The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently announced the winners of the 2024 National Advanced Manufacturing Clusters Competition. A total of 35 clusters nationwide were recognized, including the Quanzhou Modern Sports Products Cluster. With the Ningde Power Battery Cluster, which won in a previous round, Fujian now boasts two advanced manufacturing clusters in the "national team".

Since 2019, the Ministry has initiated a special program to develop advanced manufacturing clusters. After four rounds of competition, the number of such clusters across the country has reached 80. These clusters integrate resources from industry, academia, research, and application, along with various upstream and downstream sectors of the industrial chain and public service platforms. They offer the dual advantages of high specialization and a concentrated presence of essential elements. This synergy fosters economies of scale and scope, driving industrial and economic growth throughout the region. In 2023, the leading industries of 45 national clusters achieved an output value exceeding 20 trillion yuan, underscoring their significant role in China's industrial economy.

The 3rd Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party underscored the urgency of accelerating new industrialization and nurturing advanced manufacturing clusters. These clusters embody a sophisticated form of industrial division and agglomeration. Developing internationally competitive advanced manufacturing clusters is essential for China to establish itself as a manufacturing powerhouse and elevate its industries up the value chain. This strategy promotes synergies in innovation, talent concentration, cost reduction, and efficiency enhancement, thereby creating economies of scale and competitive advantages.

For a region, advanced manufacturing clusters significantly drive the local economy. Achieving "national-level" recognition can further amplify this impact, paving the way to becoming a world-class industrial cluster.

During the 2024 Paris Olympics, athletes from the Chinese sports delegation enjoyed a cruise on the Seine River, dressed in "Pursuit of Dreams" attire designed by the Quanzhou-based company Joeone. (Image Source: CCTV News)

Quanzhou's Modern Sports Product Cluster Surpasses 800 Billion Yuan in Total Output Value

Quanzhou's Modern Sports Product Advanced Manufacturing Cluster is distinguished by its focus on leisure sports, with a core emphasis on textile footwear and apparel. It seamlessly integrates various industries, including petrochemical fibers, machinery and equipment, sports equipment, textiles and clothing, leather shoe manufacturing, and sports services. Within a 50-kilometer radius centered on Jinjiang, the cluster can assemble over 100 production elements—such as R&D teams, machinery, materials, and skilled workers—in just three days. This creates a comprehensive industrial ecosystem that transforms "a drop of oil" into "a pair of shoes, a piece of clothing", and ultimately into "a sporting event". Today, the cluster has fostered numerous internationally renowned sports brand companies, including Anta, Xtep, 361 Degrees, Peak, and Hongxing Erke. Among the top ten sports brands in China, Quanzhou accounts for seven, with the "Made in Quanzhou" label shining at world-class events like the Olympics. The cluster's current output value exceeds 800 billion yuan.

In recent years, Quanzhou has launched a series of special programs, such as "Focusing on Leading Enterprises to Strengthen Brands and Forge Industrial Chains", "Promoting Innovation and Application", and "Enhancing Industrial Design to Elevate Industries". Quanzhou has established over 100 national and provincial innovation platforms, attracting more than 220 high-level talents and teams, including academicians, each year. Research and development investment has been increasing by over 20% annually. "Intelligent Transformation and Digital Transformation" have been successfully implemented, increasing the digitalization rate of enterprises above the designated size from 58% to 85%. The adoption rate of digital research and design tools has reached 90.2%, and the use of recycled materials now exceeds 20%. The supercritical anhydrous dyeing technology and 3D printing technology for shoes and molds have achieved international leadership.

Looking ahead, Quanzhou plans to further leverage the cluster effect, steering the industry towards high-end, intelligent, and green development. The goal is to transform the modern sports product manufacturing cluster into an internationally competitive advanced manufacturing hub.

Recently, workers have been bustling on the new energy vehicle production line in the final assembly workshop at the SAIC Ningde base. Image Source: Mindong Daily

Ningde Lithium Battery Industry Cluster to Exceed Over 100 Enterprises Above the Designated Size By 2025

To comprehensively advance the Ningde Power Battery Cluster toward becoming a world-class industrial hub, Ningde City, with support and guidance from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other departments, formulated the Three-Year Action Plan for the Cultivation and Enhancement of the Ningde Power Battery Cluster in 2023. The plan outlines that by 2025, the city will host 100 enterprises above the designated size within the lithium battery industry cluster, achieve a production capacity of 330 GWh of lithium batteries, and surpass a total industrial chain output value of 500 billion yuan. The resilience and safety of the cluster's industrial and supply chains, pilot demonstration construction outcomes, research and innovation capabilities, competitiveness of cluster enterprises, and the transformation towards digital, intelligent, and green practices will all experience steady improvement.

In recent years, Fujian has capitalized on new opportunities in the energy technology revolution and industrial transformation, targeting emerging sectors and gaining strategic advantages. The energy storage industry has flourished, evolving from non-existence to excellence and then to cluster-driven expansion. Approximately 360 GWh of lithium battery production capacity has been established and is now operational. The province's lithium battery manufacturing industry has seen an average annual revenue growth of 3.5%. For seven consecutive years, the market share of power batteries has ranked first globally, while energy storage batteries have held the top spot for three years. Additionally, the proportion of installed clean energy capacity exceeds 65%.

Fujian Prioritizes Development of 12 Advanced Manufacturing Clusters

The reporter has learned that Fujian is prioritizing the development of advanced manufacturing clusters as a key strategy to drive new industrialization. The focus is on integration and innovation, phased progress, and differentiated development to swiftly establish a series of highly competitive and distinctive advanced manufacturing clusters, thereby creating a modern industrial system with advanced manufacturing at its core.

Officials from the Fujian Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology have stated that Fujian is working on creating a phased development system for 12 advanced manufacturing clusters. This includes developing two internationally competitive clusters in new energy and modern textiles and footwear. Additionally, five domestically leading clusters will be established in stainless steel new materials, high-end equipment, green petrochemicals, integrated circuits and software information, and green food. Furthermore, five regionally distinctive clusters will be developed in new displays, computers and smart terminals, arts and crafts, biomedicine, and new materials. By 2027, the industrial enterprises within these clusters, which are above the designated size, are projected to generate over 5 trillion yuan in revenue, contributing to more than 65% of the province's large-scale industrial output. These clusters are poised to become the backbone of the province's high-quality manufacturing development, serving as a hub for high-growth enterprises, a gathering place for top-tier talent, a magnet for venture capital, and a source of technological innovation.

Translated by Fujian Investment Promotion Center