Analysis of the competitiveness development of China's marine industry clusters

Huang, Chong; Zhang, Shilong; Zhang, Hongshuo Article Analysis of the competitiveness development of China's marine industry clusters Marine Economics and Management (MAEM) Provided in Cooperation with: Ocean University of China, Qingdao Suggested Citation: Huang, Chong; Zhang, Shilong; Zhang, Hongshuo (2024) : Analysis of the competitiveness development of China's marine industry clusters, Marine Economics and Management (MAEM), ISSN 2516-158X, Emerald, Leeds, Vol. 7, Iss. 2, pp. 120-138, https://doi.org/10.1108/MAEM-10-2024-0018 This Version is available at: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/320080 Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen: Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden. Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen. 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If the documents have been made available under an Open Content Licence (especially Creative Commons Licences), you may exercise further usage rights as specified in the indicated licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode Analysis of the competitiveness development of China’s marine industry clusters Chong Huang, Shilong Zhang and Hongshuo Zhang School of Management Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Finance and Economics, Jinan, China and Institute of Marine Economics and Management, Shandong University of Finance and Economics, Jinan, China Abstract Purpose –The purpose of this study is to analyze the current situation of the competitiveness development of China’s marine industrial clusters, reveal the existing problems and challenges, provide theoretical support and practical guidance for improving the competitiveness of China’s marine industrial clusters so as to promote industrial upgrading and high-quality development and help China realize the strategic transformation from a marine power to a marine power. Design/methodology/approach –This report first provides a detailed review of the current development status and existing issues of marine industry clusters in China. Second, it constructs an evaluation index system for the competitiveness development of China’s marine industry clusters and conducts competitiveness analysis and evaluation of typical marine industry clusters in China. Third, it explores the development trends and prospects of typical marine industry clusters in China. Finally, the report proposes countermeasures and suggestions for enhancing the competitiveness of marine industry clusters in China, focusing on resource optimization, cluster structure and cluster efficiency. Findings –(1) Significant competitiveness of marine shipbuilding and ocean engineering equipment clusters: Through technological innovation and policy support, the marine shipbuilding and ocean engineering equipment clusters have shown a marked improvement in competitiveness, advancing toward high-quality development despite facing macroeconomic fluctuations. (2) Continuous improvement in marine energy and offshore wind power clusters: The competitiveness of marine energy and offshore wind power clusters has been continuously enhanced under supportive policies. However, there is still a need to optimize resource allocation and strengthen innovation stability to meet market challenges. (3) Strong growth potential of desalination and comprehensive utilization clusters: The desalination and comprehensive utilization clusters demonstrate robust growth potential in technological innovation and regional collaborative development. Future efforts should focus on the application of environmentally friendly and energy-saving technologies to ensure a balance between economic and ecological benefits. Originality/value –By strengthening the competitiveness of industrial clusters, China can effectively respond to international competition, accelerate the transformation and upgrading of the marine industry and support its transition from a maritime power to a strong maritime nation. Hence, this study will focus on analyzing the competitiveness development of China’s marine industry clusters, identifying existing problems MAEM 7,2 120 © Chong Huang, Shilong Zhang and Hongshuo Zhang. Published in Marine Economics and Management. Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence may be seen at http:// creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode We thank all referees for their constructive advice which helped to improve the completeness and clarity of this paper. Funding: This work was supported by the National Social Science Found Major Projects of China (grant no. 22&ZD126), National Social Science Found General Projects of China (grant no. 23BGL031), Natural Science Foundation Youth Program of Shandong, China (grant no. ZR2023QG040) and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation General project (grant no. 2023M742051). The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at: https://www.emerald.com/insight/2516-158X.htm Received 6 October 2024 Revised 10 October 2024 Accepted 11 October 2024 Marine Economics and Management Vol. 7 No. 2, 2024 pp. 120-138 Emerald Publishing Limited 2516-158X DOI 10.1108/MAEM-10-2024-0018 and challenges and providing theoretical support and practical guidance for enhancing the competitiveness of China’s marine industry clusters. Keywords Competitiveness, Marine economy, Index system, Marine industry clusters Paper type Research paper 1. Introduction The marine economy is an indispensable component of the global