Making Manufacturing Smarter. 2016 WIMC, under the theme of "Making Manufacturing Smarter", involved one cooperation and development summit forum, one intelligent manufacturing exhibition, eight theme sub-forums, and eight supporting activities. More than 200 famous people from nearly 20 countries and regions came for the Conference; the number of the audience of forums exceeded 9,000; at least 100 media outlets sent 300-odd journalists; the people influenced by WIMC through communication reached 120 million. At the opening ceremony, Li Qiang, then Secretary of CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, and Xin Guobin, Vice-minister of Industry and Information Technology, co-started the development of the China Intelligent Manufacturing System Integrator Consortium (CIMSIC); MIIT released the 13th Five-Year Plan for China's Intelligent Manufacturing (2016-2020) for the first time, highlighting WIMC's authority and professionalism.

2016 WIMC featured rich and novel content and professional invited guests. The Conference was composed of one summit forum, eight theme sub-forums, one World Intelligent Manufacturing Expo, and eight supporting activities. The summit forum and sub-forums had fresh and professional themes and were undertaken by renowned research institutes in China. The speakers, who were all top-notch experts in corresponding industries, carefully prepared for the presentation. The Expo pooled the latest achievements and displayed the future development trends. 285 exhibitors from 11 countries and regions, including 155 custom-built participation exhibitors, introduced the latest fruits, cutting-edge technologies, and high-end products in the world intelligent manufacturing sector. Nearly 40 Fortune Global 500 companies, internationally-famous institutions, and top-level robot manufacturers exhibited the newest solutions about intelligent workshops and factories; 18 MIIT intelligent manufacturing pilot demonstration enterprises, 45 intelligent manufacturing demonstration key enterprises of Jiangsu, 13 intelligent factory manufacturers of Nanjing, and relevant research institutes brought the latest technological achievements on artificial intelligence advanced manufacturing, robots, and intelligent solutions of China.

Cluster, Integration, Innovation, and Change. 2017 WIMC, under the theme of "Cluster, Integration, Innovation, and Change", comprised one expo, one summit forum, 14 theme forums, and nine carnivals. The Conference had at least 300 reputed guests from almost 20 countries and regions, an audience of more than 10,000, and nearly 100,000 visitors. At the main forum, Zhou Ji, then President of CAE, delivered a keynote speech, Study on China's Intelligent Manufacturing Development Strategies, which published the research findings of the CAE Intelligent Manufacturing Powerhouse Research Group after one year of study, highlighting the great importance all parties attach to the Conference. At the closing ceremony, on behalf of the organizing committee of 2017 WIMC, then main leaders of Nanjing issued the Nanjing Initiative on Cooperation and Development of World Intelligent Manufacturing, which proposed four suggestions, including co-building new platforms for the world intelligent manufacturing development. Chinese Enterprise Confederation published China's Intelligent Manufacturing Green Paper (2017). Besides, the Intelligent Manufacturing Alliance of CAST Member Societies (IMAC) released the World 10 Scientific and Technological Developments in Intelligent Manufacturing and China 10 Scientific and Technological Developments in Intelligent Manufacturing.

2017 WIMC featured an optimized agenda and colorful forums. Meetings and forums during the WIMC revolved around the latest ideas, technologies and achievements in the field of intelligent manufacturing, highlighting the professional and prospective features of the forums' themes. This session added the "World Renowned Intelligent Manufacturing City · Mayors' Forum", inviting mayors from municipalities directly under the provincial government of Jiangsu and China's famous intelligent manufacturing cities like Shenyang, Wuhan and Ganzhou. Their discussion revolved around "intelligent manufacturing reconstructs urban industrial system: concept, model and path" in a bid to deepen the understanding of the development trend and future pattern of intelligent manufacturing. The exhibition was upgraded to reflect national strategies and industrialized features. The WIMC Expo comprised three pavilions under different themes, namely "smart manufacturing mode and innovation", "smart manufacturing equipment and control", and "industry application and regional practice", with the national project of "five types of equipment, three kinds of foundations, five modes and ten fields of smart manufacturing" as the main line. It also consisted of five functional sections: Nanjing intelligent manufacturing exploration and practice, intelligent manufacturing talent information release, negotiations on intelligent manufacturing solutions, service robot performance, and outdoor large-scale high-end equipment exhibition. All sections supplemented each other and they involved the whole industrial chain of intelligent manufacturing. With the combination of indoor and outdoor activities, the Expo presented a large-scale and high-level professional event with new connotations in the field of intelligent manufacturing to the world.

