(CFP Photo)
Jiangsu has four of China's 20 advanced manufacturing clusters newly honored by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in the third cohort.
An advanced manufacturing cluster refers to an industrial grouping formed by a large number of companies and institutions in proximity that carry out mutual cooperation and exchanges.
The four winners in Jiangsu are a cluster of offshore equipment and high-tech ships centered in Nantong, Taizhou and Yangzhou cities, a cluster of biomedical and high-end medical devices in Suzhou, a biomedical cluster in Taizhou, Lianyungang and Wuxi cities, and finally a high-end textile hub in Suzhou, Wuxi and Nantong cities.
The recognition also means Jiangsu has ten such advanced manufacturing clusters, ranking first in China.
The Taizhou-Lianyungang-Wuxi biomedical cluster features three "national bests." It has the most solid foundation in China with a total industrial output value of 304 billion yuan in 2021, accounting for 9% of the country's total, The industry has distinctive characteristics, such as 32 products exceeding the annual sales threshold of one billion yuan and 134 market-leading products. It also has the most vibrant innovation capacity while total R&D spending in 2021 reached 31 billion yuan, 10% of sales revenue. Four companies were named as the top 10 biomedical innovators in China for the year.
The Suzhou-based cluster of biomedical and high-end medical devices stands out for "four highs." The sales remained a high growth rate of more than 17% on average for five consecutive years. The cluster is home to more than 4,300 enterprises, with an average of 450 new enterprises registered each year, and innovation achievements have also flourished at a high growth. It also has a high concentration of quality resources such as 87 people recognized in the state-level talent programs, 13% of the country's total, and more than 70 funds related to the sector.
The Nantong-Taizhou-Yangzhou cluster achieved a total industrial output value of more than 210 billion yuan in 2021, accounting for more than 40% of the country's total in the sector. It also has four leading enterprises on the country's top 10 list and two of the world's top 10. The cluster has formed a full-fledged development ecosystem integrating R&D, design, materials, equipment and services. The localization rate in building three major types of vessels reached 65%, and it hit 25% for manufacturing special ships and offshore equipment.
The textile hub in Suzhou, Wuxi and Nantong cities also led the country in terms of industrial output value, industrial chain, and leading market performers. Industrial enterprises above designated size in the cluster achieved a revenue of 625.1 billion yuan in 2021.