economic system. According to the International Marine Research Association, approximately 40% of global economic activities are directly or indirectly related to marine resources, encompassing various sectors such as shipping, fisheries, marine energy, and tourism. The ocean not only provides abundant biological, mineral, and energy resources but also serves as a vital transportation channel for the global economy (Kildow and McIlgorm, 2009). Maritime trade accounts for over 90% of the total volume of global goods trade, highlighting the ocean’s increasingly strategic position in global economic activities. From a national development perspective, the marine economy significantly impacts a country’s long-term sustainable growth. For a maritime nation like China, the ocean is not only a new engine for economic growth but also a crucial area for ensuring national economic security and territorial integrity (Yan et al., 2015). In 2023, China’s marine gross production value reached 99,097 billion yuan, representing a 6.0% increase compared to 2022. As the global economy shifts toward greener, low-carbon, and intelligent development, the marine economy will play an even more significant role in energy transition, industrial upgrading, and technological innovation (Ding et al., 2014). In recent years, China’s marine industry has rapidly emerged as a vital force driving economic growth (Xiong et al., 2020). China’s marine economy comprises multiple industries, including marine fisheries, marine oil and gas, shipbuilding, marine tourism, and marine biomedicine. From 2001 to 2023, China’s marine industry has experienced rapid development in dominant industries, pillar industries, and high-growth industries. The dominant marine industries (marine tourism, marine transportation, and marine fisheries) grew from 335.44 billion yuan to 2,697.6 billion yuan, accounting for 27.22% of the national marine production value in 2023. The pillar industries (marine tourism, marine transportation, and marine chemical industries) increased from 245.31 billion yuan to 2,670.1 billion yuan, with an annual growth rate of 11.46%, contributing 26.94% to the national marine production value in 2023. High-growth industries (marine power, marine pharmaceuticals and biological products, seawater desalination and comprehensive utilization, marine engineering equipment manufacturing, and marine engineering construction) rose from 11.78 billion yuan to 448.2 billion yuan, with an average annual growth rate of 17.99%. However, the development of China’s marine industry still faces numerous challenges. In particular, there is a significant gap in key marine technologies and high-end equipment manufacturing compared to developed countries. The issue of low industrial added value remains prominent, with many industries still at the initial processing and low-end manufacturing stages, making it difficult to promote highquality growth (Fan et al., 2023). Traditional marine industries, such as marine fisheries and oil and gas extraction, are highly resource-dependent, resulting in significant environmental pressures. In high-end marine equipment and deep-sea resource development, the innovation capacity of the marine industry is insufficient, and there is still a gap in technology levels compared to developed countries. Against this backdrop, the formation of marine industry clusters has become an inevitable choice for enhancing industrial competitiveness and achieving sustainable development. Marine industry clusters promote collaboration and technological innovation among enterprises by concentrating related industries in specific regions, optimizing resource allocation, and improving overall efficiency and competitiveness. This cluster Marine Economics and Management 121 development model not only strengthens the tight connections along the industrial chain but also facilitates industrial upgrading, while enhancing regional economic resilience and innovation capabilities (Zhang et al., 2024). Marine industry clusters are gradually emerging as a new type of industrial organization and are becoming an important pathway for driving high-quality development of the marine economy (Zhang et al., 2024). Several influential marine industry clusters have formed in China’s coastal regions, such as the Shandong Peninsula Blue Economic Zone and the Zhoushan Archipelago New Area, playing a positive role in promoting regional economic development and industrial transformation and upgrading. Despite the rapid rise of marine industry clusters in China and their significant development potential, there are still a series of issues that need to be addressed, including insufficient innovation capability, weak independent research and development ability, lack of independent innovation, and inadequate integration of the industrial chain. Additionally, as the scale of clusters expands, resource consumption and environmental pressures are also increasing (Yang and Zhao, 2024). How enterprises within these clusters achieve a balance between economic benefits and environmental protection has become a critical issue for future development. Moreover, the issue of sustainable utilization of marine resources is becoming increasingly severe, necessitating institutional innovation and management measures to achieve sustainable development goals (Mo et al., 2020). In an era of globalization and rapid technological advancement, the marine industry has become a strategic area for development among nations. High-competitiveness marine industry clusters can effectively integrate