China’s Industry Clusters

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Where to source Chinese expertise and academic research from within city clusters around China

Feb. 23 – China originally began clustering its national industries under directives from Chairman Mao Zedong in the early 1950s. This occurred during the Cold War era when it was feared that either Soviet or American attacks on cities such as Beijing and Shanghai could wipe out much of the nation’s industry, centered at that time in these cities. Strategic industries were thus spread across the country to protect against attack and invasion.

The legacy of this today has been that different industrial clusters have developed in different areas of China. In order to develop an effective supply chain, source universities with the right set of talents, and recruit the right type of workers, attention needs to be paid to the regional differences around China as concerns available expertise.

In the map below, we breakdown the key industries within 25 featured cities spread across China. Please click on the map to enlarge.

Breakdown of Professional Clusters in China Map

Map: Breakdown of Professional Clusters in China

With regards to education and research specialization, the following universities churn out some of China’s best and brightest in their particular fields.

Engineering

  • Tsinghua University
  • Zhejiang University
  • Shanghai Jiaotong University
  • Harbin Institute of Technology
  • Tianjin University
  • Beijing Institute of Technology
  • North China Electric Power University (Beijing)
  • Ocean University of China (Qingdao)
  • Beijing University of Technology
  • South China University of Technology (Guangzhou)
  • Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Wuhan)
  • Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications
  • Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics
  • Dalian University of Technology
  • Dalian Maritime University
  • Harbin Institute of Technology
  • Beijing Jiaotong University
  • Xi’an Jiaotong University
  • China University of Petroleum (Qingdao)
  • Beijing University of Science & Technology
  • Southwest Jiaotong University
  • Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics
  • Chang’an University (Xi’an)
  • East China University of Science and Technology (Shanghai)
  • Civil Aviation University of China (Tianjin)
  • Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications
  • Changchun University of Science and Technology

Banking and Finance

  • Graduate School of the People’s Bank of China (Beijing)
  • School of Finance at Renmin University of China (Beijing)
  • Shanghai University of Finance and Economics
  • Beijing University
  • Xiamen University
  • Fudan University
  • Nankai University (Tianjin)
  • University of International Business and Economics
  • Dongbei University of Finance and Economics (Dalian)
  • Central University of Finance and Economics (Beijing)
  • Xi’an Jiaotong University
  • Hunan University
  • Zhongnan University of Economics and Law (Wuhan)
  • Tsinghua University
  • Wuhan University
  • Liaoning University (Shenyang)

Information Technology (IT)

  • Dalian University of Technology
  • Zhejiang University
  • Beijing Jiaotong University
  • Fudan University
  • Xi’an Jiaotong University
  • Shanghai University
  • Shandong University
  • Sun Yat-Sen University (Guangzhou)
  • Jilin University
  • Sichuan University
  • Beijing University
  • Wuhan University
  • Nankai University
  • Xiangtan University (Hunan)
  • Guangdong University of Technology (Guangzhou)
  • Southeast University (Nanjing)
  • Henan University
  • Beijing University of Technology
  • Chongqing University
  • Shandong University of Science and Technology (Qingdao)
  • Harbin University of Technology
  • Nanjing University
  • Wuhan University of Technology
  • Central South University (Changsha)
  • Xinjiang University
  • Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics
  • Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Wuhan)
  • University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (Chengdu)
  • Northeastern University (Shenyang)
  • Henan University of Technology (Zhengzhou)

Chemical and Pharmaceuticals

  • Beijing University
  • Nankai University
  • University of Science and Technology of China
  • Xiamen University
  • Jilin University
  • Fudan University
  • Lanzhou University
  • Wuhan University
  • Nanjing University
  • Zhejiang University
  • Sun Yat-Sen University
  • Sichuan University
  • Northwest University (Xi’an)
  • Fuzhou University
  • Hunan University
  • Zhengzhou University
  • Tsinghua University
  • Suzhou University
  • Shanxi Medical University
  • Xi’an Jiaotong University
  • China Agricultural University (Beijing)
  • Guizhou University
  • Yunnan University
  • China Pharmaceutical University (Nanjing)
  • Shenyang Pharmaceutical University
  • Sichuan University
  • Ocean University of China (Qingdao)
  • Shanghai Jiaotong University
  • Guangdong Pharmaceutical University
  • Anhui Medical University (Hefei)
  • Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Wuhan)
  • Nanjing Medical University

Foreign Languages

  • Beijing University
  • Beijing Foreign Studies University
  • Shanghai International Studies University
  • Nanjing University
  • Heilongjiang University
  • Xinjiang University
  • Minzu University of China (Beijing)
  • Beijing Normal University
  • Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (Guangzhou)
  • Fudan University
  • Central China Normal University (Wuhan)
  • Tianjin Foreign Studies University
  • Dalian University of Foreign Languages
  • Xi’an International Studies University
  • Sichuan International Studies University (Chongqing, Chengdu)

Political Science and Law

  • Renmin University of China
  • Beijing University
  • China University of Political Science and Law
  • Wuhan University
  • Tsinghua University
  • Jilin University
  • Fudan University
  • Sun Yat-Sen University (Guangzhou)
  • Xiamen University
  • Zhongnan University of Economics and Law (Wuhan)
  • Southwest University of Political Science and Law (Chongqing)
  • Zhejiang University
  • Nanjing University
  • Nankai University
  • East China University of Political Science and Law (Shanghai)
  • Huazhong Normal University (Wuhan)
  • Shandong University (Qingdao)

Economics and Business Management

  • Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management (Beijing)
  • Renmin University of China (Beijing)
  • Guanghua School of Management at Beijing University
  • The School of Economics at Nankai University (Tianjin)
  • School of Economics at Fudan University (Shanghai)
  • School of Economics at Xiamen University
  • Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (Chengdu)
  • Central University of Finance and Economics (Beijing)
  • Shanghai University of Finance and Economics
  • School of Economics at Liaoning University (Shenyang)
  • Zhongnan University of Economics and Law (Wuhan)
  • School of Business-Nanjing University
  • Zhejiang Gongshang University (Hangzhou)
  • School of Economics and Management at Tongji University (Shanghai)
  • Capital University of Economics and Business (Beijing)
  • School of Economics and Trade at Hunan University (Changsha)
  • Anhui University of Finance and Economics (Bengbu)
  • Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade
  • University of International Business and Economics
  • Chongqing University
  • Sun Yat-Sen University (Guangzhou)

Dezan Shira & Associates is a specialist foreign direct investment practice and can advise international companies investing in China on the country’s complete legal, tax and operational issues. The firm was established in 1992 and maintains 12 offices throughout China, in addition to practicing in Hong Kong, India, Vietnam and Singapore. For advice on all matters of China HR, payroll and costs, please contact the firm at china@dezshira.com or visit our web site at www.dezshira.com.

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