WCIT 2017 Leaders Roundtable Session
ICT application for innovative smart governance and brings new dynamics for global economy

Potential solutions to critical global issues such as aging population, energy shortage, pollution, social security, and inadequate development between urban and rural areas are discussed during the 21st World Congress on Information Technology.  Ministerial level officials from Taiwan, France, Czech Republic, and the US are invited to take part in the Leaders Roundtable, to share their experience in countering the above mentioned issues.  Furthermore, the attendees also discussed the application of ICT as a method to improve governmental services and industrial productivity.

The participants jointly called for international collaboration on state digital transformation.  The goal is to cultivate safer and more opened smart states that are determined to implement sustainable development.   The introduction of IT has improved the industrial competitiveness and the efficiency for state management.

The WCIT 2017 Leaders Roundtable provided insights for sustainable development and circular economy.  The attendees shared the ICT achievements of their respective countries along with innovative solutions of broadband, smart city, and manufacturing. They also shared their experience in smart country construction.  Furthermore, the attendees also discussed about the plans for resolving the issue of digital inequality and smart management.

Minister without Portfolio Wu Tsung-Tsong stated that for the past 10 years the ICT development has gone beyond our imagination.  And we hope that for the next decade, Taiwan can be the ICT application and innovation hub of Asia.  This is why the government has been dedicating itself to the facilitation of ICT penetration to every aspect of the island nation’s inhabitants’ lives.  Furthermore, the government hopes to cultivate AI talents through various legislative reforms.  For example, the DIGI+ policy is introduced by the government to balance the inadequate digital development in the rural and remote areas.  The goal is to bring digital inclusiveness and equal opportunities to all.

The European Commission initiated the “5G Action Plan” in 2016 aiming to construct high speed internet infrastructure and expend the cyber penetration rate.  The goal is to facilitate the 5G business development and investment.  The focus is placed on smart factory, self-driven vehicle, smart health care, green energy, digital media, etc.  The European Commission also established an industry-led venture fund that is worth €10 billion in support of 5G-based innovation.  EU hopes to facilitate the collaboration between public and private sectors to establish an investment centric eco-system that constructs the environment for the cultivation of digitalized society.  The ultimate goal is to ensure the economic development and consumer interests in Europe.

Fleur Pellerin, former Franch Minister of SMEs, Innovation and the Digital Economy, pointed out that France has been dedicating itself to bring digital equality to all through ICT applications since she first took office 5 years ago.  The ICT-driven innovation has helped French government to conduct smart governance and finance management. The goal is to facilitate digital social inclusion, safety, and disaster recovery to its citizens.  According to Pellerin, with the introduction of AI, states are now able to solve the problem of social inequality.  Furthermore, by increasing the AI and IoT penetration rate, people would be more familiar with technology.  In other words, people will understand technology better when they are offered with the opportunity to interact with it more.  Accordingly new technologies such as IoT is bring people closer than ever.  With proper education provided to the younger generations, states would be able to gradually eliminate social inequality through IoT applications.  The application of ICT also enabled the public to further express themselves and make their comments heard.

Czech Republic Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade, Ondroušek Marek stressed that although the industrial transformation of any state comes from the digitalization.  Some states and their citizens seem to be holding up with the past.  For instance, with the national smart phone ownership rate of 38%, most Czech citizens are still used to processing their daily paper works with hardcopies.  The country still has a long way to go in order to increase the penetration rate of ICT application.  Marek pointed out that IT application will enable states to provide into better governmental services to its citizens.  However, some countries may need more external assistance than the others.

Noah Kroloff, Principal of Global Security Innovative Strategies, stated that ICT has become a key factor to improve social security, and crisis management.  About 10 years ago, crisis is not as easily predicted as it is today.  People were only able to respond passively when disasters occurred.  However, with the rapid development of ICT, people are now able to be prepared in advance.  It is fair to say that with the fast growing IoT application rate, businesses, governments, and individuals are now closely connected but also at risk from digital incursions and cyber threats.  However, like many critical global issues there is no simple solution to cyber security. In order to ensure cyber security, people are always faced with the dilemma that they would like to have more security but limited government intervention.  How to obtain the balance would be a critical issue for us all to work on.  On the other hand, the application of ICT has brought transparency to governments.  It has also enabled public participation to the decision making process of critical governmental policies.  Kroloff argued that cyber security is a constant challenge and an issue that leaders around the world must focus on.

The WCIT 2017 Leaders Roundtable Session aims to discuss critical global issues such as aging population, energy shortage, pollution, social security, and inadequate development between urban and rural areas.  Attendees shared their experience in countering these issues.  And they also discussed about their plans in facilitating the development of local broadband connection, resolve digital inadequacy, and implementation of smart governance, and fintech.  Furthermore, the attendees recognized WCIT effort in pursuance of potential solutions to these critical issues.  The attendees also hope that the world could work together as one and jointly work for a better living environment for all.