The Alumni Association of Arts et Métiers, in partnership with the school Arts et Métiers Institute of Technology, organized a world-class conference on the theme “Industry 4.0, Paradigm shift” in Shanghai in October 2019.
It is the first time that the Congress, which takes place every other year has been organised outwith France. But with over 1000 Arts et Métiers engineers currently working in China, the decision was made to take up the challenge and organise the 37th Congress for the first time in its history in China, the world’s fastest growing economy.
The event brought together more than 400 participants from academia, industry leaders, managers, engineers and recognized experts in technological research.
His Excellency Mr Laurent BILI, Ambassador of France to China, accompanied by Mr Benoît Guidée, Consul General on Shanghai made an opening address at the Congress emphasising that the Arts et Métiers initiatives are « fully in line with this great ambition for Franco- and Euro-Chinese cooperation ». He continues to say
« China legitimately aspires to become a leading country in innovation and high technology. To achieve this, it relies on its foreign partners…. With its companies, world-class multinationals, technology SMEs and burgeoning startups, France has much to contribute to the new phase that is opening up for the Chinese economy. This is a chance to seize. Arts and Métiers alumni, many of whom are here running French companies in China, have a key role to play in realizing this potential »
Michelle SHAN (Director China, Fives Group) and Ambassador of the French Alliance for the Industry of the Future in China then gave her vision of how to enhance French-Chinese cooperation
Industrial leaders from Airbus, Dassault, Safran, PSA, Faurecia, Schneider Electric as well as start up companies and chinese companies presented their ideas and debated in the 3 other panel discussions on :
• Industry 4.0: which engineers for which factories?
• Industry 4.0: logistics for the factory of the future
• China Industry 4.0 and belt and road initiative: implications for foreign companies
The Congress was very successful in addressing the challenges of industry of the future faced by industry and académia alike and the importance of collaboration in research and development, innovation and training to develop the skills for current and future engineers to adapt to the challenges of the Industry of the Future.
