“The China International Big Data Industry Expo 2021 (Big Data Expo 2021) will be launched soon. We will focus on national strategies, respond to the needs of enterprises, leverage emerging technologies, and create a unique industry event with both online and offline expo.” On January 14, the press conference with the theme of “Focus on the building of digital valley and fully enhance innovation momentum” was held in the press conference hall of the Guiyang municipal government to comprehensively illustrate the significant achievements in digital industry, digital convergence, data sharing, digital governance, innovative practices, digital infrastructure capabilities, Big Data Expo and future work plans in Guiyang and Gui’an since the implementation of “13th Five-Year Plan”. At the press conference, Zhao Yan, deputy director of Guiyang Bureau of Big Data Development and Management, answered questions from journalists on the preparations for the Big Data Expo 2021.

▲Zhao Yan, Deputy director of Guiyang Bureau of Big Data Development and Management

The Big Data Expo held in Guiyang every year is the world's first expo focusing on big data. To date, it has been held for six times and has become a landmark event of China’s “digital valley”. The Big Data Expo 2020 was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead, a series of online and offline events were held to maintain the momentum of the Big Data Expo, which have received extensive attention and recognition in the industry both at home and abroad. And the Big Data Expo 2021 is highly anticipated. Zhao Yan explained that the Big Data Expo Executive Committee has made innovations to wage the online “Never-ending Big Data Expo--Global Communication Campaign 2020” despite the Covid-19 pandemic, which lasted from May to September. During the campaign, a series of diversified online events were launched such as the Expo Dialogues, Forums, and Big Data Expo Release, sharing China's actions in leading the new growth of the digital economy, and continuing to expand the influence of the Big Data Expo. The “Big Data Industry Ecological Innovation and Development Summit” held in Beijing in December 2020 featured 3 accomplished academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, namely, Wu Hequan, Shen Changxiang, and Ni Guangnan to discuss the future of smart big data and conclude the online Big Data Expo 2020.

According to Zhao Yan, the Big Data Expo Executive Committee is making every effort to plan the next Big Data Expo. According to the preliminary plan, the Big Data Expo 2021 will be held in Guiyang from May 26-29, 2021. “Data Creates Value, Innovation Drives the Future” remains to be the overarching theme of the Expo. The specific annual theme will be determined against the backdrop of accelerating the integration of digitalization and the real economy and the development direction of the industry. The overall event will feature “One Forum, One Exhibition, One Expo Release, Contests, and Related Activities”. The Expo intends to incorporate innovative technology concepts in multiple fields, focus on global emerging industry, closely follow national development strategy, keep abreast with the latest technologies, and lead the era of science and technology.

In terms of the format of the Expo, we will continue to achieve “combination of theory and practice”, “combination of exhibitions and expo” and “combination of industry and financing”. At the same time, online and offline expos are adopted to fully utilizes Internet information technology to further enhance digital means and create an innovative and integrated expo, demonstrating the achievements of the digital industry.

In terms of forums, we will further leverage the forward-looking role of the Expo in the field of big data, invite professionals from governments, industry, universities, and research institutions to engage in discussions, focusing on big data technology, industry, and applications during the “14th Five-Year Plan” period. We intend to grasp the trend, choose the proper strategies, analyze the trends, and release the planning.

In terms of exhibitions, we will serve the needs of the enterprises. The expo will not only showcase the new achievements in the digitalization process of Guiyang and Guizhou, but also to present the world’s latest technologies, products, business forms, schemes and new models in the fields of 5G, artificial intelligence, and blockchain.

In terms of the release of results, leading scientific and technological achievements in big data and related fields will be collected from around the world, and the most cutting-edge, disruptive, influential, and innovative “cool technologies”, “new products” and “new technologies” will be selected for release. At the same time, we will work with authoritative organizations in China to collect industry standards, measurement, and soft science research and other social welfare achievements from governments, industry organizations, research institutions, and big data-related companies and publish them after recommendations and selections.

In terms of the contests, and related activities, with the goal of creating an authoritative big data industry competition, we will launch the “China International Big Data Integration and Innovation” series of competitions, and hold investment and financing events as well as observation and experience activities.

In terms of communication, we will continue to carry out global communication actions, with the objective of “realizing full media coverage, expanding international influence, improving professional coverage, and engaging the public” to deepen cooperation with professional and international media, in order to deliver a multi-channel and diversified coverage.

It is reported that the Big Data Expo has gained a worldwide reputation and has grown into a signature event for global big data development and an authoritative international platform in the industry after 6 years. In May of each year, the Big Data Expo attracts more than 20,000 guests, 400 companies and institutions, and 100,000 audiences to share new achievements in the development of big data, exchange and discuss new ideas and perspectives in the industry.