經濟部世界資訊科技大會(WCIT 2017)國際造勢記者會

Ministry of Economic Affairs, July 25^th, 2017

WCIT 2017, the Drive for DIGI⁺ Innovative Economy

90⁺ tech elites and 2,500 global business leaders from over 80 states gathered in Taipei to create the digital dream

Known as the Olympics of the ICT industry, World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT 2017), is to be held on September 10-13 in Taipei International Convention Center (TICC).  The event is aiming to attract over 90 tech elites, 2,500 global business leaders from more than 80 countries to participate in its discussions.  Furthermore, tens and thousands of visitors are expected to participate in the exhibition on future technology that will take place in Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC), Exhibition Hall 1. The goal is to facilitate networking and match making for the world digital industry.

 

In pursuance of demonstrating Taiwan’s determination of transforming itself into the “Digital Nation, Innovative Economy (DIGI+)” to the world,  Minister without Portfolio Wu Tsung-Tsong, Economic Minister Lee Chih-Kung, World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) Chairperson Chiu Yueh-Hsiang, Taipei Deputy Mayor Lin Chin-Rong, Industrial Development Bureau Secretary General Yang Chih-Ching, WCIT Executive Committee Executive Director   Kung Jen-Wen, and 77 representatives from the industry, government agencies, research institutes, think tanks, and event sponsors jointly held the WCIT 2017 International Press Conference today. The theme for this year is “Living the Digi+tal Dream”, aiming to showcase to the world that “Taiwan is greater than you think!”

 

This is Taiwan’s second term hosting the WCIT after previously hosted it 17 years ago. The event gathered over 90 business leaders from around the world to share their ideas about some of the latest trends of information technology including: digital economy, IOT, FinTech, BigData, VR/AR/MR, AI, Open Data, etc.  The discussions will focus on how these digital technologies can be applied as the potential solutions to problems such as energy shortage, pollution, aging society, health care, etc.  The goal is to make a better world by capturing the newest tendencies of information technology.

 

48% of the speakers are from ICT superpowers, which demonstrate Taiwan’s ability in connecting itself with the world’s digital economy development trend. These iconic speakers are listed as follows:

• Bertrand Piccard, the initiator and co-pilot of Solar Impulse – the first successful around-the-world solar powered flight.
• Patrick Thomas, CEO of Covestro – an Innovator and Investor in the Circular Economy.
• Jason Zander, Corporate Vice President of Azure – Cloud Chief at Microsoft.
• Alex “Sandy” Pentland, Director, Connection Science and Human Dynamics Labs, MIT – a Pioneer of Wearable Computing
• Bill Bien, Global Head of Strategy and Marketing of Philips Lighting – the Global Leader of Smart Lightings.
• Toshio Iwamoto, President and CEO of NTT DATA Corporation – One of the 3 Major Telecom Groups in Japan.
• Setsuhiro Shimomura, Executive Corporate Adviser, Former President, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation – Leader in Practical Industry 4.0 Solutions

• Alan Marcus, Sr. Director of World Economic Forum (WEF) – an Iconic World Competitiveness Researcher

 

• According to the predictions made by Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute (MIC), the information service market of Taiwan is estimated to reach NT$177.5 billion in 2020 from NT$166 billion in 2017. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is 2.5%. Among those, cloud service stood out the most with its 6.8% growth rate. The initial estimation pointed out that Science and technology budget will increase around 5%, which is NT$114.5 billion dollars. Minister without Portfolio Wu Tsung-Tsong was quoted as saying during the remarks that digital economy serves as the drive for cross-generations, cross-borders, interdisciplinary, and cyber-physical trends of development. It is gradually turning the global industry around. Furthermore, WCIT 2017 is the engine that keeps the DIGI+ innovative economy running. Minister Wu called for joint efforts of all sectors including the industry, academia, research institutes, and government agencies. Taiwan should cease the opportunity of hosting WCIT 2017, and expend its digital industry. Wu concluded by saying that WCIT is a great start to transform Taiwan into the new hub of Asia’s digital development.

 

Economic Minister Lee Chih-Kung stated that different from the first WCIT Taiwan hosted in 2000, WCIT 2017 is not only a 3-day international conference, but a great opportunity for over 2000 global business leaders, tech elites, and foreign delegates to have the first-hand experience on Taiwan’s achievement on smart city. Under the guidance of Executive Yuan and all related government agencies, iconic local companies and startups are gathered to demonstrate Taiwan’s successful transformation from an “IT OEM State” to “IT Application Super Power”. Lee continued by saying that to echo the country’s New Southbound Policy, WCIT 2017 has been determined to connect Taiwan with the emerging market of ASEAN states on the new digital infrastructure demands, broadband connection, internet infrastructure, IoT applications, cyber security management, and FinTech. WCIT 2017 has invited the New Southbound 18 States and other business leaders from major ICT countries through Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organization (ASOCIO), World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA), Open Culture Foundation (OCF), and International Sector of Institute for Information Industry.

