Chapter 1 General Provisions
Article 1 To promote the high-quality development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Guangxi and enhance the level of specialization, distinctiveness, and clustering in SME industrial clusters, these Measures are formulated in accordance with the "Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region" (Gui Zheng Fa [2021] No. 11), the "14th Five-Year Plan for Promoting the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises" (MIIT Joint Regulation [2021] No. 200),the "Interim Measures for Promoting the Development of Distinctive Industrial Clusters of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises" (MIIT Enterprise [2022] No. 119), these Measures are hereby formulated.
Article 2 The term “specialized industrial clusters of small and medium-sized enterprises” (hereinafter referred to as “clusters”) as used in these Measures refers to industrial clusters of small and medium-sized enterprises located within the administrative boundaries of counties (cities, districts), guided by the new development philosophy, with small and medium-sized enterprises as the main body, characterized by a focused leading industry, prominent advantages and distinctive features, concentrated resources and factors, an efficient collaborative network, and sound governance and services, and possessing strong core competitiveness.
Article 3: The promotion of clusters aims to enhance the core competitiveness of SMEs, stimulate the vitality of the county-level economy, and improve the resilience of industrial and supply chains as well as the supporting capabilities of key links. It adheres to the complete, accurate, and comprehensive implementation of the new development philosophy; combines government guidance with market-driven forces; integrates the cultivation of outstanding enterprises with the strengthening of industries; and combines dynamic management with targeted services.
Article 4: The Department of Industry and Information Technology of the Autonomous Region is responsible for the overall coordination of cluster promotion efforts, promoting the introduction of supportive policies, issuing recognition standards, and conducting recognition, supervision, and evaluation work. The industry and information technology departments of each city are responsible for the cultivation of clusters within their respective cities and shall assist the Department of Industry and Information Technology of the Autonomous Region in carrying out application acceptance, preliminary review, recommendation, monitoring, and other routine tasks related to city-level clusters.
Article 5 The Department of Industry and Information Technology of the Autonomous Region shall establish a mechanism for dynamic management and tracking monitoring of clusters. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, approximately 50 clusters will be recognized across the region, and a group of municipal-level clusters will be guided and supported in their development.
Chapter II: Cultivation Requirements
Article 6: Municipal departments of industry and information technology shall focus on the following aspects in carrying out cluster cultivation work:
(1) Enhancing the competitive edge of the cluster’s leading industries. Precisely define the cluster’s leading industries; strengthen, extend, and fill gaps in industrial chains in a targeted manner; facilitate the cluster’s collaborative network; enhance specialized supporting capabilities; reinforce quality and brand development; leverage the leading role of flagship enterprises; promote the coordinated development of large, medium, and small enterprises; strengthen the tiered cultivation of high-quality small and medium-sized enterprises; and support the cluster’s participation in the cultivation and construction of advanced manufacturing clusters.
(2) Stimulate innovation vitality within clusters. Establish multi-tiered cluster innovation platforms; integrate and open up innovation infrastructure and service resources; promote the establishment of stable innovation cooperation mechanisms between clusters and large enterprises, universities, and research institutes; carry out integrated innovation among large, medium, and small enterprises in leading industries, as well as collaborative innovation in generic technologies involving industry, academia, and research; and strengthen the application of intellectual property and the development of standards.
(3) Advance the digital transformation of clusters. Strengthen the construction of new-generation information infrastructure within clusters; establish and improve industrial internet security systems; promote the application of advanced safety and emergency response equipment; build resource-sharing and management platforms; and enhance the digital management capabilities of clusters. Guide cluster enterprises to utilize the Digital Transformation Guidelines and Evaluation Indicators for SMEs; promote smart manufacturing equipment, standards, and system solutions; deepen the integrated application of industrial internet and industrial software; and elevate the level of digital transformation.
(4) Accelerate the green and low-carbon transformation of clusters. Optimize the energy consumption structure of clusters, promote the application of clean energy, carry out energy-saving retrofits and green and low-carbon technological upgrades, strengthen comprehensive resource utilization and pollution prevention and control, and improve the green manufacturing system.
(5) Deepen the cluster’s openness and cooperation. Support the cluster’s active participation in the “Belt and Road” Initiative; deepen cooperation in talent, technology, capital, and resources; participate in international cooperation mechanisms and exchange activities as a cluster; and establish a mechanism for preventing and controlling overseas security risks in trade and investment cooperation.
