A cluster is a network between businesses for production and universities for research that facilitates the creation of knowledge and high industrialization. Silicon Valley in the U.S. and the Japanese Toyota Cluster are examples of such clusters.

Commerce Minister Lee Hee-beom issued his ministry's “Project for Developing Innovative Industrial Clusters” during a national task meeting presided by President Roh Moo-hyun at Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday.

The project aims to foster six industrial sites at Changwon, Gumi, Ulsan, Panwol-Sihwa, Gwangju, and Wonju into innovative industrial clusters that focus on research and development and the support of enterprises.

Before the announcement of this project, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy had designated Deadeok Science Town and Osong an R&D cluster and bioengineering cluster, respectively.

(Park Soon-wuk, swpark@chosun.com )