In the field of economic innovation research, "clusters" (geographical concentrations of related companies) are of great importance due to their extreme productivity and innovation. Seen from the perspective of this type of innovation research, this article presents possible mechanisms which could stand in the path of regional cooperation. Geographical proximity is not enough to spark successful cooperation. The article identifies indifference as a central hurdle on the path to regional cooperation and proposes the principle of "small steps" as a possible solution. It then goes on to address the topic of how to balance rivalry and trust, before ending with a brief outline of some conclusions on how to carry out strategic cooperation.