(6) Enhance cluster governance and service capabilities. Strengthen the development of public service systems for clusters, enrich service offerings, improve service quality, and reinforce service performance evaluations. Establish a cluster governance mechanism based on “consultation, joint construction, sharing, and mutual benefit,” and strengthen awareness of workplace safety and the protection of the legitimate rights and interests of small and medium-sized enterprises. Coordinate the planning of cluster development, formulate cluster cultivation plans, and clarify development goals and implementation measures.
Article 7: Municipal industry and information technology departments shall establish a municipal cluster cultivation database, increase guidance, and strengthen services.
Article 8: Municipalities shall strengthen policy support for clusters in areas such as finance, banking, industry, innovation, land use, and talent development; ensure the effective implementation of various business-friendly policies; increase support for clusters participating in major projects; encourage various industrial investment funds to increase investment in clusters; and foster a stable, fair, transparent, and predictable business environment.
Article 9: Industrial and Information Technology departments at all levels shall fully leverage the roles of cluster management organizations, leading enterprises, business associations, professional institutions, public service demonstration platforms for small and medium-sized enterprises at all levels, and demonstration bases for entrepreneurship and innovation among micro and small enterprises to continuously improve and enhance the cluster service system.
Article 10. Industrial and Information Technology departments at all levels shall promptly summarize the experiences and practices of clusters in enhancing innovation, services, digitalization, green development, and internationalization, as well as in promoting the coordinated development of industrial and supply chains, and shall publicize exemplary cluster practices and outstanding cluster brands.
Chapter III: Recognition Procedures
Article 11: The recognition of SME specialty industrial clusters shall adhere to the principles of voluntary application, openness and transparency, evaluation-driven development, continuous improvement, follow-up monitoring, and dynamic adjustment. The Department of Industry and Information Technology of the Autonomous Region and the industrial and information technology departments of each city shall share responsibilities, coordinate implementation, and advance the process in an orderly manner.
Article 12: Clusters applying for recognition must be located within the administrative boundaries of a county-level division. The local county (city, district) Department of Industry and Information Technology shall serve as the applicant, and the relevant city shall conduct the review and recommendation.
Article 13: Municipal departments of industry and information technology are responsible for accepting, conducting preliminary reviews, and performing on-site spot checks of cluster applications. Based on compliance with the recognition criteria (see Annex), they shall recommend the best candidates to the Department of Industry and Information Technology of the Autonomous Region.
Article 14: The Department of Industry and Information Technology of the Autonomous Region shall organize a re-examination (including on-site spot checks) of the application materials for clusters recommended by municipal departments of industry and information technology. It shall compile a list of clusters based on merit; those confirmed after public notice with no objections shall be designated as “Autonomous Regional-Level Specialized Industrial Clusters for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises” and announced on the official website of the Department of Industry and Information Technology of the Autonomous Region.
Chapter IV Dynamic Management
Article 15: The validity period of a cluster is three years. Upon expiration, the Department of Industry and Information Technology of the Autonomous Region shall organize a re-evaluation and assess the cluster’s achievement of its three-year development plan objectives; clusters that pass the re-evaluation shall have their validity period extended by three years.
Article 16: Municipal departments of industry and information technology shall strengthen continuous monitoring of the implementation of cluster development plans, progress toward objectives, work experience, issues, and improvement measures. They shall organize clusters to submit reports on the previous year’s work activities by March 30 of each year to the Department of Industry and Information Technology of the Autonomous Region. The Department of Industry and Information Technology of the Autonomous Region shall organize supervision and evaluation and compile a cluster development assessment report.
Article 17: The designation of a recognized SME specialty industrial cluster shall be revoked if any of the following circumstances occur:
(1) Failure to apply for re-evaluation upon expiration of the validity period, or failure to pass the re-evaluation;
(2) It is found to have submitted false information or engaged in illegal or non-compliant activities;
(3) Failure to timely submit the annual cluster development report, or refusal to accept or cooperate with monitoring and supervision activities;
(4) Failure to promptly update and report major changes, such as alterations to the cluster’s leading industry, spatial scope, or operational management body;
(5) The cluster’s enterprises are involved in significant or higher-level accidents related to safety, quality, or environmental pollution; major or higher-level cybersecurity or data security incidents; or engage in tax evasion, violations of laws and regulations, serious breaches of trust, or other major issues.