resources, promote the collaborative development of upstream and downstream sectors, enhance overall industrial efficiency and innovation capabilities, and possess stronger competitive advantages in international markets, thereby generating greater economic benefits and strategic leverage for the country (Li et al., 2020). With the profound transformation of the global economic landscape and the urgent demand for industrial upgrading, marine industry clusters have become a vital manifestation of national competitiveness. Enhancing the competitiveness of marine industry clusters is crucial for improving China’s economic development and international standing (Xiao et al., 2016). However, China’s marine industry clusters still face shortcomings in technological innovation, resource integration, and international market expansion, with significant gaps compared to developed countries. Therefore, in-depth exploration of the current situation and pathways for enhancing the competitiveness of marine industry clusters has become key to promoting high-quality development of the marine economy. By strengthening the competitiveness of industrial clusters, China can effectively respond to international competition, accelerate the transformation and upgrading of the marine industry, and support its transition from a maritime power to a strong maritime nation. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the current situation of the competitiveness development of China’s Marine industrial clusters, reveal the existing problems and challenges, provide theoretical support and practical guidance for improving the competitiveness of China’s Marine industrial clusters, so as to promote industrial upgrading and high-quality development, and help China realize the strategic transformation from a Marine power to a Marine power. 2. Literature review 2.1 Current status of domestic research on marine industry clusters In recent years, domestic scholars have conducted increasingly in-depth research on marine industry clusters, primarily focusing on regional agglomeration characteristics, government policy promotion, technological innovation, marine energy development, regional disparities, and sustainable development. First, the spatial distribution of marine industry clusters in China exhibits significant regional agglomeration characteristics. Coastal MAEM 7,2 122 provinces such as Shandong, Zhejiang, and Guangdong have formed relatively complete industrial chains encompassing marine fisheries, shipbuilding, marine engineering equipment, desalination, and marine biomedicine. The marine fishery cluster in the Shandong Peninsula boasts a strong industrial chain encompassing fishing, aquaculture, processing, and logistics, making it a vital component of the national marine economy (Li and Cui, 2024). Leveraging its advantageous port conditions, Zhejiang has developed high-end shipbuilding and marine engineering equipment industries, forming a robust industrial agglomeration effect supported by government assistance (Huang et al., 2024). Guangdong has established a comprehensive industrial chain, particularly in the shipbuilding and marine engineering equipment sectors, relying on the industrial foundation of the Pearl River Delta, while marine energy development is also on the rise (Du et al., 2022). Overall, the formation and development of these regional marine industry clusters provide essential support for the rapid growth of China’s marine economy. Government policy support has emerged as a significant driving force behind the development of domestic marine industry clusters. In recent years, the Chinese government has introduced a series of policies and plans aimed at encouraging and promoting marine economic development, such as the “14th Five-Year Plan for Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Equipment Industry” and the “13th Five-Year Plan for Marine Economic Development.” These policies not only provide local governments with clear development goals and directions but also promote the formation and expansion of marine industry clusters through fiscal subsidies, tax incentives, technological investment, and infrastructure development. For example, with national policy support, Jiangsu Province has rapidly developed into a core region for China’s marine shipbuilding and offshore equipment industry, creating agglomeration effects in areas such as Taizhou, Yangzhou, and Nantong, where renowned enterprises like Yaxing Anchor Chain and Runbang Co. have concentrated, establishing the Nantong Marine Engineering Equipment Manufacturing Base (Shen and Zhao, 2024). The development of these clusters driven by policy has gradually improved the domestic marine industry chain and enhanced industrial competitiveness. Technological innovation is also a critical factor in the development of domestic marine industry clusters. In recent years, China’s investment in marine technology has significantly increased, leading to breakthroughs in marine equipment manufacturing, desalination, and deep-sea development technologies. For instance, the seawater desalination industry clusters in Shanghai and Tianjin (Wang and Zhang, 2014) have become leading domestic bases for comprehensive water resource utilization, relying on reverse osmosis and multi-effect distillation technologies. Additionally, advancements in marine renewable energy technology, particularly in the offshore wind power sector (Gu et al., 2023), have made significant progress in provinces like Jiangsu and Zhejiang. As wind power equipment manufacturing technology continues