Industrial Cluster Support System

Author: Hu Yuchen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: Industrial cluster theory is a new regional development theory that emerges after the theories of gradient transfer and growth pole development, facing the opportunities and challenges of economic globalization. Marshall (1920) explained the phenomenon of firms concentrating in the same location based on external economies. He discovered the close relationship between external economies and industrial clusters. He believed that industrial clusters are caused by externalities. Marshall identified three types of external economies: the scale effects of intermediate inputs brought about by market size expansion; the scale effects of the labor market; and information exchange and technology diffusion. The first two are called pecuniary external economies, which refer to external economies formed by scale effects. The latter is technological external economy. This book further interprets and expands on Porter's "Diamond" model and, based on this, analyzes and proposes key factors that influence and determine the development of industrial clusters. It argues that to enhance the competitiveness of industrial clusters, internally, mechanisms for competition, cooperation, and learning innovation must be formed; externally, a support system for industrial clusters must be constructed, including market service systems, technology development systems, innovation network systems, and government support systems, thereby overcoming the flaw of existing research that analyzes factors in isolation. This book analyzes and discusses the challenges posed by industrial cluster theory to the "Gradient Transfer Theory" and the "Growth Pole Theory." The "Gradient Transfer Theory" can lead to a low-gradient trap, where low-gradient transfer often grows in sync with backwardness. The "Growth Pole Theory" also has significant flaws, as the backwash effect often exceeds the diffusion effect, leading to increasingly developed growth pole regions and increasingly backward surrounding areas, thus creating a dual economy in geographical space, or even isolated "enclaves" independent of the surrounding regions. In contrast, industrial cluster theory has achieved great success in regional economic development both domestically and internationally, whether in high-tech industrial clusters or traditional industrial clusters, and has proposed that industrial clusters are a practical choice for achieving leapfrog development of regional economies. Therefore, as central and western regions, they must start from their own realities, create conditions to gradually form industrial clusters that reflect and leverage their strengths, rather than placing excessive hope on industrial transfers from economically developed regions. Based on the analysis of the experiences of industrial cluster development in typical regions, this book proposes the conditions for the successful development of industrial clusters: first, creating an environment with government support; second, aggregating success through talent supply; third, achieving "win-win" through trust-based cooperation; and fourth, providing guarantees through service support. These conditions are interrelated and collectively form the foundation for the successful development of industrial clusters.