On July 10, 2026, the “OFweek 2026 (7th) China Intelligent Manufacturing Industry Conference” hosted by OFweek Weike Network – a leading high-tech industry portal – opened successfully at the Shenzhen Zhongzhou Marriott Hotel. Under the theme “Integrate Smart Manufacturing, Grow Together in an Open Ecosystem”, the event gathered hundreds of participants from across the value chain: international academicians, research experts, leaders of top manufacturing firms, industry association representatives and end-users. Attendees discussed key issues including emerging technologies, on-the-ground implementation, partnership models and standard-setting, working together to chart a sustainable path forward for the sector.
The morning plenary session opened with a keynote address by Professor Li Shiwei, Associate Vice President (Research) at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) and Chair Professor of Intelligent Manufacturing. His talk was titled Deep Integration for New Growth: Breaking Barriers in Intelligent Manufacturing. Professor Li previously headed HKUST’s research institutes in Shenzhen and Foshan, and has spent years promoting ties between academic research and industrial application. He has overseen the launch of key research platforms in the Greater Bay Area and the rollout of new technologies in intelligent manufacturing, microelectronics and related fields.
He told attendees that future progress in intelligent manufacturing will come not from perfecting one single technology, but from working across disciplines and industries. Drawing on HKUST (Guangzhou)’s experience, he noted that partnerships between universities and companies work best when each side contributes what it does best. Joint research labs, he added, are the ideal bridge to connect new ideas from the lab with real needs on the factory floor, turning research results into real market strength.
Strategic Policy Focus
For 2026, China’s “Artificial Intelligence Plus” initiative has been named a core priority in the 15th Five-Year Plan. National regulators have also put forward policies to push AI deeper into every part of manufacturing. Today, intelligent manufacturing is no longer something companies can choose to adopt – it is essential if China’s manufacturing sector is to upgrade and move up the global value chain.
As one of the year’s most important gatherings for the industry, the conference offered a chance to review past progress, connect with peers, and build agreement around the next phase of growth: development powered by shared ecosystems. As collaboration deepens and innovation resources come together, China’s manufacturing sector will continue its steady shift toward higher value, smarter operations and lower environmental impact.
Post time: Jul-23-2026
