The 22nd UITIC Congress, organised by the International Union of Shoe Industry Technicians (UITIC) with the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA), will be held in Shanghai, capitalising on its status as a major fashion hub with numerous footwear manufacturing clusters in the surrounding area.
The motto for the event, which will see around 300 attendees including footwear manufacturers, materials suppliers, and chemical and machinery businesses gather between the 31st of August and the 3rd of September, is “Competitiveness and Sustainability in the Era of Artificial Intelligence”.
Participants will be granted the opportunity to visit manufacturing facilities in Wenzhou, Wenling, Gaoqiao and Danyang on the first two days of the event. They will then take part in a two-day congress divided into four thematic sessions: materials and product innovation; sustainability as an opportunity for competitiveness; smart and AI-empowered manufacturing; and successful Industrial Stories.
Overall, the upcoming UITIC Congress will feature one panel discussion and two keynote speeches (‘From Shoes to Systems: AI-Driven Workflows for the Next Generation of Footwear’ by Nicoline van Enter, and ‘Technological Innovation Promotes Sustainable Development’ by Liu Wei and Li Ning. There will also be 16 oral presentations and 24 poster presentations from ten countries, including China, Italy, France, Spain, the United Kingdom and Portugal.
Visitors can also extend their stay to attend the All-China Leather Exhibition (ACLE) and Moda China trade fairs. These events are strategic partners of the show and will take place from 3rd to 5th September, coinciding with the main event.
Image Credits: leathernews.org