skills
Cooperation of the community stakeholders
Educational system (programs, training, research)
Workforce development at all levels
Efficient transportation of products
Competition in the local region
Integration and modification of multiple foreign technologies
