RIC OMB ICR – Appendix D-5 Cluster Administrator Survey
OMB Approval number: 3245-0392
Expiration Date: 04/30/2026
Cluster Administrator Survey
These questions ask about the number of participants in your cluster-organized events/activities and the amount of time and funding that went towards each type of event/activity. These questions provide a sense of the cluster universe size and overall cluster operations.
How many of these types of entities participated in your cluster events or activities in Federal Fiscal Year [XXXX]?
Small businesses: ___________
Partner organizations: ___________
Business associations: ___________
Entrepreneurial support organizations (ESO) (e.g., Apex Accelerators and Small Business Development Center (SBDC)) : __________
Universities or research institutions: ___________
Public sector agencies: ___________
Foundations: ___________
Nonprofit organizations: ___________
Other, specify: ___________
Please estimate the percentage of your cluster's SBA funding that was used in Federal Fiscal Year [XXXX], toward:
[Note to the programmer: the system ensures the total sums-up to 100%]
One-on-one counseling/technical assistance of small businesses: _________
Group events/activities: _________
Information dissemination (e.g., newsletters, industry-relevant database, virtual collaboration platforms): ________
Other activities that did not include interaction with cluster participants (e.g., cluster management, strategic planning): _________
The next questions address the number of small businesses that were assisted, the modes of assistance, and the areas of focus for assistance. These questions provide a sense of cluster operations directed towards small businesses, specifically.
Overall, how many small businesses were provided with one-on-one counseling, technical assistance, or support in Federal Fiscal Year [XXXX]?
What were the modes of one-on-one counseling and technical assistance for small businesses?
Select all that apply.
In-person
Telephone
Web conference
Other, specify
What were the areas of focus of one-on-one counseling and technical assistance? Select all that apply.
Business development
Intellectual property
Licensing of new technology
Commercialization of new technology
Obtaining patents
Export/import
Marketing strategies
Financing (e.g., private equity, loans, SBIR/STTR, grants)
Contracting and subcontracting with government, corporate, nonprofit, or other sources
Partnership/alliances/collaboration
Business certifications
Other, specify
The next questions address the number of cluster-sponsored group events/activities (globally) that were conducted, the average number of entities that attended, and the areas of focus of the group events/activities.
How many of these types of cluster-sponsored group events or activities did your cluster conduct in Federal Fiscal Year [XXXX]?
Training and workshops: ____________
Networking: ____________
Matchmaking (e.g., small business referrals, teaming facilitation and support): ____________
Showcasing (e.g., technology and prototype demonstrations to third parties, trade exhibitions): ____________
Other specify: ____________
On average, how many businesses, organizations, agencies, institutions, or other types of entities participated in each of these types of events or activities? Select all that apply.
Training and workshops: ____________
Networking: ____________
Matchmaking: ____________
Showcasing: ____________
Other, specify: ____________
What were the areas of focus of the group events/activities? Select all that apply.
Business development
Intellectual property
Licensing of new technology
Commercialization of new technology
Obtaining patents
Export/import
Marketing strategies
Financing (e.g., private equity, loans, SBIR/STTR, grants)
Contracting and subcontracting with government, corporate, nonprofit, or other sources
Partnership/alliances/collaboration
Business certifications
Other, specify
The following questions are important to better understand how clusters develop/define relationships and to get a better sense of how formal vs. informal partnerships help the clusters achieve their goals. For the purposes of this survey, both formal and informal partnerships are those relationships that are essential to a cluster’s operations and provision of supports and services. Formal partnerships are defined as having an official or contractual agreement in place.
Types of formal partnerships
Which types of formal agreements do you typically use for partnerships? Select all that apply.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
Letter of Intent (LOI)
Contract
Other, specify
Ecosystem Engagement
How many formal and informal partnerships did your cluster establish with these types of organizations or resources?
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How many formal partnerships |
How many informal partnerships |
SBA resource partners (WBC, VBOC, SCORE, etc.) |
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SBA programs or loans |
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Other Federal Government agencies |
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State or local government agencies |
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Foundations, nonprofits, and nongovernment organizations |
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Business organizations, associations, and chambers of commerce |
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Large firms, corporations, and companies |
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Innovation-driven enterprises (growing firms and startups focused on innovation) |
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Financing sources (banks, venture capital, etc.) |
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Universities |
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Community colleges |
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Research centers and institutes |
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Local community organizations |
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Business incubators and accelerators |
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Other, specify |
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[Note to survey programmer: table rows with auto populate with each type of organization or resource that has at least one informal relationship reported in Q10 above] What was the overall strength of these informal partnerships in terms of sharing information and planning and implementing activities?
Overall strength of partnerships with: |
Very Weak |
Weak |
Moderate |
Strong |
Very Strong |
Federal Government agencies |
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State or local government agencies |
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Etc. |
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How many formal and informal partnerships did your cluster establish with organizations or resources that are focused on underserved populations?
Note: Underserved populations include racial and ethnic minority, LGBTQ+, disabled, low-income, women, veterans, immigrants, and rural residents.
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How many formal partnerships |
How many informal partnerships |
Foundations, nonprofits, and nongovernment organizations (e.g., Urban League, National Disability Institute, Native American Development Corporation) |
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Business organizations, associations (e.g., Black Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Business Center, Veteran Entrepreneur Alliance) |
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Financing sources (e.g., Native Fund, Hawaiian Lending and Investments) |
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Local community organizations (e.g., places of worship, Immigrants Assistance Center) |
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Universities (e.g., HBCUs, Hispanic-serving Institution (HSI), ) |
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Community colleges |
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Research centers and institutes (e.g., Syracuse University Institute for Veterans & Military Families) |
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Other, specify |
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Driving Small Business to the Innovation Ecosystem
This next question seeks to capture the events/activities conducted by clusters that specifically increase small businesses’ participation in the innovation ecosystem. It is important for this evaluation that we identify specific methods of ecosystem development.
Did your cluster conduct any of these events/activities focused on increasing small businesses’ participation in the innovation ecosystem? Innovation can include activities focused on developing new or improving existing technology, products, services, or production/delivery methods. Select all that apply.
Networking and matchmaking events
Showcasing and demonstration events
Field day with other small businesses
Field day with other Federal/State/Local agencies
Multi-stakeholder workshops
One-on-one training sessions
Conference/seminar
Community events
Media outreach about the cluster ecosystem
Official “launch parties”
Web-based communication tools and systems
Other, specify
The next two questions focus on the extent to which the cluster is actively advancing equity among underserved small businesses within the ecosystem through marketing efforts and events/activities focused on underserved communities.
[Note to survey programmer: table rows will auto populate based on responses to Q13 above] To what extent did these activities have representation of underserved communities?
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Not at all |
A little |
Somewhat |
Much |
Very much |
Networking and matchmaking events |
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Showcasing and demonstration events |
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Etc. |
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[Note to survey programmer: table rows will auto populate based on responses to Q13 above] To what extent were your marketing efforts tailored to reach underserved communities?
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Not at all |
A little |
Somewhat |
Much |
Very much |
Networking and matchmaking events |
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Showcasing and demonstration events |
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Etc. |
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| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | Nicholas Bahel |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2024-07-20 |