With approvals of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, Smart China Expo (SCE) is jointly organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology, PRC, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, PRC, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Engineering, China Association for Science and Technology and the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government. It is a professional event to encourage global exchanges of smart technologies and a high-end platform for in-depth international cooperation of the smart industry. On August 23-25, 2018 Smart China Expo (hereinafter referred to SCE 2018) was held in Chongqing. General Secretary Xi Jinping wrote a congratulatory letter, and the letter was read by Vice Premier Han Zheng who attended the Expo and delivered a speech. The letter confirmed Chongqing to be the permanent site for SCE. With approvals of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, SCE 2019 will be held on August 26-29, 2019 in Chongqing International Expo Center on the basis of the success of SCE 2018.

During his inspection tour in Chongqing in April 2019, General Secretary Xi Jinping urges Chongqing “continue to host the SCE with high standards, and enhance in depth participation of digital economy international cooperation”. To follow his important instructions, SCE 2019 adheres to the theme of “Smart Technology: Empowering Economy, Enriching Life” to pool collective wisdom and strength together. Through conferences, exhibitions, summits and contests, SCE 2019 will showcase new products, new technologies, new business formats and modes of the global smart industry. Compared with the inaugural SCE, SCE 2019 will highlight its international engagement by benchmarking international standards, innovating concepts for hosting SCE and enriching service functions. By further expanding the scale, scope and level of foreign guests and enterprise exhibitors, SCE 2019 will strive to constantly enhance its global influence and exhibit its professionalism. More than 100 top-level professional forums, results presentations and events will be held during SCE 2019, presenting spotlights of the latest smart technology achievements worldwide including AI, big data, cloud computing, 5G and block chain. By organizing a series of practical and efficient investment attraction and promotion activities, SCE 2019 will to facilitate major project cooperation in the field of smart technologies. By establishing four interactive experience venues of Liangjiang New Area Lijia “Smart Eco-Town”, Yuelai Smart Life Interactive Experience Area, Yubei Xiantao International Data Valley & Smart Transportation and Auto-Pilot Demonstration Area and Chongqing Economic and Technological Development Zone (Nan’an District) Smart Valley Smart Technology Experience Area, which center on smart life, smart manufacturing and smart facilities, with over 50 real-life scenarios involving unmanned supermarket, smart medical care, hydrogen fueled vehicle and smart footpath, SCE 2019 will comprehensively display the latest achievements in the smart industry and the vivid scenarios of future smart cities. At the same time, all venues and outdoor smart experience areas of Chongqing International Expo Center will have full coverage of 5G network during the SCE 2019, making it an experience field of 5G ecology in Chongqing.

The opening ceremony of SCE 2018 is held on August 23 in Chongqing, China.

First, an opening ceremony and Big Data and Smart Technology Summit will be held. The Chongqing Municipal Committee, Chongqing Municipal People’s Government and co-organizers, representatives of international organizations will be invited to deliver speeches. Centering on topics such as smart industry, smart manufacturing and smart application, academicians and experts in relevant fields, as well as leaders of leading enterprises in the industry at home and abroad will also be invited to deliver keynote speeches, gathering innovative wisdom and discussing smart technology development.

Robot performance (Photo by Wang Yiling)

Second, six Exhibition Zones will be set up to present the following aspects of big data and smart technology: General Trend and Policy Directions, Smart Technology and Products, Smart Manufacturing, Smart Application, Smart Life Interactive Experiences and Regional Cutting-edge Innovation. The exhibitions will specially invite domestic and foreign top enterprises to participate in the exhibition, thoroughly and panoramically displaying the current situation and trend of the smart industry in the commercial, civil and administrative development, highlighting the demonstration and interactive experience of smart applications focusing on smart cities, and promoting in-depth integration of the digital economy and the real economy.

2018 i-VISTA competition

Third, surrounding smart industry, smart manufacturing and smart application, a series of contests are planned to be held including the i-VISTA Grand Challenge, International Drone Race Performance, and China Smart City Big Data Open Innovation Application Contest, and the newly added FPGA Smart Innovation Global Contest, “Smart China Cup” of Industrial Design, China-Singapore Industrial App Innovative Contest, China Mobile OneNET Star 2.0 IoT Maker Marathon and 2019 “Smart China Cup” Big Data and Smart Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition for Youth. These contests strive to display top-level projects, technologies and products at home and abroad, building a high-level platform for project cooperation and talent introduction, as well as facilitating the connection between the industry and financing, as well as the talent and financing.

The heated discussion around the theme “The New Era of AI – from Ideas to Implementation ” at AI High-End Forum

Fourth, a series of forums are designed to explore in depth the technical difficulties, demand pain points and solutions of big data and smart technology application in terms of 5G, “Smart+” and “Belt and Road” Smart Development. Theme forums such as Mayors’ Roundtable for International Sister Cities of Chongqing & International Sister Cities Business Summit, the First Annual Meeting of the Expert Consultation Committee of Chongqing Big Data and Smart Technology Development Strategy, Global Digital Economy Summit, as well as specialized forums including Integrated Circuit Industry Summit, Intelligent Robots Summit Forum, Huawei Cloud City Summit 2019 and iFLYTEK “AI: Empowering a Smarter Future” Forum. Major contract signing activities will also be held. At that time, relevant countries, national-level ministries and commissions, industry organizations, provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, and enterprises will also release smart industry policies, standards, norms, indexes, lists, new products, new technologies, etc. to continuously deepen economic cooperation, promote the implementation of industrial achievements, and enhance the influence and brand value of SCE.