WAIC

 

For the seventh consecutive year, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is supporting the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) to help make AI a catalyst for inclusive and sustainable industrial development worldwide.

WAIC 2023

 

UNIDO’s Global Alliance on Artificial Intelligence for Industry and Manufacturing (AIM-Global) was launched on 6 July 2023, at the 2023 World AI Conference (WAIC 2023) held in Shanghai, China. The plan to establish International Center of Excellence for Development of AI for Industry and Manufacturing was also accouned at the same time. This pioneering initiative aims to foster the responsible, sustainable, and inclusive application of artificial intelligence in the industrial sector, in accordance with the UN Secretary-General's call to establish a Global Digital Compact that upholds shared principles for an open, free, and secure digital future for all.

AIM-Global is a groundbreaking collaboration platform designed to bring together governments, international organizations, and the private sector and industry leaders who recognize the transformative potential of AI in driving inclusive and sustainable industrial development. By uniting global stakeholders under a common vision, AIM-Global seeks to shape the future of AI while ensuring that ethical considerations, human-centricity, and sustainability remain at the forefront of technological advancements.

The launch of AIM-Global brought together international figures in the field of AI, including high-level government representatives, policymakers, and leading experts from public and private sectors, who convened to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and forge strategic partnerships. For the year 2023, several founding partners, including Shanghai Municipal People’s Government and UNIDO Investment and Technology Promotion Office (ITPO) Shanghai committed to support the pioneering efforts to enhance industrial competitiveness and sustainable development through AI. LIU Duo, Vice Mayor of Shanghai, ZOU Ziyong, Deputy to the Director-General and Managing Director of UNIDO, YANG Zhenbin, Secretary of the Party Committee of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, H.E. Gloria Carvalho, Vice Minister for the Development of Information and Communication Technologies, Ministry of Popular Power for Science and Technology, Venezuela, SHAO Guanglu, General Manager of China Telecom Group, ZHANG Yuan (Vicky), Vice President of Corporate Communications, Huawei, GU Wei, Vice President of Tencent Cloud, AN Xiaopeng, Director of Intelligent Tecnology Research Center Alibaba Cloud, and Benny Schrader, Director of Artificial Intelligence Technology, INC Innovation Center, Germany, jointly launched the AIM-Global Alliance.

 

 

Since the first World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) being held in 2018, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has been assisting in holding WAIC as an international institutional partner for four consecutive years. Echoing the theme of WAIC 2021, “Intelligent World, Intelligent City”, UNIDO took issues such as Al + SDGs and high-quality development of the industry to the conference for in-depth discussion with the professional audience, jointly promoting artificial intelligence technology sustainable innovation and global project landing of high-quality development.

WAIC 2021 was co-organized by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China, the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China, the State Internet Information Office, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the Chinese Association for Science and Technology, and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government. 1 Nobel laureate, 5 Turing laureates, 61 academicians from home and abroad, and 150 CEOs have participated in the conference, with more than 352 million online and offline viewers.

WAIC 2022

 

 

 

WAIC 2021

 

 

Since the first World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) being held in 2018, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has been assisting in holding WAIC as an international institutional partner for four consecutive years. Echoing the theme of WAIC 2021, “Intelligent World, Intelligent City”, UNIDO took issues such as Al + SDGs and high-quality development of the industry to the conference for in-depth discussion with the professional audience, jointly promoting artificial intelligence technology sustainable innovation and global project landing of high-quality development.

 

2021 was co-organized by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China, the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China, the State Internet Information Office, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the Chinese Association for Science and Technology, and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government. 1 Nobel laureate, 5 Turing laureates, 61 academicians from home and abroad, and 150 CEOs have participated in the conference, with more than 352 million online and offline viewers.

WAIC 2020

 

 

The 2020 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC 2020) Summit Online started during June 9th-11th involved over 550 public sector leaders, 7 Winner of the Turing Award, 32 CEOs and 62 top academicians, and industry leaders from around the world in a conversation about the technological frontiers of AI. Mr. LI Yong, Director General of the UNIDO, delivered video remarks at the opening ceremony in which he emphasized that in light of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), new technologies have been significantly contributing to the fight against COVID-19. This year, WAIC 2020 attracted 253 million participants from online and offline, and presented ITPO Shanghai with the “Outstanding Organization Award”.

