Shenzhen's '20+8' Industrial Cluster 3.0

The Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Development of New Quality Productive Forces and Further Cultivating and Strengthening Strategic Emerging Industrial Clusters and Future Industries, also known as “20+8” Industrial Cluster 3.0, has been unveiled as Shenzhen’s latest industrial development roadmap.

Building on the 2022 version, which established the overall industrial framework, and the 2024 version, which refined the cluster categories and strengthened coordination between the city and its districts, the latest plan aligns with the guidelines of the national, provincial, and municipal 15th Five-Year Plans. It aims to make the cultivation of new quality productive forces a core driver of the upgrading of Shenzhen’s modern industrial system.

Shenzhen's goals by 2030

· Strategic emerging industrial clusters will achieve robust growth, while future industries will begin to take shape.

· Technological innovation and industrial innovation will become more deeply integrated.

· Manufacturing will advance toward high-end, intelligent, and green development, with a modern industrial system led by advanced manufacturing taking shape.

· The value-added output of strategic emerging industries will reach 2.3 trillion yuan, accounting for 45% of GDP.

Twenty strategic emerging industrial clusters, organized into 10 fields:

· Next-generation information technology

· Biotechnology

· New energy

· New materials

· High-end equipment

· Intelligent connected and new energy vehicles

· Green environmental protection

· Low-altitude economy and aerospace

· Traditional and creative industries

· Marine industries

Eight future industries, covering five fields:

· Future manufacturing

· Future information

· Future energy

· Future space

· Future health

Tiered development approach 

Strategic emerging industrial clusters (4 categories):

· Advantage expansion (7 clusters): New networks and communications; ultra-high-definition video and displays; intelligent terminals; software and information services; high-end medical devices; new energy; and intelligent connected and new energy vehicles. The focus is on consolidating leading positions through collaboration between leading enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises.

· Strategic priorities (6 clusters): Semiconductors and integrated circuits; artificial intelligence and applications; intelligent robotics; low-altitude equipment and applications; commercial space and aerospace; and advanced marine manufacturing and high-end services. The focus is on rapid development through citywide resource coordination and strong policy support.

· Infrastructure support (3 clusters): High-performance and cutting-edge new materials; high-end technical equipment; and precision instruments. The focus is on targeted development to strengthen critical links in the industrial chain.

· Comprehensive enhancement (4 clusters): Biomedicine and life and health; energy conservation and environmental protection; digital content and creativity; and upgraded traditional industries. The focus is on cross-sector integration driven by the broad application of next-generation information technology.

Future industries (2 tiers): 

· Areas targeted for rapid growth during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (4 areas): Bio-manufacturing; physical intelligence; optical computing and optical information; and 6G communications.

· Areas targeted for core capability building (4 areas): Brain science and brain-computer engineering; quantum technology; future energy; and deep-sea minerals.

Coordinated development across districts 

Each industrial cluster will be concentrated in five to six districts, based on their respective resource advantages. Major projects may be coordinated and developed across districts at the municipal level. Districts are encouraged to build on their strengths to establish national demonstration bases and clusters of specialized and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises.

Key industrial chain mapping 

Shenzhen will conduct a comprehensive mapping of key links across its industrial chains and develop dynamic industrial roadmaps to identify weaknesses and guide targeted interventions in core technologies and resource allocation. The goal is to achieve greater coordination between industrial clusters and industrial chains and build new pillars of the industrial economy.

Key tasks 

· Deepening the integration of technological and industrial innovation: Strengthen basic research with industrial applications; support joint innovation consortia undertaking national science and technology missions; and accelerate the development of major scientific infrastructure and innovation platforms.

· Enhancing supply chain security: Implement programs to strengthen industrial foundations and develop major equipment; coordinate collaboration across upstream, midstream, and downstream enterprises; and support research and development by key enterprises.

· Achieving an AI-driven industrial leap: Advance the development of large models and AI agents, and leverage national AI pilot bases to promote the deep integration of artificial intelligence and manufacturing.

· Promoting large-scale demonstrations of new technologies and application scenarios: Establish city- and district-level open platforms for application scenarios; support industry exhibitions; and encourage large enterprises to pioneer the adoption of innovative products.

· Building globally competitive tiers of enterprises: Support mergers and acquisitions and industrial integration; improve tiered cultivation mechanisms for specialized and innovative SMEs, unicorns, and gazelle companies; and incubate innovative enterprises.

· Expanding Shenzhen’s global market presence: Accelerate the integration of AI with low-altitude aviation, additive manufacturing, and brain-computer interfaces; improve the quality of key products; and develop more national and international standards in emerging sectors.

· Strengthening financial support for industrial upgrading: Optimize fiscal policies and the allocation of government investment funds, and further improve the “corporate innovation credit system.”

· Promoting the integration of manufacturing and services: Select and cultivate pilot zones; advance service-oriented manufacturing models; formulate evaluation guidelines for service-oriented manufacturing enterprises; and guide producer services toward higher value-added activities.