GIIC 2020: World Industrial Innovative Technology Cooperations (WiiTs) Initiative Officially Launched

On the occasion of the "2020 2nd Global Industrial Internet Conference", in order to further promote the implementation of industrial technology innovation and international cooperation (World Industrial Innovative Technology Cooperations, WiiTs) initiative, promote the global application of sustainable technology, UNIDO ITPO Shanghai, School of International and Public Affairs of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), and ISID Jointed Institute of SJTU co-organized UNIDO Night: WiiTs Workshop & the First Plenary of WiiTs National Advisory Group on September 18 in Wuzhen, Tongxiang, Zhejiang.

The era of global technological governance has come, and the technological layout of various countries is increasingly dominated by technology innovation. The global epidemic is also accelerating the pace of digital transformation. Facing the new normal in the post-epidemic era, the WiiTs initiative will lay a solid foundation for empowering global industrial technology cooperation, to contribute to global inclusive and sustainable economic recovery and development, and to achieve inclusiveness in the post-epidemic era Economic recovery, green economic recovery and innovative economic recovery inject new energy. In the future, the construction of the WiiTs platform will revolve around the principles of global cooperation, cross-industry cooperation, collaborative innovation cooperation, and technology-oriented cooperation. Under the development of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Goals, a unique global cooperation platform will be established.

Zhou Cheng, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, delivered the opening remark. “At present, the global new technology revolution and industrial transformation are accelerating. As a global science and innovation center, Shanghai must seize the opportunities of the new round of technology revolution and industrial transformation. The ISID Jointed Institute of SJTU forms the close cooperation model between SJTU and UNIDO, actively promotes the transformation of industrial green growth and the construction of eco-industrial parks in the Yangtze River Delta to achieve regional coordinated development.”

Zhou Yiping, Dean of the International Silk Road Academy of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, former UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for South-South Cooperation, and Director of the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, emphasized in his speech: This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Three days ago, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued the warnings to the world. In the face of severe global conditions, we need global unity, joint efforts, and cooperation. The countries and people in the area where the alarm sounds urgently need infrastructure investment and technology transfer in the fields of transportation, irrigation, energy, health, education, and communications. We need to establish a new type of partnership to stimulate new technologies and innovative capabilities, and leverage trillions of dollars in market resources to build a fair, open, and non-profit industrial technology innovation and technology transfer cooperation platform. I really appreciated and happy to join the WiiTs and platform jointed launched by UNIDO and SJTU."