Chapter V Supplementary Provisions
Article 18. The Department of Industry and Information Technology of the Autonomous Region shall be responsible for interpreting these Measures.
Article 19 These Measures shall take effect from the date of issuance.
Appendix: Criteria for the Recognition of Specialized Industrial Clusters of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Appendix
Criteria for the Recognition of Specialized Industrial Clusters of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
(Interim)
The recognition of SME Specialized Industrial Clusters (hereinafter referred to as “Clusters”) must meet the following eight criteria. Additionally, enterprises within the Cluster must not have incurred any major or higher-level safety, quality, or environmental pollution incidents; major or higher-level cybersecurity or data security incidents; or engaged in tax evasion, violations of laws and regulations, serious breaches of trust, or other major issues in the past three years.
I. Possession of Strong Core Competitiveness
The cluster’s leading industry serves as a pillar or distinctive industry within its county, complies with national industrial policies and sectoral development plans, ranks among the top nationally or regionally in its niche sector, and possesses high brand recognition;The cluster’s land area generally does not exceed 100 square kilometers. Over the past three years, its annual output value has consistently exceeded 3 billion yuan, with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) accounting for more than 50% of the cluster’s total output value. The leading industry constitutes more than 60% of the cluster’s total output value, and the average annual growth rate of output value exceeds 10%.
II. Significant Achievements in the Graded Cultivation of High-Quality SMEs
The cluster continuously carries out tiered cultivation of high-quality SMEs, possessing no fewer than one "Single Champion" enterprise in the leading industry or a "Little Giant" enterprise among the Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative SMEs, or no fewer than six Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative SMEs, innovative SMEs, and national-level high-tech enterprises.
III. Efficient Collaboration in Industrial and Supply Chains
The cluster features a rational industrial chain layout, with a relatively well-established mechanism for integrated collaboration among upstream and downstream enterprises in production, supply, and sales. It has established sharing mechanisms for general-purpose production equipment, logistics, warehousing, human resources, and design, and possesses strong supporting capabilities at key links in the industrial chain.
IV. Strong Collaborative Innovation Capabilities
The cluster prioritizes sustained investment in R&D, with the annual average growth rate of R&D expenditure for SMEs exceeding 10% over the past three years; it has established a coordinated system of diverse innovation platforms and maintains close innovation partnerships with large enterprises, universities, and research institutes; mechanisms for integrated innovation among large, medium, and small enterprises, as well as industry-academia-research collaboration, are well-developed; the cluster actively participates in the formulation and revision of standards for its leading industries; it has achieved breakthroughs in a number of key core technologies for its leading industries, with an annual average growth rate of valid invention patents of no less than 10%, and a per capita ownership of valid invention patents of no less than 10 per 10,000 people.
V. Significant Achievements in Digital Transformation
The cluster boasts a high level of new information infrastructure development, with widespread application of digital equipment and systems, and the introduction of cross-enterprise digital solutions, assessment, and diagnostic services. The “Cloud Platform Adoption” initiative has yielded significant results, with an industrial internet platform adoption rate of no less than 10% and a steadily increasing industrial software application rate, achieving connectivity of critical production data across cluster enterprises. The cluster is exploring new digital models and business formats in its leading industries and has established a robust industrial internet security assurance system.
VI. High Level of Green Development
The cluster has a rational energy consumption structure, with carbon dioxide emission intensity continuously decreasing; resource utilization efficiency is high, and pollutant emission control is effective; a green and low-carbon service mechanism has been established. For clusters in high-energy-consuming industries, energy efficiency levels exceed industry benchmarks; for clusters in water-intensive industries, water efficiency levels exceed industry benchmarks.
VII. Active Participation in Industrial Opening-up and Cooperation
The cluster participates in international cooperation mechanisms or exchange activities related to its leading industries, engages in exchanges and cooperation in areas such as technology, management, talent, and capital, and promotes the rapid development of foreign trade in products and services through measures such as establishing overseas branches.
VIII. Strong Governance and Service Capabilities
The cluster establishes operational management bodies such as a management committee, and has established a comprehensive public service system for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as a specialized mechanism to promote cluster development; ensures that policies promoting SME development are communicated and implemented to achieve full coverage within the cluster, guaranteeing that all eligible entities and individuals clearly understand and fully benefit from these policies; and, in accordance with Article 6 of Chapter II of these Measures, formulates a three-year development plan with clear and measurable development goals, as well as comprehensive, targeted, and practical implementation measures.
