Accelerating the building of China into a strong manufacturing country is a major plan of the Party's 12th National Congress and an important way to build a modern industrial system. The Cluster competition of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is not only an important starting point to cultivate world-class advanced manufacturing cluster and accelerate the construction of manufacturing power, but also the highest industrial cluster competition in China.

On November 2, the winners of the third round of advanced manufacturing cluster finals by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology were announced. A total of 20 clusters were selected as the "national team". The high-end textile clusters in Suzhou, Wuxi and Nantong made the list, which was the first time that textile clusters were selected.

Jiangsu is a large province of traditional textile industry, among which Suzhou, Wuxi and Nantong have the most concentrated textile industry. Within the high-end textile cluster, Suxitong has achieved "three firsts", that is, the first in the country in terms of total industrial scale, complete industrial chain and number of leading enterprises. In 2021, Suxitong high-end textile cluster has achieved a business income of 652.1 billion yuan. At present, the cluster has gathered more than 8,500 textile enterprises, including 4,184 above-standard enterprises, with a number of "No.1", which also makes the three regions call out the higher goal of "advancing to the world-class textile industry cluster".

After several years of deep cultivation, the total number of state-level advanced manufacturing clusters in Jiangsu has reached 10, ranking first in China. Xu Jun, deputy director of Jiangsu Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, believes that the experience of Jiangsu cluster cultivation can be summarized into four points: firmly establish the goal of world-class level construction, strengthen the construction of excellent industrial chain, innovate the industrial chain cultivation mechanism, and optimize the policy supporting resources. At present, there are 148 industrial enterprises exceeding 10 billion yuan in Jiangsu Province, and 89 national manufacturing individual champions and 285 specialized and new "little giant" enterprises respectively. Cultivate the independent innovation ability of cluster enterprises, set up the national advanced functional fiber manufacturing innovation center in the high-end textile cluster, and set up the provincial manufacturing innovation center with enterprises as the innovation main body in the other 11 clusters. In a word, we will take multiple measures to create an "incubation pool" of various resources, so that more enterprises will grow into "towering trees" and eventually converge into "industrial forests".

Advanced manufacturing cluster refers to the industrial organization form formed by a large number of geographically adjacent enterprises and institutions through mutual cooperation and communication. It is regarded as the advanced form of deepening industrial division of labor and agglomeration development, and also the main symbol of high-quality development of manufacturing industry.

The MIIT Advanced Manufacturing Cluster Competition, which is considered to be the highest-level industrial cluster competition in China since it launched the cultivation of advanced manufacturing clusters in 2019, will finalize the list of key supporting clusters through the competition. Three rounds of advanced manufacturing cluster competition have been organized, and 25 clusters have won the first two rounds of cluster finals. To stand out in this showdown, which represents the highest level of domestic industrial cluster.

For the winners of the advanced manufacturing cluster final, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will implement special development actions, support the construction of manufacturing innovation centers within the cluster, strengthen government investment fund support and other measures to build a number of internationally competitive advanced manufacturing clusters, improve the clustering degree of the shortlisted industrial clusters, and play a good "international competition".

Behind the construction of advanced manufacturing cluster is the support of a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises characteristic industrial clusters. In September this year, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the Interim Measures for Promoting the Development of Characteristic Industrial Clusters of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, proposing that small and medium-sized enterprises as the main body should lead industrial clusters of small and medium-sized enterprises with strong core competitiveness, prominent advantages and characteristics, pooling of resources and elements, efficient collaboration network, perfect governance services and so on.

Interim Measures for Promoting the Development of Characteristic Industrial Clusters of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Centering on the five development concepts of innovation, coordination, green development, opening up and sharing, and based on strengthening the leading industries of characteristic industrial clusters of small and medium-sized enterprises, the Measures specify six key cultivation tasks:

First, enhance the advantages of cluster leading industries. We will accurately target leading cluster industries, smooth the cluster collaboration network, enhance specialized supporting capacity, promote the coordinated development of large, small and medium-sized enterprises, and strengthen the graded cultivation of high-quality small and medium-sized enterprises.

Second, stimulate the innovation vitality of clusters. We will support clusters in building various innovation facilities, carry out integrated innovation among large, small and medium-sized enterprises in leading industries, and carry out industry-university-research institute collaborative innovation in generic technologies, and strengthen the application of intellectual property rights and the development of standards.

Third, promote the digital upgrading of clusters. Strengthen the construction of new infrastructure, improve the digital management level of cluster, guide cluster enterprises to use the digital transformation guide and evaluation index of small and medium-sized enterprises, and improve the level of digital transformation.

Fourth, accelerate the green and low-carbon transformation of the cluster. Optimize cluster energy consumption structure, promote the application of clean energy, carry out energy-saving and green low-carbon technology transformation, and strengthen the comprehensive utilization of resources and pollution prevention and control.

Fifth, deepen the opening-up and cooperation of clusters. We will take an active part in the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, deepen cooperation in personnel, technology, capital and resources, deeply participate in international cooperation and exchanges, and establish a risk prevention and control mechanism.

Sixth, improve cluster governance and service capabilities. Strengthen the construction of cluster public service system, establish a cluster governance mechanism featuring "extensive consultation, joint contribution, sharing and win-win", strengthen the protection of the legitimate rights and interests of small and medium-sized enterprises, and formulate a cluster cultivation plan. Meanwhile, local departments in charge of small and medium-sized enterprises at all levels are required to give preferential policies to small and medium-sized enterprises, and strengthen the guidance of cluster development and the summary and publicity of excellent experience.