to improve, China’s offshore wind power industry cluster has begun to take shape, providing robust momentum for economic growth and green energy development in coastal regions. However, the development of domestic marine industry clusters is not balanced, with significant disparities among regions. Coastal provinces such as Jiangsu, Shandong, and Zhejiang, due to their advantageous geographical locations and strong industrial foundations, have mature marine industry clusters that are gradually achieving scale effects (Wenwen et al., 2016). In contrast, underdeveloped areas in the central and western regions, as well as some coastal regions, lag in the development of marine industry clusters, lacking complete industrial chains and high value-added industries. For example, certain northern coastal regions have long relied on traditional heavy industries and manufacturing, resulting in a relatively simple industrial structure and facing environmental pollution issues, which restrict sustainable development in their marine industry clusters. Additionally, some domestic marine industry clusters still have shortcomings in Marine Economics and Management 123 technological innovation, particularly in high-end technologies and equipment, which remain heavily reliant on imports, necessitating improvements in innovation capabilities. In summary, the current research status on domestic marine industry clusters showcases three main characteristics: regional agglomeration, policy promotion, and technological innovation. Despite significant development potential, issues such as unbalanced cluster development across regions and insufficient technological innovation persist (Yang and Hou, 2019). Future research should focus on enhancing the overall innovation capability of industrial clusters, promoting coordinated development across regions, and achieving sustainable development of clusters amid global climate change and resource pressures. 2.2 Current status of foreign research on marine industry clusters International scholars have concentrated their research on marine industry clusters primarily in areas such as regional development, international cooperation, specialized division of labor, government support, and sustainable development, revealing a high degree of diversification and specialization. The United Kingdom, as a global leader in marine technology innovation, exhibits strong competitiveness in its marine industry clusters in offshore wind power, deep-sea oil and gas extraction, and marine biotechnology. The development of the UK’s marine industry clusters benefits from the combination of government policy support and technological innovation, particularly the robust support provided by higher education and research institutions for technological advancements (Gerke et al., 2015). The UK government has propelled research and commercialization of relevant technologies through various policies and funding initiatives. For example, the offshore wind power industry cluster in the UK has rapidly developed into a world-leading offshore wind power center, leveraging favorable natural conditions and policy incentives along its East Coast. In the fields of deep-sea oil and gas extraction and marine biotechnology, UK enterprises and research institutions also hold significant positions in the global market, demonstrating strong innovation capabilities and technological advantages. In the United States, marine industry clusters are characterized by a high degree of specialization, forming refined division of labor and collaborative models. U.S. enterprises have established complete industrial chains in various fields, including marine fisheries, offshore oil and gas, marine engineering equipment, and marine transportation (Riddle et al., 2013). Companies focus on their core businesses, enhancing the production efficiency and technological innovation capacity of the entire industrial chain through the division of labor and collaboration across upstream and downstream products. U.S. marine fishing and oil and gas extraction technologies are leading globally, particularly in deep-sea sectors where advanced exploration and development capabilities are present. Moreover, U.S. marine industry clusters emphasize integration with international markets, continuously expanding market channels and enhancing competitive advantages through international trade and technological collaboration. The government provides substantial support through funding, favorable policies, and promoting multinational cooperation, ensuring the sustainable development of marine industry clusters. The European Union’s marine industry clusters are characterized by diversified development, with a strong emphasis on sustainable development and international cooperation (Maskell and Malmberg, 1999). Countries along the North Sea coastline, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Denmark, have formed relatively mature industrial clusters centered on offshore wind energy and marine engineering (Monteiro et al., 2013). Denmark has witnessed rapid development in its offshore wind power industry, thanks to government policy support and corporate technological innovation. The country has advanced wind energy technology development and application through a comprehensive policy framework and funding support, establishing a world-leading offshore wind energy MAEM 7,2 124 industrial cluster (Sornn-Friese and Iversen, 2014). The Netherlands and Germany have demonstrated excellence in the marine engineering equipment manufacturing sector, particularly in