Author Margaret O'Mara  was able to boil down the historical and cultural ingredients that helped formed the Slicon Valley. Her key pieces of advice are:

1. "Give alot of money to brilliant people -- and stay out of their way."
2. "Find yourelf a top-notch university, preferably one with room to spare."
3. "Don't forget that location matters -- and that people vote with their feet."

I invite you to read the article and explore the ideas within it.  

The article is located at  http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/08/16/dont_try_this_at_home