The Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS), a joint initiative by the UAE and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), has announced that its 2020 edition will be held virtually, commencing with a series of online sessions, the ‘GMIS 2020 Digital Series’, on June 30, 2020, and leading up to the virtual summit that will be held on September 4-5, 2020.
GMIS2020 was initially planned to take place in April alongside the Hannover Messe 2020 in Germany under the theme of #GermanyConnects – inspired by the country’s leadership in connecting the global manufacturing and industrial community with its transformational digital and technological solutions. The virtual edition was announced following the evaluation of the growing economical and logistical uncertainly surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic.
At the top of the GMIS 2020 virtual edition agenda will be the digital restoration – how 4IR technologies are helping to restore the global economy and overcome unprecedented challenges. Under the theme ‘Glocalisation: towards sustainable and inclusive global value chains’, the summit will bring together high-profile thought-leaders and business pioneers from around the world to shape the future of manufacturing, discuss the impact of pandemics on global value chains, and highlight the role of fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technologies in restoring economic and social activities.
The GMIS 2020 virtual summit in September will address how the disruption of global value chains (GVCs) is forcing a fundamental rethink by manufacturers to become more resilient in the future. Digitalisation is transforming GVCs by creating a new digital thread that allows for advanced systems of traceability and improved logistics and planning. The sessions will explore how the adoption of 4IR technologies, localising production capabilities and capacity building, and spreading inclusive and sustainable development will all be critical to the future of GVCs.
Topics that will be discussed by experts at the GMIS2020 Digital Series include managing health and safety in the workplace during a global crisis; addressing cybersecurity concerns as a result of increased online activity; harnessing AI to support decision making in factories and encourage the shift towards robotics to protect the workforce from exposure to health risks; and the integration of the Internet of Things with Big Data to monitor and control the spread of any potential pandemic.
GMIS2020 will bring together a cross-section of thought-leaders from public and private sectors, academia and NGOs, developing and developed countries to facilitate a truly global dialogue around some of the major issues facing the manufacturing sector, in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Subject matter experts and thought leaders that will participate in the GMIS 2020 Digital Series include Houlin Zhao, secretary general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Xiaozhun Yi, deputy director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Engin Eroglu, member of European Parliament in Germany, Paul Wellener, vice chairman of Deloitte LLP, Harald Kayser, chairman and senior partner at PwC Europe, Matthias Schindler, head of AI innovations at BMW Group, Helena Lisachuk, global IoT leader at Deloitte, Guillermo Miranda, vice president and global head of corporate social responsibility at IBM, and Pier Paolo Tamma, senior vice president & chief digital officer at Pirelli.
Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, UAE minister of energy and industry and co-chair of GMIS, said: “The emergence of a global pandemic, and the widespread disruption that has ensued as a result, reinforces why it is crucial to accelerate the transformation of manufacturing through 4IR technologies, which have the potential to further enhance resilience in all areas of the economy and permit the restoration of industrial activity. However, to do so, solid regulatory frameworks must be put in place, as without rigorous policies and cross border planning, less developed countries risk being left behind. From innovators to large industrial conglomerates, standards and policies must transcend geographical and physical barriers, so they may nurture both inclusive development and global prosperity. We look forward to welcoming manufacturers, innovators, and governments to the GMIS 2020 virtual edition, to inspire and drive the 4IR conversations forward for the benefit of all.”
LI Yong, director-general of UNIDO and co-chair of GMIS, commented: “The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how vital industrial productivity and advanced innovation are to the functioning of our global society. This is particularly true in how the manufacturing sector is assisting our overburdened healthcare systems, from robots and drones transporting medical supplies, to artificial intelligence-based detection systems, to production of personal protective equipment and testing kits. Advanced technologies will play a major part in the rehabilitation and recovery of our society following the pandemic. We look forward to engaging with partners in the private sector, government, academia and civil society in harnessing these innovations for inclusive and sustainable industrial development worldwide.”
Badr Al Olama, head of the organising committee for GMIS, said: “The pandemic has undoubtedly shocked the manufacturing sector and disrupted global value chains forcing us to swiftly move into an era of digital restoration – one in which we must deploy 4IR technologies to restore activities and jump-start the economy. While each country battles the pandemic and mitigates its effects, efforts must focus on building local capabilities, knowledge transfer from developed to developing countries, and engaging youth to contribute with their skills and energy. A coordinated policy response and a multilateral approach are required for continued cross-border collaboration that enables inclusive and sustainable industrial development for the prosperity of all.”