shipbuilding, port infrastructure construction, and offshore wind power equipment manufacturing, showcasing strong technological capabilities (Salvador et al., 2015). Countries along the Mediterranean coast, such as Spain, Italy, and France, have developed high-value-added industrial clusters in marine tourism and marine food processing, leveraging their rich natural resources and cultural heritage. Spain and Italy have adopted an economic model centered on marine tourism, attracting numerous international visitors due to their unique natural landscapes and historical cultural resources (Boschma and Iammarino, 2009). These countries have actively promoted the development of marine food processing industries, utilizing abundant marine resources to create specialized marine products and high-end food processing industrial clusters, thereby enhancing their international competitiveness. Canada has leveraged its abundant marine resources, particularly in the fields of marine fisheries and oil and gas, to establish robust industrial clusters. Canada possesses advanced marine fishing technologies and rich fishery resources, with its seafood exports holding significant positions in the global market (Doloreux and Shearmur, 2009). The government has ensured the long-term development of marine industry clusters through policy support, driving technological innovation and sustainable development. In summary, marine clusters in the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union have maintained their technological leadership in offshore wind power, deep-sea oil and gas, and marine biotechnology through a highly specialized division of labor, strong government support, and international cooperation. Nevertheless, China’s marine clusters have demonstrated increasing influence globally, particularly in marine transportation, fisheries and some high-growth industries, and have gained significant scale advantages. China’s marine industry clusters have gradually realized the expansion of industry chain and the improvement of competitiveness by relying on national policy support and huge market demand while developing rapidly (Holte and Moen, 2020). In the future, China is expected to play a more strategic and important role in the global marine economy by learning from successful experiences abroad and further improving its independent innovation capability and international cooperation, thus promoting the sustainable development of the global marine industry. 2.3 Analysis of issues in marine industry cluster development Despite significant progress in research on marine industry clusters, several apparent issues remain. First, there is a notable imbalance in research focus, as most studies, both domestic and international, tend to concentrate on specific economically developed coastal regions such as the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, and Bohai Rim, while the marine industry clusters in the central and western coastal regions and economically underdeveloped areas have received insufficient attention. This leads to a skewed understanding of the overall development of marine industry clusters across the country and hinders in-depth analysis of regional disparities. Second, the content of research is relatively singular; although there is a wealth of literature addressing traditional fields such as marine fisheries, shipbuilding, and marine engineering equipment, there is comparatively less focus on emerging high-tech industries like marine biomedicine, marine energy, and desalination and comprehensive utilization, particularly regarding the pathways for enhancing the global competitiveness of these new industries. Additionally, existing studies often emphasize the roles of technological innovation and policy promotion, yet lack in-depth analysis of industrial chain synergies, inter-enterprise technology transfer, and international cooperation, failing Marine Economics and Management 125 to comprehensively reveal how industrial clusters can enhance competitiveness through international collaboration in the context of globalization. In summary, the current research on marine industry clusters still faces certain limitations in aspects such as regional focus, industrial dynamics, technological collaboration, and sustainable development. Future research should strengthen investigations in these areas to promote further integration of theory and practice. 3. Construction of indicator system and data sources 3.1 Design of the competitiveness evaluation indicators for China’s marine industry clusters The design of the competitiveness evaluation indicator system for China’s marine industry clusters follows the framework of “relevant factor analysis—comprehensive identification of indicators—classification and stratification of indicators—indicator system paradigm.” By synthesizing the relevant literature on industrial cluster competitiveness, the study clarifies the connotations, extensions, and influencing factors of three main aspects: the development capacity of industrial clusters, the innovation capacity of industrial clusters, and the macroeconomic support capacity. Following the principle of selecting evaluation indexes and on the basis of considering data availability, this study categorizes the influencing factors and then selects the indexes to construct an evaluation index system for the development of competitiveness of China’s marine industry clusters. This system consists of three secondary indicators: development capacity of industrial clusters, innovation capacity of industrial clusters, and macroeconomic support capacity. Additionally, it includes six tertiary indicators: cluster scale level, cluster growth capacity, innovation environment level, innovation development capacity, macroeconomic environment level, and macroeconomic development capacity, as well as 50 quaternary indicators, as detailed in Table 1. 