A visitor tries the Back to Shanghai 1930 VR experience at the Shanghai Concert Hall. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
A thematic session of the Hongqiao International Economic Forum held on Nov 5 explored the role of artificial intelligence in industrial applications. As a parallel session of the 8th China International Import Expo, the event emphasized the importance of digital innovation in driving the digital economy.
More than 600 attendees from government agencies, international organizations, Fortune Global 500 companies, and leading technology companies participated in the forum.
During the discussions, attendees agreed on the importance of strengthening international cooperation in the era of AI, calling for practical efforts to integrate AI technologies more deeply with the real economy.
Julia Woertink, chief technology officer of Dow Asia Pacific, noted that the green transition and energy optimization of data centers have become key industry trends, representing major opportunities for the company.
"It's an opportunity for us to partner with our customers in the important areas of thermal management for electronics, for data centers, and beyond. And we believe very strongly in this market in China. I'm very excited for the future growth in this area," Woertink said.
As a long-time exhibitor at the CIIE, Dow continues to view the expo as a vital platform for collaboration. "We have signed over 60 partnership agreements at past CIIEs, so we are very excited to announce the new partnerships this year as well and continue that collaborative innovation," she added.
Grundfos, a Danish company specializing in pump solutions, emphasized that digital transformation lies at the core of its future strategy. In collaboration with Chinese partners, the company aims to address water and climate challenges and support China’s green transition with its advanced solutions.
Having operated in China for 30 years, Grundfos reaffirmed its commitment to continuous investment in China and expansion in the country.
"China is a big market, so we are always looking for business potential, but we are also looking for collaboration and partnerships that go beyond just pure business," said Astrid Norgaard Friis, vice-president of Grundfos.
She noted that the company transformed the industry in the 1990s with the invention of the first intelligent pumps. Today, it is accelerating innovation by combining technologies such as the Internet of Things, AI, and advanced sensors.
