As China's only province with all 41 major industrial categories, Shandong is undoubtedly a big industrial producer and a large manufacturing province. However, about 40% of industrial enterprises in Shandong are upstream and midstream companies in the industrial chains, resulting in a relatively small proportion of industrial enterprises with high value-added. Therefore, it becomes imperative to add and strengthen the industrial chains. Under this context, Shandong has promoted investment through industrial chains vigorously. As shown in the "report card" of Shandong's economic performance in 2021, the investment in industries toward the high end of the industrial chains and emerging industries increased significantly, while that in the economic development of "four new" (new technologies, new models, new business formats and new industries) increased by 5.8% year-on-year, accounting for 51.2% of total investment, etc.

To perform well in investment attraction through industrial chains, Shandong has adhered to the ideas of "focusing on the frontier, planning along the chain, leading traction, cultivation and growth, creating ecological and cluster development", focused on nine major industry sectors, selected 42 key industrial chains, promoted the working mechanism of "chain chief system", and effectively enhanced the stability and competitiveness of the industrial chains and supply chains.

At present, the responsible persons of Party and government offices have assumed the position of the "chain chief" of industrial chains. The model of industrial investment promotion with leading enterprises as the "chain master" in Shandong has been established in the provincial, municipal, county and park levels to coordinate internal and external resources, and focus on the weak links in the industrial chains for key breakthroughs.

For instance, Weihai has issued the "Opinions of Weihai on the Implementation of Promoting the Coordinated Development of the Industrial Chain, the Supply Chain and the Innovation Chain". With the pattern of cluster development for seven industries, 10 advantageous industrial chains have been selected, and the "chain chief system" has been fully rolled out. Enterprise development demands concerning the "Four Lists" (administrative power list, governmental responsibility list, negative list for investment, special financial fund management list) have been collected month by month. By virtue of vertical integration, "dual attraction and introduction" and other means, the coordinated development of the industrial chain, the supply chain and the innovation chain has been accelerated.

Through a series of measures to add, extend and strengthen industrial chains, Shandong is witnessing a growth in the number of industrial chains and supply chains.