Coupling Issues Between Sme Clusters and the Agricultural-Animal Husbandry Industry in Inner Mongolia from the Perspective of Industrial Cluster Theory

This study conducts a meta-analysis to evaluate the coupling relationship between Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) clusters and the agricultural-animal husbandry industry in Inner Mongolia, using industrial cluster theory as a conceptual framework. The research relies on empirical studies, government reports, and statistical data from 2015 to 2025 to identify the significant regional diversity in integration. The analysis shows prefectures like Hohhot and Chifeng have intermediate to strong Coupling Coordination Degrees (CCD > 0.70). In contrast, with their agricultural strength, prefectures such as Xilingol and Hulunbuir are weakly integrated (CCD ≈ 0.50). Significant constraints to effective coupling are spatial mismatch, institutional fragmentation, and barriers to the diffusion of innovation. Technology adoption is the most important factor affecting integration as perceived by regression modeling as the second best in prediction power, following government support and SME density. For example, the Spatial Overlap Index further confirms that co-location does not ensure functional synergy and policy, infrastructure development, and knowledge-based linkages are required. Ultimately, the study advocates a reconceptualization of the cluster theory in a way that accounts for the regional realities, specifically soft linkages like trust networks and institutional cooperation, to successfully couple in agro-pastoral economies. Based upon these findings, stakeholders who aim to foster industrial-agricultural integration and promote rural consolidation and sustainable regional development are provided withstrategic input