Clusters of strategic and future industries mapped out for economic leadership

The other 10 strategic emerging industries cover semiconductors and integrated circuits; high-end equipment manufacturing; smart robots; blockchain and quantum information; cutting-edge new materials; new energy; lasers and additive manufacturing; digital creativity; safety, emergency response and environmental protection; and precision instruments and equipment.

Official data show that the 20 strategic industry clusters' added value achieved a year-on-year increase of 5.2 percent in 2023, accounting for 40 percent of Guangdong's GDP.

The revenue of the 10 strategic emerging industry clusters reached nearly 3 trillion yuan in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 9.2 percent in added value, nearly doubling the GDP growth of Guangdong during the period, becoming a new engine of the province's economic growth.

Another ambitious move

On Sept 30, the provincial government issued another action plan for future industries — future networks, general intelligence, life and health, low-carbon energy, advanced materials, future space and quantum technology.

By 2027, Guangdong aims to make breakthroughs in core technologies in several key areas; establish high-level innovation platforms for future industries; create demonstration scenarios for the industries; and foster internationally influential leading and innovative enterprises. By then, the clusters of future industries will have taken shape, according to the plan.

By 2035, the entire innovation chain of future industries is projected to be in place in Guangdong, forming a number of benchmark products and services ranking at the forefront of science and technology in future industries.

In areas such as future networks, general intelligence, and life and health, several globally leading future industry clusters will be formed, making Guangdong a global source of innovation and a highland for the development of future industries.

"The industry layout in Guangdong reflects (the decision-makers') foresight and strategic thinking," said Zhu Keli, founding director of the China Institute for New Economy and director of the Bay Area Institute of New Economy.

This move will not only help Guangdong gain the upper hand in future competition but promote the optimization of its economic structure and enhance its competitiveness, Zhu said. Guangdong has a complete industrial support system and comprehensive supply and industry chains for the development of future industries across the board, he added.

Additionally, Guangdong has a super-large market scale and is rich in application scenarios, which contribute to the rapid iteration and growth of future industries.

At the same time, the province has strong manufacturing and technological innovation capabilities, which enables Guangdong to take a leading position in the landscape of future industries. It is expected to accelerate the formation of several globally leading future industry clusters.

As the No 1 manufacturing province and economic powerhouse in China, Guangdong is at the forefront of the country in fostering and developing industrial clusters.

The province has established eight industrial clusters, each capable of generating over 1 trillion yuan in annual production output value. They encompass new-generation electronics and IT, the modern light industry and textiles, advanced materials, green petrochemicals, modern agriculture and food, smart home appliances, software and information services, and automobiles.

In addition, three industrial clusters — new energy, ultrahigh-definition display, and digital creativity — have annual production capabilities surpassing 500 billion yuan each. Seven industrial clusters — biomedicine and health, safety emergency and environmental protection, high-end equipment manufacturing, semiconductors and integrated circuits, precision instruments and equipment, lasers and additive manufacturing, and cutting-edge new materials — have annual production capacities exceeding 100 billion yuan each. And two industrial clusters — smart robots, as well as blockchain and quantum information — boast annual production capacities of over 10 billion yuan each.