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Promoting sustainable development in rural areas through industrial transformation has emerged as a global consensus. The rural complex, characterized by its integration of industrial elements, serves as an advantageous target for China's rural transformation and development. However, the lack of accurate assessment and identification of industrial resource potential has impeded the progress and growth of rural complexes. Therefore, there is a pressing need for an evaluation framework that includes screening and identification functionalities to effectively guide the industrial transformation of rural complexes. Commencing with a precise definition of rural complexes and an explanation of relevant policies, this study combines qualitative theoretical constructs with quantitative multi-criteria decision-making models. Additionally, the study incorporates the gravity model to measure the impact of urban radiation on rural areas. The resulting framework for evaluating industrial resource potential consists of "3 + 7" Modules. Subsequently, utilizing Changsha as a case study, the effectiveness of the evaluation framework is verified across 804 administrative villages. The findings classify these villages into three regions, revealing a circular distribution pattern characterized by decay from the urban center towards the periphery, except for education. Moreover, all modules demonstrate significant spatial autocorrelation. Infrastructure and the ecological environment exert a substantial influence on other industries, while notable synergies exist among the Internet, culture, tourism, and science & technology innovation. Finally, based on the findings, five development suggestions are proposed, focusing on spatial integration and construction mechanisms. The study strengthens the theoretical understanding of rural complexes, provide a practical decision-making tool for project approval processes and the diagnosis of rural industries, and enhance the strategic investment approach toward rural revitalization. • A new evaluation framework for rural complex based on industrial resource potential. • The staged and modular evaluation criteria under internal and external influences. • The gravity model was used to determine the degree of the economic impact of a central city. • Some industrial resources showed a positive correlation and a circle-like distribution. • The resource potential of 804 villages in Changsha was calculated and then analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]