Empowering the Future Through Intelligent Manufacturing. Under the theme of "Empowering the Future Through Intelligent Manufacturing", the 2018 WIMC integrated industry events, cutting-edge displays, event roadshows, summit forums and intelligent experience, and included four parts, namely the WIMC Summit, WIMC Launch Event, WIMC Carnival, and WIMC Expo. The 2018 WIMC gathered more than 200 important guests from nearly 20 countries and regions, attracted nearly 2,000 enterprises and recorded more than 100,000 visits. During the 2018 WIMC, the National Guideline for Construction of Intelligent Manufacturing Standard System (2018 version) and the 2017-2018 Report on Intelligent Manufacturing Development in China were released, showcasing the summaries and results of China's intelligent manufacturing research in the past year. At the closing ceremony, the mechanism for the cooperation and development of the world intelligent manufacturing released the Initiative of the Executive Body of the 2018 World Intelligent Manufacturing Conference on Jointly Building a Support System of the Conference.

The 2018 WIMC featured professional and prospective elements, with significant improvement in the level of the main forum. The main forum held three dialogues under the themes of "products, technologies and solutions", "organizational innovation and talent strategy" and "industrial ecosystem and international cooperation". Many representatives of well-known domestic and foreign institutions and industry leaders attended the conference and delivered speeches on site. They included You Zheng, CAE academician and Vice President of Tsinghua University, Wang Feiyue, Director of the State Key Laboratory of Management and Control for Complex Systems under the Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Science, David A. Vasko, Director of Advanced Technology at Rockwell Automation, Inc., Magnus Breidne, Vice President of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, Philippe Bartissol, Vice President, Industrial Equipment industry at Dassault Systemes, et al. Emphasis was laid on brand continuity and form innovation, with activity segments optimized and upgraded. The WIMC Summit, WIMC Carnival, WIMC Expo and other brands of the conference was widely recognized by all sectors of society. This session retained quality brands of the previous sessions and added the WIMC Launch Event as the official result release platform. The MIIT, CAST and other institutions released a series of results to create a mechanism for brand release and enhance the impact of the conference. These results included the Research Results of Basic Generic Standards for Intelligent Manufacturing, the Best Exploration of New Modes of Intelligent Manufacturing, the Intelligent Manufacturing Industry Map, the 2017-2018 China Robotics Annual Development Report, the 1000found — Intelligent Manufacturing Knowledge Service Platform, the World 10 Scientific and Technological Developments in Intelligent Manufacturing and the China 10 Scientific and Technological Developments in Intelligent Manufacturing. As importance was attached to the demonstration effect and industrial ecosystem leadership, the exhibition level was raised. The WIMC Expo held during the same period witnessed the participation of 259 enterprises from six countries and regions, including Germany, the United States, France, Japan and South Korea. The exhibition area set up three pavilions, with the themes of "empowering intelligent manufacturing", "ecological intelligent manufacturing" and "comprehensive application", covering the entire intelligent manufacturing industrial chain. The exhibition took the specific practice of intelligent manufacturing as the core, and reproduced the new trend and new mode of intelligent manufacturing as well as the related industrial ecosystem in the way of physical display. It comprised such key contents as system solutions, intelligent equipment, Internet of Things technology, industrial software, cloud manufacturing technology and artificial intelligence, and the overall display level was improved.

Refreshing the Ambition of Manufacturing with New Promise of Intelligent Technologies Following the theme of "Refreshing the Ambition of Manufacturing with New Promise of Intelligent Technologies", the 2019 WIMC embraced colorful activities, such as high-end forums, exhibitions, result release, innovation competitions, application experience, etc. During the conference, more than 300 important guests from more than 20 countries and regions gathered. The number of enterprises and visits reached about 2,000 and more than 110,000 respectively. The opening ceremony of 2019 WIMC was presided over by Ma Qiulin, (then) Vice Governor of the People's Government of Jiangsu Province, and addressed by (then) Governor Wu Zhenglong. Xin Guobin, Vice Minister of MIIT, Huai Jinpeng, (then) Secretary of the China Association for Science and Technology, delivered speeches respectively. Five heavyweight guests, including Zhou Ji, (then) Honorary Chairman of the Presidium of CAE, Reinhart Poprawe, Chairman of the International Committee of RWTH Aachen University, Jeffrey C. Patterson, COO of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Liu Qitao, (then) Secretary of the Party Committee of and Chairman of China Communications Construction Co., Ltd., and Wang Min, Secretary of the Party Committee of and Chairman of Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co., Ltd. (XCMG), delivered keynote speeches. The forum held on the afternoon of October 18, 2019, stuck to the conference theme, kept in line with industrial development ideas, and carried out 3 summit dialogues, 2 keynote speeches and 1 forum summary on the "transformation strategy", "supporting elements", and "mission vision" of industrial intelligence. The conference was also attended and addressed by more than 20 representatives of Fortune Global 500 enterprises, intelligent manufacturing leading enterprises, and well-known experts in intelligent manufacturing, including Ian Shih, President of Rockwell Automation Greater China, Jiang Chonglong, Managing Director of Accenture Greater China, Xiong Yi, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Development of Schneider Electric (China) Co., Ltd., Tomizawa Katsuyuki, Executive Director and General Representative of China of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Ni Jun, Chairman of the Global Future Council on Production of World Economic Forum, Liu Qianjin, Chief Technology Officer of ABB China, Wei Yingbiao, (then) Chairman and Secretary of the Party Committee of COMAC Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

