The World Congress on Innovation and Technology (WCIT) 2022 was finally launched today at Penang. The three-day congress kicked off with an event-filled programme with over 4,000 registered participants, more than 200 speakers, industry visionaries, government officials, captains of industry, innovators, entrepreneurs, academicians and media from over 60 countries. The congress also featured more than 500 technology brands, occupying an exhibition space exceeding 6,500-square-metres.
Often referred to as the “Olympics of the global Information, Communications and Technology Industry”, WITSA’s 26th Edition of the WCIT was hosted in Penang. The congress was officiated by His Excellency Tun Dato’ Seri Utama Ahmad Fuzi bin Haji Abdul Razak, Governor of Penang; the Right Honourable Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob, Prime Minister of Malaysia; and the Right Honourable Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang.
At the Opening Ceremony, Dr. Sean Seah, Chairman of PIKOM and Organizing Chairman of WCIT 2022, proudly said, “This highly complex congress serves as a testament to the dynamic nature of WCIT, with multiple global stakeholders coming together to make this edition a resounding success. Malaysia hosting WCIT 2022 is both timely and opportune as we undergo economic recovery, pushing boundaries towards aggressive digitalisation. We are proud to welcome the world to experience and enjoy the Malaysian hospitality through technology, innovation and our beautiful culture.”
Penang Chief Minister the Right Honourable Chow Kon Yeow said that this global event will spur the dynamic development of Penang. “The Silicon Island, home to 39 Fortune 1000 companies, 300 Multinational Corporations (MNCs) and over 1000 thriving tech startups. The year 2022 is a year of celebration for Penang as we enter our 50th anniversary of industrialisation. With the tagline ‘50 Years of Excellence and Beyond’, the state government of Penang strives to enhance its resilient ecosystem capable of stimulating the advancement of strategic industries for the next 50 years, ensuring Penang’s continued contribution on the global technology map,” the Chief Minister highlighted.
WCIT 2022 is a platform to stimulate the conversations of tomorrow; drive collaboration with other participating economies, spearhead the quantum-leaps of transformations through technological adoption, digital innovation and foreign investment.
Leading speakers at the conference included the Co-Father of the Internet and Google’s Chief Internet Evangelist, Dr Vint Cerf; NASA’s Daniel Lockney; Dato’ Hock Tan, CEO of Broadcom Inc; Tan Sri Jamaluddin Ibrahim, Chairman of Prasarana Malaysia; President of Portulans Institute, Chair of Global Business School Network, and Dean at the Said Business School at Oxford University, Dr. Soumitra Dutta; Lucas Lu, Head of Asia Zoom; Audrey Plonk, Head of Digital Economy Policy Division at OECD; and Strategic Futurist and author, Nancy Giordano.
The three-day congress will present four stages that involves business forums, roundtable discussions, interactive panels and keynote speakers, centred around topics such as new innovative technology, NFTs, Smart City development, SpaceTech, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, 5G, EduTech, Blockchain, HealthTech, E-Commerce and the furtherance of ASEAN’s economic growth post-pandemic.
In conjunction with WCIT 2022, PIKOM will also set a national record with the debut of a 688-light and music drone show. Proudly produced by homegrown company, Drone Sifu, the performance will serve as a thrilling entertainment experience for the public to enjoy for free from the shores of the island and mainland Penang followed by a fireworks display counting down to Malaysia Day. PIKOM is expecting 100,000 spectators to witness the aerial display with the Penang Port Cruise Terminal being the prime spot to view the spectacle on 15 September at 10.30 pm.
WCIT 2022 will also feature the WITSA Global Innovation and Tech Excellence Awards 2022 on 14 September 2022, celebrating the innovative and impactful achievements of select individuals, academic institutions, corporations, NGOs and governments.
Pictured from left to right: YAB Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Annuar bin Haji Musa, Malaysian Minister of Communications and Multimedia YAB Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob, Prime Minister of Malaysia TYT Tun Dato’ Seri Utama Ahmad Fuzi bin Haji Abdul Razak, Governor of Penang YAB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang YAB Datuk Seri Saravanan A/L Murugan, Malaysian Minister of Human Resources Dr. Sean Seah, Chairman of PIKOM and Organising Chairman of WCIT 2022
“We are extremely appreciative of the support provided by the Governor of Penang, Chief Minister of Penang, Penang lead agencies, our industry partners, MDEC and HDRD Corp as our strategic partners and everyone involved in making WCIT 2022, what will be, a grand success,” concluded Dr Seah.