Urbanization and industrial clustering power China's rise in innovation

Industry clusters are areas of dynamic growth and innovation, as the concentration of talent and capital generate faster advances. Typically industry clusters take many decades to evolve, as evidenced by London's Fleet Street, New York's Wall Street, Hollywood, and Silicon Valley.

But China's approach to industry clustering was targeted and deliberate, from the top down. What's more, it took place during China's urbanization: the cities themselves did not yet exist, let alone as specialized industrial hubs. An extreme example is Shenzhen, now the 2nd largest Science and Technology supercluster in the world, while just 30 years ago it was an unknown clump of rural villages.

China now leads the world in industrial clusters of all types, and notably in Science and Technology where double-digit growth is being realized across many of them. And with China on track to bring another 400 million to cities over coming decades, these advances are very likely to continue.

Resources and links:

Top Global S&T Clusters by Size, 2024: China, US, Germany lead

GII 2024 at a glance

China's urbanization has only just begun

The Shenzhen Effect: The story behind Shenzhen’s three-decade transformation from village to megacity.

The astonishing rise of Shenzhen, China’s gadget capital

China’s New Action Plan to Boost Urbanization

China’s Industry Clusters – A Comprehensive Overview

Foxconn adds 50,000 workers in Zhengzhou plant as it prepares for Apple’s iPhone 16 launch

Closing scene, Tai Lake, Huzhou, Zhejiang

[Inside_China_Business]

For video transcript and direct links, please visit

[BillyNoMate]

In China, the people who govern got there because of their smarts, they are highly educated people and only want to make things better. In other countries you govern because you are popular and have rich friends to support you, education not required. You just need to do what your sponsors want.

[peterkogl]

You got it Kevin. China is a juggernaut and a purposeful one!

[tideypods]

I just realised that Kevin leaves all the sources under all his videos too. This guy might be the best youtuber in 2024

[normanmoffatt]

And here we are, America trying to stop the unstoppable.

[warrennelson]

This is my favorite pod with my breakfast. If only American networks would pick you up to balance their business reports we would not have such hysteria about China. I hope you are planning to report in your unique way the BICS summit in Khazan. I'm a African and have a special interest in the future of BRI development in our region. Thanks for the high quality research you provide.

[michaelloong]

With such high speed technological advancement in China with long term plan, how can the US catch up when the government spends negative energy to contain China at all costs.

[yannicmendez]

every Report you made deserve a thumbs up! so many valuable Insides from the Videos like from non other Source. Love it !

[leecheelek]

The rest of the world (excluding the Anglo Saxon speaking countries and most of Western Europe) knows how to colloborate with the PRC (China) in surging ahead in a Win-Win partnership. For many, their dreams of a better future are now possible with China leading the way and giving a helping hand. I guess those countries which sees themselves once as Superpowers of the world (in whatever fields) would of course fear China as the change and transition is just too fast and quick for their own internal fears of being left behind.
It doesn't have to be this way as Chinese and China considers everybody as part of Humanity and Prosperity, Peace and Harmony as a Human Right for every country. What comes out of China, is to help Humanity towards a better future for everyone in this palnet Earth as we ride together into the 21st Century and beyond. Why create enmity or lies against a great civilization when such actions do not serve anybody any good and who understands what's being civilized really means as the years roll on. The ingenuity of the Human mind leaps every few hundred yearsand the sky is the limit, if without limitations.

[philipspencer]

This story just gets worse and worse for the Western economies… thanks Kevin. 🥺

[dayveda]

Great tell all Kevin. Thanks for the facts...we are learning from you big time. Be Good and stay blessed !!

[jabbawakka]

Kevin, your podcast totally deserves to hit 100, 000 subs and beyond...as China is a technological and industrial powerhouse, this channel is an information powerhouse, absolutely awesome, be blessed my friend.

[kiyoshitakeda]

Very quickly they won't need outside science and technology. It will be the other way around and the world will seek its technology and science. The center of the world will shift eastward.

[cheungchingtong]

China's industrial clustering is unique and powerful, there is this town called Chenghai, it has been manufacturing toys since 80s, and it owns 33% of the world's market shares, which China as whole owns more than 70% by the way. And there is another town about 30km away from that toy town, used to manufactured up to 70% of world's underwear and nightwear.

[ansa]

Silly western journalists who should have known better, used to laugh at the building of those cities mentioned here as ghost Cities.

[LiamGrayson]

*If you are not in the financial market space right now, you are making a huge mistake. I understand that it could be due to ignorance, but if you want to make your money work for you..prevent inflation...*

[socialistcynic]

Cities built to target specific industries and technologies is so obvious when you think about it. But that kind of strategic planning is not even imagined in the west.

It would be cool if you did some city/province focused videos in the future Kevin, show us the amazing things they are up to.

Thanks for the video again. Peace and prosperity from the UK

[Limfame]

Amazing forward thinking on future science and technology and the planning done to achieve cluster and supply chain advantages.

How could China not be the leading technological nation in the next decade?

[R-Cforeverfriends]

Gaza, Lebanon Iran, we support you always!!! 加沙，黎巴嫩，伊朗， 我们永远支持你!!!

[JohnRBatchelder]

Thank you for another interesting and informative video. ... John Russell Batchelder ... Davis, CA, USA