WAIC 2020 Global Day established an interactive platform for AI innovation projects and talent exchange. On the Global Day, UNIDO ITPO Shanghai held a "Inclusive and Sustainable Development (ISID) Technology Global Roadshow" featuring over 20 outstanding AI projects in the area of cloud computing, intelligent driving, 3D organ printing, etc. WAIC 2020 Global Day successively organized 5 international exchange activities. At the closing ceremony, a total of 3 projects were successfully signed for cooperation: DigitWin and Lingzhong Capital reached an investment intention agreement; PETOI and Baidu Innovation Center signed a project landing agreement: livecom and Ziyi Technology successfully signed a business cooperation agreement.

WAIC 2019

 

 

On August 30, 2019, the 2019 World Artificial Intelligence Conference(WAIC) was held in Shanghai. LI Yong, Director General of UNIDO and LI Qiang, Secretary of Shanghai Municipal Party Committee attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.

Bernardo Calzadilla Sarmiento, Director of TII, UNIDO, was invited to attend the two summits of WAIC, "International Smart City Summit" and "Global Industrial Intelligence Summit", and delivered speeches. In his opening speech, Mr. Bernardo pointed out that technology and innovation would play an important role in the "2030 Sustainable Development Goals". At the multilateral level, UNIDO worked with all stakeholders to provide important learning opportunities for exchange of knowledge and best practices, in order to meet the challenges and opportunities brought by the 4.0 industrial revolution , and to seek cooperation and development. PENG Chenlei, Vice Mayor of Shanghai, WU Zhiqiang, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering and vice mayor of Milan, Italy attended the summits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WAIC 2018

 

As one of the theme forums of the 2018 World Artificial Intelligence Conference, the “Seen Intelligence” Intelligent Recognition Theme Forum hosted by China Artificial Intelligence unicorn enterprise YITU Technology was held during the conference. ITPO Shanghai held a cooperation signing ceremony with YITU Technology during the forum. Invited by the Organizing Committee, Mr. Raymond TAVARES, Industrial Development Official of UNIDO, attended the opening ceremony and a series of activities of the 2018 World Artificial Intelligence Conference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the establishment of AIM-Global, Mr. Gerd Müller, UNIDO Director General, pointed out that it is a shared responsibility to ensure that advancements in the field of AI are made in a manner that is safe, ethical, sustainable, and inclusive. He stressed that AIM-Global recognizes the importance of bridging the digital divide between nations and industries, ensuring that no one is left behind in the AI revolution. He also pointed out that AIM-Global will be at the forefront of shaping the AI landscape, with it, we could work collaboratively to build a future where AI is a force for good, where its benefits are accessible to all, and where innovation thrives in harmony with our shared values.

During the WAIC plenary session, high-level government officials emphasized the global significance of UNIDO's AIM Global initiative calling for active participation and joint action in the transformative field of AI. Representing UNIDO, Mr. Ciyong Zou, Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director, delivered a keynote speech marking the inauguration of AIM-Global: “UNIDO’s Global Alliance was conceived as an international platform to foster AI development in industry and manufacturing that would facilitate research, develop ethical guidelines, and make policy recommendations for AI use globally. AIM-Global will prioritize data protection, privacy, and trust in AI systems, advocating for improved mechanisms to safeguard sensitive data. These efforts will be reinforced by the establishment of AI Centers in different regions, as well as investments in education and training to empower individuals and organizations to leverage AI for innovation while upholding ethical standards”.

Through collaborative efforts, AIM-Global aims to unlock the full potential of AI, creating a global ecosystem that drives innovation, enhances productivity, and addresses societal challenges across the industrial landscape.

WAIC 2024

 

During the opening ceremony of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2024 held in Shanghai, UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller inaugurated the new Global Alliance on AI for Industry and Manufacturing Centre of Excellence (AIM Global CoE) together with Mr. Jin Zhuanglong, Minister of Industry and Information Technology of China. The establishment of the new UNIDO AIM Global CoE in Shanghai is supported by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government.

In his remarks at the opening ceremony of WAIC 2024 Director General Müller highlighted: “Digitalization and AI are game changers for developing countries. UNIDO stands ready to be an implementation partner for the new UN Resolution on AI to ensure that developing countries, especially LDCs, benefit equally from AI. With our Global Alliance on AI for Industry and Manufacturing, UNIDO offers a bridge between industrialized countries, the private sector, academia and developing countries. China is a superpower in industrialization, digitalization, and a leader in Artificial Intelligence. With our new joint AIM Global Centre of Excellence in Shanghai, we will be able to increase our support to promote best-practices and technology transfer to the Global South, so that those countries can benefit from the great potential of AI for development, and contribute to bridging the global digital divide.”