3.2 Data processing for the competitiveness evaluation indicators of China’s marine industry clusters To ensure the comparability of indicator data, it is necessary to eliminate dimensional discrepancies between different indicators. This study primarily employs the Min-Max normalization method to remove dimensional differences. For positive indicators, the formula is as follows: yi¼yi�ymin ymax �ymin ði¼1;2;...;nÞ(1) For negative indicators, the formula is as follows: yi¼ymax �yi ymax �ymin ði¼1;2;...;nÞ(2) In these equations, yirepresents the original data, while yidenotes the standardized data. 3.3 Evaluation method for the competitiveness of China’s marine industry clusters The entropy method is an objective weighting approach widely applied in multiindicator comprehensive evaluations. The weight of entropy method measures the variability of the index information by calculating its entropy value. The greater the MAEM 7,2 126 Primary indicators Secondary indicators Tertiary indicators Quaternary indicators China Ocean Industry Cluster Competitiveness Evaluation Index System Cluster Development Capacity cluster scale level Number of Enterprises Above Designated Size in Industrial Clusters (units) Number of Fortune Global 500 Companies in Industrial Clusters (units) Number of Top 500 Domestic Companies in Industrial Clusters (units) Number of Listed Companies in Industrial Clusters (units) Number of Employees in Industrial Clusters (people) Total Assets at Year-End of Industrial Clusters (ten thousand yuan) Total Tax and Profit of Industrial Clusters (ten thousand yuan) Total Main Business Revenue of Industrial Clusters (ten thousand yuan) Area of Regional Sea (ten thousand square kilometers) Length of Regional Coastline (kilometers) cluster growth capacity Employment Growth Rate (%) Enterprise Growth Rate (%) Tax and Revenue Growth Rate (%) Proportion of Marine Gross Output Value to National Total (%) Output Capacity per Unit of Sea Area (ten thousand yuan/ square kilometer) Output Capacity per Unit of Coastline (billion yuan/kilometer) Innovation Growth Capacity innovation environment level Number of Scientific Researchers (people) Number of High-Level Marine Talents (people) Number of Universities and Research Institutes (units) Number of R&D Projects (units) Per Capita R&D Expenditure (ten thousand yuan) Gross Output Value of Marine Science, Education, and Management Services (billion yuan) Number of Patents Authorized (units) Number of Scientific Publications (units) innovation development capacity Growth Rate of Scientific Researchers (%) Growth Rate of R&D Expenditure (%) Growth Rate of Per Capita R&D Expenditure (%) Growth Rate of High-Level Marine Talents (%) Growth Rate of Patent Authorizations (%) Growth Rate of Scientific Publications (%) Intensity of R&D Investment (%) Macroeconomic Support Capacity macroeconomic environment level Land Area (square kilometers) Port Throughput Capacity (ten thousand tons) Port Cargo Throughput Capacity (ten thousand tons) Regional GDP per Capita (yuan) Fiscal Revenue per Capita (yuan) Output Value of Marine-Related Industries (billion yuan) Total Number of Universities and Research Institutions (units) Number of High-Level Talents in the Region (people) Number of University Students at Undergraduate Level and Above (people) Government Efficiency Business Environment macroeconomic development capacity Regional GDP Growth Rate (%) Regional Fiscal Revenue Growth Rate (%) Marine-Related Industries Output Growth Rate (%) Port Throughput Capacity Growth Rate (%) Business Environment Improvement Rate (%) High-Level Talent Growth Rate (%) Road, Railway, and Inland Waterway Mileage (kilometers) Output Capacity per Unit of Land Area (billion yuan/square kilometer) Source(s): Authors’ own creation Table 1. China ocean industry cluster competitiveness evaluation index system Marine Economics and Management 127 shown in Table 3 (Weight 3). The results indicate that the competitiveness of China’s desalination and comprehensive utilization industry cluster is primarily influenced by macroeconomic support capability, particularly the capability for macroeconomic development. In contrast, innovation capability and cluster development levels have a weaker impact. Among the key tertiary indicators, the output capacity per unit of sea area, the improvement rate of the business environment, and the output capacity per unit of coastline make significant contributions. Table 5 provides the calculated comprehensive competitiveness index for the desalination and comprehensive utilization industry clusters in two provinces of China. Between 2017 and 2021, Jiangsu’s industry cluster competitiveness steadily improved, reaching its peak in 2020. Shanghai exhibited steady growth from 2017 to 2019, with a significant acceleration beginning in 2020, indicating a strong growth momentum in the later stages. By calculating the annual averages of competitiveness and core secondary indicators for the desalination and comprehensive utilization industry clusters in Jiangsu and Shanghai (see Figure 5), the analysis reveals that the desalination and comprehensive utilization industry cluster demonstrated robust competitiveness enhancement from 2017 to 2021, particularly driven by