Industrial clusters of high-quality steel materials and information technology services in Rizhao have been included in the first batch of 12 provincial strategic emerging industrial clusters, according a list released by the Shandong Provincial Development and Reform Commission.

Rizhao in Shandong province boasts a solid foundation and distinct advantages in industry. [Photo/dzwww.com]

Strategic emerging industrial cluster is an important organizational form of modern industrial development that contributes greatly to the transformation of growth drivers and urban economic vitality.

The high-quality steel material industry cluster boasts the first 100-billion-yuan ($15.47 billion) industry cluster in Rizhao and leads the transformation and upgrading of iron and steel industry in Shandong province.

A steelmaking plant in Rizhao [Photo/dzwww.com]

Last year, the output value of Rizhao's iron and steel industry stood at 146.8 billion yuan, accounting for 48.56 percent of the city's total industrial output value above designated size.

Rizhao has also been ramping up efforts to boost the information technology service industry cluster. The city is home to eight IT industrial parks and key high-tech enterprises covering integrated circuits, high-end software, artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing and other fields.

There are also more than 30 research and development platforms above the provincial level, more than 10 talent platforms such as academician workstations, and more than 40 business incubation carriers in the city.

An information technology industrial park in Rizhao, Shandong province [Photo/dzwww.com]