(Yicai) Oct. 21 -- Shanghai will again host the annual Global Data Ecosystem Conference later this month, providing a platform to discuss international digital cooperation and the integration of data and artificial intelligence, with the aim of hastening the practical application of data technologies across industries.

The sixth Global Data Ecosystem Conference will be held at the West Bund International Convention and Exhibition Center on Oct. 30 and 31, under the theme of ‘Data Intelligence, Connecting the World.’ The event will bring together government officials, corporate executives, academics, data experts, professionals from international bodies, and other stakeholders. More than 30 thematic forums, breakout sessions, and other events are planned.

International cooperation will be a key focus for this year’s conference. The event will deepen cooperation with the World Data Organization, which will debut its new specialist committee on shipping and trade digitalization. Kazakhstan is invited as a special international partner, marking the start of collaboration between digital economy industry organizations in China and the Central Asian country. Representatives from United Nations agencies were also invited to discuss AI-enabled digital government.

During the conference, the China Meteorological Administration will announce a series of achievements, including the creation of the Shanghai node of an international Earth system data exchange network, further broadening the scope of global data cooperation.

The conference will also examine how data can be integrated with AI, blockchain, and other technologies. Several high-quality datasets for different industries will be released, alongside efforts to develop open-source dataset communities together.

A further priority will be the development of one-person company ecosystem, with the event showcasing data-backed results and collaborative corporate and community innovations in dedicated exhibition areas and OPC roadshows. Furthermore, it will also release a series of results on integrating data, intelligence, and blockchain, covering data and model iteration, AI agent uses, and on-chain applications.

Shanghai is continuing to develop high-quality datasets across sectors including healthcare, finance, and AI for science, Weng Yicong, a member of the city’s Party Leadership Group and deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Data Bureau, said on Oct. 19.

An open-source community for high-quality datasets has been launched already, with more than 600 datasets listed, and the Shanghai Data Exchange has listed more than 6,000 data products, Weng noted, adding that Shanghai has also moved 270 leading companies onto blockchain and developed 200 application scenarios for 940,000 small and medium-sized enterprises.

To promote commercialization, the Global Data Ecosystem Conference will organize corporate roadshows, group exhibition tours, OPC networking sessions, and other activities addressing product promotion, business scenario matching, startup support services, and talent supply and demand with the aim of moving technological outcomes from discussion to actual use in industry.

Alongside exhibition areas corresponding to the conference's five main thematic sections, the event will have special displays on Shanghai's data sector achievements and the OPC Forest Community, showcasing innovative cases of data elements empowering various industries.

Moreover, the conference will host a digital intelligence carnival, open lectures for young people, and AI experience activities for teenagers, as well as offer data security courses, as part of efforts to popularize digital technology.

Editor: Futura Costaglione