The language Porter uses in his book The Competitive Advantage of Nations (1990) to describe clusters:  links, linkages, linkage mechanisms, connections, interconnections, communications channels, networks.   This is the language of the Internet.
	Porter describes his diamond model for upgrading clusters as “interactive.”
	MBBNet was designed from the beginning in 1994-95 to provide the links Porter describes as an essential characteristic of clusters.
	University of Minnesota conducts 90% of the publicly funded research in the state, more than $500 million/year.
	University of Minnesota has a high level of patenting and licensing activity and ranks among the top five universities nationally for spinning out business start-ups.
	Michael Porter’s research shows that the Twin Cities area and Rochester have a higher level of patenting activity than comparable regions
	There is renewed interest in innovation and entrepreneurship and how they are related.