WCIT 2017 Digital Dream Expo at Exhibition Hall 1 of Taipei World Trade Center, Sep. 10-13
The 21st World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT 2017) will begin on September 10 and the official opening ceremony will be held on the next day at Taipei International Convention Center (TICC). WCIT is praised as the most influential technology congress. Political leaders, industry representatives are gathered to discuss the trend for digital development of next generation.
During WCIT 2017, the whole world is watching how a small island like Taiwan could be placed on top of several international information communication application rankings, and become the digital hub of Asia. Today, Shen Jong-Chin, Acting Minister of Ministry of Economic Affairs along with Chiu Yueh-Hsiang, Chairperson of WITSA jointly hosted the WCIT 2017 Pre-Event International Press Conference & Book Launch. Iconic industry leaders including Stan Shih, Founder of Acer Inc. and Chairman of Stans Foundation, Weng Cheng-Hsiung, Honorary Chairman of CISA, Raff Liu, Chairman of the Syscom Group, and Hsi-Peng Lu, E-commerce Expert are invited to the dialogue that discusses the spirit of Taiwan’s information communication industry. The book “Taiwan is Bigger than You Think: 50 Stories of Living the Digital Dream” will demonstrate the progression of the island nation and how it transformed itself from an OEM giant to a soft- and hardware collaboration export hub.
Acting Economic Minister Shen Jong-Chin was quoted as saying during his opening remarks that the Expo took a year to prepare, nearly 700 new tech booths are arranged and aim to demonstrate the new image of the island nation. The Expo consists 3 key features: WCIT Theme Expo, Inception Expo, and Digital Dream Expo. The WCIT Theme Expo will exhibit 50 historical pieces of Taiwan’s information technology development for the last half of the century. The exhibition includes several computer prototypes such as the original keyboard, first PC, first microcomputer, etc.
The Inception Expo will showcase the way of smart living and information communication in every aspect of the island inhabitants’ lives. The Expo includes smart devices in education, security, long term care and sustainable living. The Digital Dream Expo will demonstrate the live of the future with next generation. New innovative information communication technologies on smart health care, smart entertainment, and 5G applications. Exhibited devices such as MR surgery, surgical robots, AI, concerts with drones, 360-degree VR livestream, internet of vehicles, and self-driven cars.
WITSA Chairperson Chiu Yueh-Hsiang pointed out that Bill Gates from Microsoft attended WCIT in 2000 when Taiwan first hosted the event. This year, the island nation faces more external and diplomatic challenges. However, despite all that, the industry is able to work with the government and jointly invited iconic tech elites and policy influencers to Taiwan and share the trend of latest technology. The objective of the event is to lead the global ICT industry with brand new concepts and facilitate collaboration between all parties. Digital generation is a fast changing one, and it always goes beyond our imaginations. Accordingly, the ICT products from Taiwan will serve as the biggest advantage for the island nation to place itself on top of international stage.
Iconic local industry representatives all participated in the book launch. Stan Shih, Founder of Acer Inc. and Chairman of Stans Foundation, argued that Taiwan should set up its own “Virtual National Team” to counter the challenges of the future. Shih concluded by saying that the “Team” will further integrate software development and service. The goal is to experiment these services on our home turf and export them service to the world when mature.
Syscom Group Chairman Raff Liu stated that the book has collected the progression and history of Taiwan’s information communication technology. The book marks the development and the successful transformation of the island nation. Liu pointed out that the industry hopes that government would allocate more resources and serve as the engine that mobilize growth. The eventual expansion of all sectors of the society will lead to more employment opportunities and create sustainable development that would help to keep the talents home.
Weng Cheng-Hsiung, Honorary Chairman of CISA, pointed out that WCIT is a great platform for Taiwan to conduct “technology diplomacy” that allows the island nation to demonstrate the achievements it has made over the years. With the hope of achieving “Technology Diplomacy & Integrated Exportation”, CISA will continue to work with all sectors of the information technology industry in Taiwan. The goal is to place the island nation under the spotlight of international stage and generate business opportunities from it.
Industry representatives all argued that the world is changing and Taiwan should follow it. WCIT 2017 has assemble nearly 30 iconic and influential local ICT leaders and experts to share the progression of Taiwan’s information communication industry to the younger generation. The goal is to learn from our past, and prosper in the future. Furthermore, the significance of the event is to share these experiences with other countries, especially the New Southbound states. The goal is to export Taiwan’s model and prosper as a whole.
■Visit WCIT 2017 Official Website on http://www.wcit2017.org/ or
contact WCIT Executive Committee on 02-27210760 ext.101/102
IDB Contact: Deputy Director General Yu,Chen-Wei (游副局長振偉)
Tel: 02-27541255 ext. 2902；Mobil:0939-695369
Email: cwyu@moeaidb.gov.tw
Contact: Section Chief Lin Chin-Chin (林科長青嶔)
Tel: 02-27541255 ext. 2241；Mobil:0937-832215
Email：jclin@moeaidb.gov.tw
