Innovation is the primary driving force for development. Emerging technologies and industries are becoming important engines of economic growth and embody unlimited potentials to address global grand challenges and sustainable development.

At present, the world faces numerous grand challenges, such as energy and resources shortage, environmental pollution, abnormal climate, frequent natural disasters and infectious disease outbreaks. At the same time, the world also faces new opportunities for a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation. Joint efforts of all sectors of the world are required to seize the opportunities by giving full play to the positive role of science and technology which will facilitate cultivation and development of emerging industries for addressing global challenges and creating a better future for mankind.

In this context, Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), Shanghai Municipal Government (SMG) and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China (MIIT), together with the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Commerce, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), jointly initiated and sponsored the very first session of the International Forum on Innovation and Emerging Industries Development (IEID) in 2016, which was also one of the major events of the China International Industry Fair (CIIF) held annually in Shanghai.

With the theme of “Innovation - Empowering Emerging Technologies and Industries”, the IEID aims to provide a forum to bring together leading experts, entrepreneurs and policy-makers around the world, to share insights on the frontiers and future directions of emerging industries underpinned by disruptive technology innovation, and to pool collective wisdom for accelerating the development of emerging industries.

According to the plan,the IEID 2021 will be held in Shanghai, China on September 15 - 17, 2021. Due to the Covid- 19 pandemic, the forum will be conducted in the form of online + offline,on Mar.31 at CAE, which will facilitate higher participation rate and broader influence. On the basis of previous successful sessions, IEID 2021 has added science and technology achievements exhibition online, project matching and other activities, with the participation of relevant financial and investment institutions, aiming to promote innovation and the development of emerging industries through cross-border integration of resources.