ADIPEC 2021’s first Smart Manufacturing Conference to redefine the global industrial sector

ABU DHABI - Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, and hosted by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), ADIPEC is the largest annual gathering for the energy sector. A new addition to the landmark event, the Smart Manufacturing Exhibition and Conference, will provide a unique platform from which to shape the global manufacturing agenda in 2021 and beyond.

As governments look for a surge of sustainable industrial investment following COP26, ADIPEC’s Smart Manufacturing Exhibition Zone and Conference will form the bridge between local, regional and international manufacturers as the industry faces rapidly evolving strategies and operating environments. The Zone will host an array of state-of-the-art digital technologies that will enhance industrial production, including nanotechnology, responsive smart materials, artificial intelligence, computer-designed manufacturing and more.

The Conference, which begins November 16th, will address the transition from linear to circular economies, the transformation of supply chains, and the development of smart manufacturing ecosystems for the next generation. ADIPEC will welcome Her Excellency Sarah Bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology, His Excellency Omar Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Minister of State for Advanced Technology along with senior representatives from the Ministry as speakers at the event.

Leading technical experts set to speak on sessions at the Smart Manufacturing Conference include:

• Astrid Poupart-Lafarge, President of Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Segment at Schneider Electric, will share insight on the smart manufacturing hubs of the future, and how local and international companies can utilise them to support diversification and low carbon economies.
• Fahmi Al Shawwa, Founder & CEO of Immensa Technology Labs, will lead a panel session on transforming manufacturing supply chains, especially how sustainable materials pay in implementing a successful circular economy.
• Karl W. Feilder, CEO of Neutral Fuels, will speak on the integration of industrial parks and petrochemical derivates with a smart ecosystem, and how these smart manufacturing hubs offer new opportunities for partnerships and investments.

H.E. Omar Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary for the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology said the Smart Manufacturing Zone aligns closely with the ministry’s efforts to champion digital technologies across the UAE’s industrial sector.

“In the year the United Arab Emirates celebrates its 50th anniversary, we have launched a series of initiatives that will pave the way for the nation’s growth and development over the next 50 years. Chief among them is UAE Industry 4.0, which seeks to enhance the integration of the tools of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and transform the nation’s industrial sector into a long-term, sustainable engine of growth.

“Smart manufacturing deploys technologies such as artificial intelligence, the internet of things, data analysis and 3D printing to boost efficiency, productivity and product quality, and will be a vital component in our future global competitiveness. It will also play a major role in meeting our Net Zero commitment by reducing energy consumption and conserving vital resources,” he added.