macroeconomic support and innovation capabilities. However, after the rapid growth experienced in 2020, some core indicators, such as macroeconomic support and cluster development capabilities, experienced slight adjustments, which may signal that the desalination and comprehensive utilization industry cluster is entering a relatively stable development phase. Moving forward, it is essential to continuously optimize macroeconomic policies, enhance innovation capabilities within the cluster, and overcome the bottlenecks in Year Jiangsu Shanghai 2017 0.1306 0.1261 2018 0.2042 0.0991 2019 0.3150 0.1027 2020 0.8635 0.2630 2021 0.5022 0.5501 Source(s): Authors’ own creation Table 5. Comprehensive competitiveness index of desalination and comprehensive utilization industry clusters in two provinces of China (2017–2021) Figure 5. Temporal evolution of competitiveness and core secondary indicator development levels of China’s desalination and comprehensive utilization industry cluster MAEM 7,2 134 cluster development capability to ensure the stability and sustainability of China’s desalination and comprehensive utilization industry cluster development. Figure 6 illustrates the trends in competitiveness and the development levels of core secondary indicators for the desalination and comprehensive utilization industry clusters in Jiangsu and Shanghai. The results indicate that Jiangsu’s breakthrough in macroeconomic support and cluster innovation capabilities in 2020 significantly enhanced its industry cluster competitiveness, demonstrating strong innovation-driven growth. In contrast, Shanghai exhibited stable cluster development capabilities and gradually improving cluster innovation capabilities, resulting in overall competitiveness that remains stable but grows relatively slowly. In the future, to further enhance competitiveness, Jiangsu must continue to leverage its innovation-driven approach while addressing the decline in cluster development capabilities. Meanwhile, Shanghai needs to seek greater breakthroughs in macroeconomic support and cluster development capabilities. 5. Conclusions and policy recommendations Based on the evaluation and analysis of the competitiveness of typical marine industry clusters in China, the following conclusions can be drawn: (1) Significant Competitiveness of Marine Shipbuilding and Ocean Engineering Equipment Clusters: Through technological innovation and policy support, the marine shipbuilding and ocean engineering equipment clusters have shown a marked improvement in competitiveness, advancing toward high-quality development despite facing macroeconomic fluctuations. (2) Continuous Improvement in Marine Energy and Offshore Wind Power Clusters: The competitiveness of marine energy and offshore wind power clusters has been continuously enhanced under supportive policies. However, there is still a need to optimize resource allocation and strengthen innovation stability to meet market challenges. Figure 6. Temporal characteristics of competitiveness and core secondary indicator development levels of the desalination and comprehensive utilization industry clusters in two provinces Marine Economics and Management 135 (3) Strong Growth Potential of Desalination and Comprehensive Utilization Clusters: The desalination and comprehensive utilization clusters demonstrate robust growth potential in technological innovation and regional collaborative development. Future efforts should focus on the application of environmentally friendly and energy-saving technologies to ensure a balance between economic and ecological benefits. (4) Regional competitiveness is characterized by outstanding features: Shanghai has demonstrated significant advantages in innovation and macroeconomic support in the industries of marine vessels and offshore engineering equipment, and marine energy and offshore wind power, while Jiangsu has demonstrated strong competitiveness in the cluster development capacity of marine energy and seawater desalination relying on policy drivers. (5) The direction of improvement varies: Jiangsu needs to strengthen macroeconomic support and maintain innovation advantages to enhance sustained competitiveness; Shanghai needs to make greater breakthroughs in macroeconomics and cluster development capabilities. Shandong and Tianjin need to improve their innovation capacity and cluster size to enhance regional competitiveness. Based on these conclusions, the following three policy recommendations are proposed: (1) Dynamic Resource Optimization Mechanism: Utilize big data and artificial intelligence technologies to establish real-time monitoring platforms that promote regional resource sharing and collaboration. Develop supportive policies to ensure the efficient and balanced utilization of marine resources, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of the marine economy. (2) Industry Cluster Networks Led by Leading Enterprises: Centered around large enterprises, promote collaborative innovation among small and medium-sized enterprises. Through policy and financial support, facilitate technology transfer and market expansion, optimize the industrial chain structure, achieve resource complementarity, and enhance overall competitiveness. 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Corresponding author Hongshuo Zhang can be contacted at: [email protected] For instructions on how to order reprints of this article, please visit our website: www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/licensing/reprints.htm Or contact us for further details: [email protected] MAEM 7,2 138