The 2019 WIMC prioritized internationalization and high-end development, and played a greater role as a global intelligent manufacturing cooperation and development platform. While maintaining highlights like the "Forum of Mayors from Famous Cities in Manufacturing Industry" and "World Intelligent Manufacturing Collaboration and Development Roundtable Conference", the 2019 WIMC strengthened international and regional cooperation, implemented the important outcomes of the 10th Meeting of Leaders of BRICS Countries, and stuck to the national strategy of integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta. Three high-level key activities were held for the first time, including the "BRICS Forum on Smart Manufacturing & Partnership on New Industrial Revolution", "China-UK Industrial Cooperation Partnership Dialogue", and "Roundtable Conference on the Coordinated Development of Intelligent Manufacturing in the Yangtze River Delta". The 2019 WIMC was held in an open and cooperative way to expand the professional perspective and enhance openness. During the conference, a total of 37 diverse theme activities were staged, with nearly 150 participating organizations, setting a new record. The 2019 WIMC prioritized internationalization and high-end development, and played a greater role as a global intelligent manufacturing cooperation and development platform. While maintaining highlights like the "Forum of Mayors from Famous Cities in Manufacturing Industry" and "World Intelligent Manufacturing Collaboration and Development Roundtable Conference", the 2019 WIMC strengthened international and regional cooperation, implemented the important outcomes of the 10th Meeting of Leaders of BRICS Countries, and stuck to the national strategy of integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta. Three high-level key activities were held for the first time, including the "BRICS Forum on Smart Manufacturing & Partnership on New Industrial Revolution", "China-UK Industrial Cooperation Partnership Dialogue", and "Roundtable Conference on the Coordinated Development of Intelligent Manufacturing in the Yangtze River Delta". The 2019 WIMC was held in an open and cooperative way to expand the professional perspective and enhance openness. During the conference, a total of 37 diverse theme activities were staged, with nearly 150 participating organizations, setting a new record. The theme sub-forums kept abreast of the frontier development trends, focused on the three directions of intelligent manufacturing: cutting-edge technology, industrial innovation and ecological empowerment, conducted in-depth exchange on forward-looking and practical hot topics in the field of intelligent manufacturing, such as development strategy, standard application, digital twin technology and 5G application, and discussed the key industrial factors, industrial chain, industrial collaboration and the path to build the industrial ecosystem in the high-quality development of manufacturing industry. Carnival activities laid emphasis on introducing new forms and models of business, attracted some local governments, professional institutions, key enterprises, well-known media and other social forces in the province to participate. Centering on the three themes of new talent, new technology and new ecosystem, 14 thematic activities in various forms, including professional forums, seminars, interviews, big names on campus, and student journalists' adventure, were solicited and carried out with the characteristics of diversity, richness and public outreach. Supporting activities of the exhibition highlighted trade matchmaking and interactive experience. At the same time, 13 supporting activities such as Seminar on Intelligent Manufacturing Path and Solutions, Suning C2M Ecosystem and Product Release, Investment Promotion Conference for Industries were held to build a comprehensive platform of intelligent manufacturing technology, equipment, achievements display and trading that integrates exhibition, technical exchange, new product release, investment negotiation, cooperation, trade, etc.

