China is home to an important cluster community. The bilateral dialogue between the EU and China has been growing in recent years, stimulating the collaboration links between European and Chinese clusters. The EU-China 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation, which aims to foster the establishment of synergies to enhance cooperation in strategic fields, is a strong basis for the creation of cluster collaboration initiatives.

Economic and political context and framework

In 1978, China changed from a centrally-planned to a market-based economy and consequently experienced a rapid economic and social development. Currently, China has a leading position in many sectors that are crucial for the global economy and social development. China is the second largest economy in the world the world's largest exporter and the second largest importer.

Cluster community in the country

China is home to an important cluster community. The main sectors for cluster activity in China are: agriculture, high-tech industry, and manufacturing. Chinese clusters are distributed in different regions, namely the Pearl River Delta (PRD), Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and Bohai Rim (Beijing – Tianjin – Liaoning). The figure below presents a map of China's top 100 industrial clusters.

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China’s public cluster policy is developed by both the central and provincial governments. The Chinese central government seeks continuous cluster development according to the guidelines on facilitating the development of industrial clusters announced by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The most notable central government programme regarding cluster development is the TORCH Programme, which is based on an initiative to develop China's new and high-tech industries approved in 1988 by the national government.Read less.

Cluster policies encouraging the development and internationalisation of clusters

EU and China cooperation has been established with the aim of managing global challenges like health, climate change, food security and clean energy supply. In the particular case of the ICT industrial sector, cooperation could attain great mutual benefits to the businesses and societies, as China and the EU are considered to be global ICT leaders. Read more...

Several projects and some cluster matchmaking missions have already been organised in order to stimulate cooperation between European and Chinese clusters. China is one of the top targeted countries for international cooperation according to the current cluster consortiums under the ESCP-4i initiative. Read less.

Cluster to cluster cooperation opportunities and potential interest from European clusters and SMEs

EU and China cooperation has been established with the aim of managing global challenges like health, climate change, food security and clean energy supply. In the particular case of the ICT industrial sector, cooperation could attain great mutual benefits to the businesses and societies, as China and the EU are considered to be global ICT leaders.

Read more...

Several projects and some cluster matchmaking missions have already been organised in order to stimulate cooperation between European and Chinese clusters. China is one of the top targeted countries for international cooperation according to the current cluster consortiums under the ESCP-4i initiative. Read less.

Key Facts

Capital: Beijing Population: 1,357 trillion (2015) Total area: 9,597 millions km² GDP per capital: $15,095 (2015) Gross domestic product: $20.853 trillion (2015) Currency: Yuan

Documentation

Events

Join events to learn about the cluster policy and meet peers from this country
Date Event Target Event Type
31 August 2021 Introduction to IPR In China webinar Cluster managers, SME Webinar
17 November 2021 Join the China Hi-Tech Fair 2021 Large audience Matchmaking, Webinar
15 June 2021 ENRICH in China workshop on the Health Sector in China Cluster managers Webinar
14 June 2021 Intellectual Property in the E-Mobility sector webinar: Protecting innovation in Asian markets SME Academy, Webinar
27 May 2021 ENRICH in China Smart City Forum and Mini Expo Large audience, SME Webinar

Achievements

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ESCP-4i News

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ESCP-4is targetting this country

Acronym Name Technology Fields Sectoral Industries Targeted third countries No. of SME involved No. of Partners
BRIDGE Building Relations to go International for Data-Driven Growing Enterprises (start-ups and SMEs)
G\: Physics:Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for specific application fields
Information and communication:J61 Telecommunications
Information and communication:J62 Computer programming, consultancy and related activities
United Arab Emirates, United States, Israel, China, Canada 200 4
CELIS Cluster Excellence in Life sciences – Internationalisation of SMEs
Professional, scientific and technical activities:M72 Scientific research and development
Human health and social work activities:Q86 Human health activities
United States, India, China 250 4
DECISION DElivering Cluster International Strategies Into Overseas Networks Canada, China, India, United States 200 4
GEN.ERA diGital gENomic Alliance to Explore new maRket for Acceleration
A\: Human necessities:Medical or veterinary science; hygiene
Administrative and support service activities:N82 Office administrative, office support and other business support activities
Australia, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Singapore, Taiwan, United States 80 5
EnW Energy in Water
E\: Fixed constructions:Water supply; sewerage
Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities:E36 Water collection, treatment and supply
China, Colombia, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Singapore, Tunisia, United States 650 7