The model of the IT Cluster Kaiserslautern stipulates 5 layers, which build upon each other in the sense of an innovation and competence chain and complement each other synergetically. The actors - i.e., regional companies, institutions, organizations, etc. - are assigned to each layer based on the topics they focus on and on the portfolio of services offered. The 5 layers of the IT Cluster Kaiserslautern are:

Basic research: universities, universities of applied sciences, Max Planck institute Applied research institutes: Fraunhofer institutes, German Center for Artificial Intelligence, etc. Service providers (primary area) Research labs of large companies (secondary area) Development and production departments of large companies and service providers (secondary area)

The basic model presented here is complemented by taking into account specific 'application areas'. On the one hand, this additional orthogonal dimension permits emphasizing content-related foci. On the other hand, it allows stronger differentiation of the regional actors. The application areas of the IT Cluster Kaiserslautern can be found here.

Cluster

From an economic perspective, clusters are defined as regional networks consisting of manufacturers, suppliers, research institutions, service providers, and related institutions. On the one hand, they are interrelated along the value chain, e.g., based on their business activity. On the other hand, there are other, just as important forms of interaction that are expressed, for instance, through research collaborations. The mutual relationships between the actors, which are characterized either by competition or cooperation, primarily take place within a limited area and are facilitated and fostered through spatial vicinity.

Further information on the term cluster can be found, for example, at wikipedia.org.