In a world marked by three years of turbulence, one thing remains certain: organizations ready to embrace challenges are best positioned to serve their customers and stakeholders effectively. Against this backdrop, AmCham China convened our annual Technology and Innovation (T&I) Summit on September 19, under the theme “Unleashing the Future: Empowering Innovation from Theory to Reality.” This year’s summit delved into the most pressing and transformative topics of our time.
The summit kicked off with a warm welcome from Claire Ma, Vice President at AmCham China. Ma emphasized the legacy of the T&I Summit, which has become an annual tradition since its inception in 2018. She highlighted the event’s role as a vital platform for cross-sector knowledge sharing, uniting diverse industries such as manufacturing, automobile, energy, healthcare, financial services, marketing, and retail. Ma introduced the day’s theme and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the event sponsors.
Vice Minister Zhang Guangjun, Ministry of Science and Technology
Vice Minister Zhang Guangjun from the Ministry of Science and Technology delivered insightful opening remarks. He extended congratulations to the summit and expressed gratitude to AmCham China and its member companies for fostering cooperation. Zhang emphasized the global significance of technology and innovation, asserting that China and the US must enhance collaboration in this domain to address global challenges effectively. He highlighted achievements like the US-China Clean Energy Research Center and reaffirmed China’s commitment to openness and cooperation with foreign enterprises, particularly in the technology sector.
Keynote Speeches
Sustainable Computing for a Sustainable Future
Tony Jiang, Vice President of China Government Affairs at Intel, emphasized Intel’s commitment to sustainability, aligning their strategy, manufacturing, and supply chain practices with China’s carbon goals. He underlined Intel’s leadership in promoting green computing and digital technologies, focusing on sustainability in the PC industry and energy-efficient data centers.
US-China Relations – How Long Will The “Thaw” Last?
Rick Waters, Managing Director at Eurasia Group, discussed the recent thaw in US-China relations, highlighting underlying risk factors and the role of technology in the bilateral relationship. Waters clarified US policies on national security, emphasizing that the US does not seek decoupling from China and that the softening of relations between the countries provides opportunities for the future.
AI Governance
Christopher Millward, President and Managing Director of USITO-United States Information Technology Office, addressed the moral and ethical questions raised by artificial intelligence. He emphasized the need for comprehensive AI governance involving all sectors, urging better definition of the objectives and ethical considerations surrounding AI.
Panel Discussion: “Building A Sustainable Future: The Role of Technology and Responsible Innovation”
The panel discussion titled moderated by Wenjie Gu, Co-Chair of AmCham China ICT Committee, featured speakers Michael Zhu, Global Vice President and Managing Director of China for Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and David Song, Director of Supply Chain Strategy & Transformation of Cummins. They shared insights into their companies’ ESG actions, highlighting initiatives related to environmental sustainability, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and governance. Both speakers encouraged enterprises to integrate ESG into their operations, emphasizing the long-term benefits beyond cost reduction.
Metaverse Showcase
Artist Matt Gao showcased Meta’s latest metaverse product, providing attendees with a glimpse into the future of the internet.
Michael Hart, President at AmCham China, concluded the event by summarizing the key takeaways from the day’s discussions and thanking all sponsors for their support. He highlighted the significance of Vice Minister Zhang’s opening remarks, Intel’s sustainability efforts, Rick Waters’ insights into US-China relations, the exemplary ESG and DEI initiatives from HPE and Cummins, Meta’s AI product showcase, and USITO’s call for ethical AI development. The summit concluded on a high note, with participants looking forward to future collaborations in the ever-evolving landscape of technology and innovation.
The 2023 AmCham China Technology and Innovation Summit was a resounding success, fostering dialogue, sharing insights, and paving the way for a brighter, more sustainable technological future and fostering candid and open discussions among participants.
About the Technology and Innovation Summit
The Technology and Innovation Summit is an annual signature event launched in 2018 under AmCham China’s Technology and Innovation Initiative. This full-day conference is a valuable platform for corporations to exchange cross-sector best practices and innovative solutions for the application of disruptive technologies in varied industries and corporate functions.
Click here to learn more about the T&I Summit, and for more information email Yin at yyu@amchamchina.org.