Intl inventors invade Kunshan for exhibition

Digital modules that can control all home appliances, virtual reality games and food delivery robots ... Nearly 3,000 innovative projects were displayed at the ninth International Exhibition of Inventions in Kunshan, Jiangsu province, from Nov 17 to 20.

Organized by the China Association of Inventions and the International Federation of Inventors' Associations, the exhibition covered a total area of 24,000 square meters and attracted nearly 1,000 inventors and organizations from about 40 countries and regions around the world.

Alireza Rastegar, president of IFIA, said in his opening speech at the event that the exhibition provided opportunities for global invention organizations and inventors to exchange technologies and ideas.

He said that China, with its robust economic growth and innovative trends, has the best inventor teams, an optimized innovation environment and well-established service facilities, and that the Chinese people give great respect to all inventors who inspire their creative potential.

"The IEIK has been a star among many high-tech fairs and exhibitions in China for its internationalized nature and professionalism," said Li Ping, head of Science and Technology Daily, at the opening ceremony, adding that the theme of the event, mass entrepreneurship and innovation, corresponds to the nation's current development strategy.

Many projects were about smart technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence and cloud computing, echoing the "made in China 2025" strategy.

The VR experience area was one of the most popular sections of the exhibition.

A simulator allowed players to experience a virtual roller coaster. Wu Yanni said she felt a little dizzy after having a try.

"Different from 4D movies, the simulator gives not only visuals, sounds and physical sensations, but also a 360-degree view, leading to more realistic feelings of weightlessness and turning," she said.

Zhou Hongbin, a worker for the simulator, said they had to design new special effects to enhance the sense of reality.

There was an area showcasing inventions of young people, which were more applicable to people's everyday lives. One of them was a patented design for sewage wells with an alert system, created by two students in Suzhou.

If a pedestrian falls into the well accidentally, he or she will fall onto a platform close to the opening instead of falling directly into the sewage system. If a person falls onto the platform, an alarm will alert nearby parties to help.

The exhibition started in 1988 and was held in different cities every four years before 2012, after which point it was held every other year. Kunshan, a manufacturing hub between Shanghai and Suzhou, was selected as the permanent venue for the event.

More than 18,000 inventions from over 200 countries and regions have been displayed at the previous expos over the past two decades.

zhangzhao@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 11/23/2016 page17)