The newly elected WITSA Chairperson Chiu Yueh-Hsiang, who is also the Director General of the Information Service Industry Association, stated that stated that globalization and digitalization are the two major tendencies of the future economy. In that regard, all states are thinking to build a friendly environment for the development of digital innovative industry.  Accordingly, talent cultivation is vital to support the transformation of industries.  WITSA has seen the potential of the rise of digital economy in Asia.  For the next five years WCIT will be held in the Asia Pacific Region.  Therefore, Taiwan will be the flagship of Asia’s digital development of the next decade.  To answer the call from the main organizers, Ministry of Economic Affairs and WITSA, all sectors in Taiwan including the industry, academia, research institutes, and government agencies gathered together to demonstrate their support to WCIT 2017. These supporting entities including the host city, Taipei City Government, and iconic local IT companies such as Chunghwa Telecom, Foxconn, TSMC, Acer, CTBT, CyberLink, E.Sun Bank, Mediatek, Perfect, the Syscom Group, ASE Group, EasyCard Corporation, FarEasTONE, GJung&LiveABC, Google, LITEON, Misubishi Electric, PLANET, Quanta Computer, Taiwan Mobile, TDK, TECO, Trend Micro, iEi. Integration Corp, QNAP, COMPUTEX, Delta, GIOT Gemtek, TAITRA, Metro Taoyuan, LoreMaster Tech Inc., CHIEF, CISCO, iPASS Corporation, NEC, PUHU, and HTC. Furthermore, research institutes such as Institute for Information Industry, Industrial Technology Research Institute, National Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology, Automotive Research & Testing Center, Development Center for Biotechnology, Food Industry Research and Development Institute, Metal Industries Research & Development Center, Precision Machinery Research & Development Center, Taiwan Textile Research Institute, Commerce Development Research Institute, Cycling & Health Tech Industry R&D Center, China Productivity Center, Corporate Synergy Development Center, Footwear & Recreation Technology Research Institute, Plastics Industry Development Center, Medical and Pharmaceutical Industry Technology and Development Center, Printing Technology Research Institute, Ship and Ocean Industries R&D Center, Stone & Resource Industry R&D Center, and Taiwan Design Center are ready to showcase the achievements they have made in regard to Taiwan’s industry transformation.

■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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

【Reference I】

About WCIT

• The Global Influence of WCIT

 

World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT 2017), dubbed as the Olympics of the ICT industry, is the flagship event of the World Information Technology & Services Alliance (WITSA), a leading consortium of ICT industry association members from over 80 countries/economies around the world. WCIT is a congress for global IT industry and a great platform for B2B business matching.  The event typically attracts more than 2,000 academics, business leaders, and government officials from over 80 countries to gather together on the Congress, share and discuss the latest trends and technologies of the ICT industry.

 

• The Origin of Taiwan & WCIT

 

Taiwan is a widely recognized by its achievements in technology, in fact, the island state plays a significant role in the global IT industry supply chain. When Taiwan first held WCIT in 2000, iconic figures such as Bill Gates, John Chambers, Carly Fiorina were all invited to share their ideas about the future development of the world’s technology industry.  Over the past 17 years, Taiwan has been conducting industrial reform, and an international event such as WCIT 2017 will help to introduce new innovative energy into the country and showcase the economic capacity of its industries.  Over the past decade, WCIT had been mostly held in Western countries.  This year, Taiwan will host WCIT again, as a start of the shift of focus of the Congress.  For the next 5 years, the hosts of WCIT will all be countries from the Asia-Pacific region.  This is the proof that Taiwan is as a smart island, is the heart of Asia, the focus of global economic growth.  Furthermore, it is a great opportunity to demonstrate Taiwan’s achievements in creating the innovative economy of the future IT industry in Asia.

 

• About WITSA:

 

Founded in 1978, the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) is a leading consortium of ICT industry association members from over 80 countries/economies around the world. WITSA's members represent more than 90 percent of the world ICT market. As the leading recognized voice of the global ICT industry, WITSA aims to drive transformation and grow the industry given that ICT is the key driver of the global economy.  WITSA’s suggestions and opinions are widely endorsed by international organizations such as WTO, OECD, APEC, and G-8.  WITSA organizes two major international events including World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) and Global Policy and Trade Summit (GPATS), which aim to provide member states with the platforms to exchange global issues related to IT and service industry.

 

【Reference II】

WCIT 2017 Organizational Structure

Advisor: Board of Science and Technology, Executive Yuan

Organizers: Ministry of Economic Affairs.、WITSA

Host City: Taipei City Government

Co-Organizers: CISA Information Service Industry Association of ROC, Taipei Computer Association, Cloud Computing Association in Taiwan, Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association

Implementer: Institute for Information Industry

Sponsors:

Chunghwa Telecom, Foxconn, TSMI, Acer, CTBT, CyberLink, E.Sun Bank, Mediatek, Perfect, the Syscom Group, Institute for Information Industry, Industry, Industrial Technology Research Institute, National Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology, ASE Group, EasyCard Corporation, FarEasTONE, GJung&LiveABC, Google, LITEON, Misubishi Electric, PLANET, Quanta Computer, Taiwan Mobile, TDK, TECO, Trend Micro iEi. Integration Corp, QNAP, COMPUTEX, Delta, GIOT Gemtek, TAITRA, Taoyuan, LoreMaster Tech Inc., Automotive Research & Testing Center, Development Center for Biotechnology, Food Industry Research and Development Institute, Metal Industries Research & Development Center, Precision Machinery Research & Development Center, Taiwan Textile Research Institute, CHIEF, CISCO, iPASS Corporation, NEC, PUHU, Commerce Development Research Institute, Cycling & Health Tech Industry R&D Center, China Productivity Center, Corporate Synergy Development Center, Footwear & Recreation Technology Research Institute, Plastics Industry Development Center, Medical and Pharmaceutical Industry Technology and Development Center, Printing Technology Research Institute, Ship and Ocean Industries R&D Center, Stone & Resource Industry R&D Center, Taiwan Design Center, Taiwan Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center

Strategic Partner-Bloomberg

Media Partner- Business Next, Business Weekly, DigiTimes, Uplan Travel, Magazine Business Association of Taipei, United Daily News Group

Supporting Organizations- European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan, German Trade Office, Semicon Taiwan