Characteristics of Industrial Cluster Networks from the Perspective of Smart Specialization: A Case Study of Jiangsu Province, China

Smart specialization is a regional development strategy that identifies regional innovation advantages through the analysis of cluster networks, while strengthening both intra-cluster and inter-cluster technological linkages to promote coordinated regional development. Drawing on branch office flow and patent cooperation data, and employing methods such as the Expectation-Maximization (EM) clustering algorithm and the ‘Product Space’ approach, this study investigates innovation and technological linkages both within and across industrial clusters. The key findings are as follows. First, Jiangsu’s clusters demonstrate two patterns: closely integrated industrial networks in southern cities like Suzhou, fostering strong industrial resilience, and distinct technological boundaries in northern and central cities like Yancheng, resulting in weaker integration. Second, the cluster network exhibits a single-core structure at the municipal level, centered around Nanjing, with a multi-tiered hierarchy at the district level. Third, innovation linkages between clusters follow a dual-core structure, with Nanjing and Suzhou as central hubs. In this structure, large enterprises in Nanjing and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Suzhou reflect complementary industrial characteristics. Finally, both technology-intensive and low-tech manufacturing industries show a higher propensity for cross-regional innovation, with some cities demonstrating significant advantages in high-tech industries. Grounded in the framework of smart specialization, this study conducts an in-depth analysis of innovation and technological linkages within cluster networks at the industrial level, offering scientific insights to support the localized implementation of smart specialization strategies in the Chinese context.