I just got back from seeing this type of government and business partnering in the UK at the Coventry Manufacturing Centre. Government is in partnership with industry and universities to help create manufacturing jobs. Figuring out how to develop and implement new technology when investment money is hard to come by. There is an understanding of the importance of keeping the manufacturing sector moving forward—and they are not building it alone : )
As far as the manufacturing sector goes, I think that Germany is also doing something right. Fareed Zakaria looks a little closer at this topic in this CNN special.
Take a look at some of the examples from Germany.
http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/18/fareed-zakaria-looks-for-solutions-for-growing-jobs-in-political-special/
More on the Coventry Manufacturing Centre: http://www.the-mtc.org/