User:Social tamarisk

Research-Intensive Clusters (RICs) are groups of research-oriented organizations located in the same geographical area. These groups may be informally designated, or may have some formal association. Member-organizations are often universities, businesses, and non-profit research institutes.

Closely-related concepts include research associations (in general), research parks, economic clusters. RICs differ from generic research associations in that the member organizations must be geographically close to one another. RICs differ from research parks in that the member organizations are in separate locations within a geographical area, and are not sharing the same exact location. RICs differ from economic clusters because they focus on more research than on economic development, though for-profit businesses may certainly be members of both types of groups.

Other similar concepts include technology alliances and business parks. Technology alliances focus on the goal of improving economic development (regardless of research-intensity) - usually by providing services to technology companies. Business parks provide infrastructure/facilities to businesses, again regardless whether or not the businesses are doing any research there.