Themed "Intelligent Manufacturing Leads High Quality Development", 2020 WIMC was convened in Nanjing from November 26 to 28, 2020. The conference adopted the online and offline model for the first time, organized the opening and closing ceremonies, 11 high-level professional sub-forums, one IEEE international conference, and 11 carnival activities, built a cloud platform for livestreaming conference, sub-forums and activities, held the online exhibition and Industrial Brands Festival. It was an international event in the field of intelligent manufacturing that integrated high-end forums, online display, results release, industrial matchmaking and innovation competition. During the conference, a total of more than 320 important guests from home and abroad attended online and offline. It attracted more than 3,200 enterprises to participate in the online exhibition. More than 8 million people participated in the conference or visited the exhibition online. Related coverages were viewed more than 300 million times. The internationalization, professional level and industrial influence of the conference have been significantly enhanced. At the opening ceremony,  Xin Guobin, Vice Minister of MIIT, Zhou Ji, (then) Honorary Chairman of the Presidium of CAE, and Xu Yanhao, Deputy Secretary of the Leading Party Members Group of CAST, delivered a speech respectively, and Bernardo Calzadilla-Sarmiento, Managing Director of the Directorate of Digitalization, Technology and Agri-Business at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) delivered a speech online. Han Liming, (then) Mayor of Nanjing Municipal People's Government promoted Nanjing's intelligent manufacturing industry and issued the invitation of "Intelligent Manufacturing" in Nanjing. Industrial leaders and experts including Cao Dewang, Chairman of Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co., Ltd., Yuan Jie, Chairman of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, Zhang Jindong, Chairman of Suning Holdings Group, Henning Kagermann, "Father of Industry 4.0" and former President of the National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech) of Germany, and Philippe Bartissol, Global Vice President of Dassault Systèmes, delivered brilliant speeches online or offline around the intelligent transformation of enterprises, industrial Internet, smart retail, and other hot topics. Moreover, 2020 WIMC also issued many authoritative and heavyweight results such as World 10 Scientific and Technological Developments in Intelligent Manufacturing, China 10 Scientific and Technological Developments in Intelligent Manufacturing, and 2020 Benchmarking Enterprises in Intelligent Manufacturing Industry. Meanwhile, 2020 WIMC used digital 3D technologies to inspect the eight key enterprises of the Cloud Expo online and realize the real-time connection with ZTE's 5G smart factory in Binjiang, Nanjing.

2020 WIMC featured highlighted openness and cooperation and improved professional and international level. Well-known institutions at home and abroad including the International Coalition of Intelligent Manufacturing, the IEEE Computer Society Smart Manufacturing Standards Committee, the Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society, and the China Society of Automotive Engineers were gathered. Around the four parts of "overall progress and exemplary applications of intelligent manufacturing," "key intelligent manufacturing technologies," "industrial applications of intelligent manufacturing" and "social ecosystem of intelligent manufacturing", eleven high-level parallel forums such as Forum on S&T Progress in Intelligent Manufacturing, Forum on Boosting the Reform of the Automotive Industry Through Intelligent Manufacturing, Forum on Talent in Intelligent Manufacturing, and Forum on Opening Future Life Through Intelligent Manufacturing were held, and important results such as 2020 Intelligent Manufacturing  Report and Intelligent Manufacturing Technology Roadmap were issued. Meanwhile, 2020 The 2nd Plenary Session of IEEE/C/SM and IEEE Smart Manufacturing Industry Development Forum were held; a number of results on standards were issued, which has greatly facilitated the standardization practice of intelligent manufacturing technologies; eleven carnival activities in diverse forms such as 2020 Sino-German Cooperation Summit on Intelligent Manufacturing, Online Talent Exchange Activity of 2020 WIMC, and Fifth Jiangsu Smart Manufacturing Contest were held to make 2020 WIMC an event dedicated to intelligent manufacturing that draws attention from relevant enterprises, universities, and institutions across the world. During the parallel forums, more than 300 top-notch academicians and entrepreneurs from home and abroad as well as heads of famous international organizations offered their advice on intelligent manufacturing development online or offline, making 2020 WIMC more international and professional. Besides, 2020 WIMC innovatively developed the Cloud Expo to highlight online interaction. Notably, the Cloud Expo consolidated the strengths of the digital new infrastructure in core technologies such as big data and cloud computing and attracted more than 3,200 excellent exhibitors in intelligent manufacturing to apply for participation from ten countries and regions. With more than 6,000 exhibits, it was the largest, best, and most functional online exhibition and trading platform in China's industrial field. Around industry chain and ecological chain of intelligent manufacturing, five exhibition areas of System Solutions Hall, Demonstration and Application Hall, Equipment and Public Service Platform Hall, Talent Communication Hall, and Financial Matchmaking Hall were set up and diverse forms such as "Digital Twin Factory", 3D virtual exhibition stands and exhibits, case studies, photos, texts, and videos were developed to fully display the industrial ecosystem of intelligent manufacturing covering enterprises, products, talent, capital, technological achievements, and application. Nanjing Hexi Newtown State-Owned Assets Management Holding (Group) Co., Ltd. was relied on to establish a professional platform building team and a professional operation and maintenance team to promote long-term, constant, and open expo operation, and provide consistent support for industrial chain matchmaking and unimpeded supply chain.