The participation in the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai and the decision by CCTV, the Chinese national television network, to report on the dialogue initiated by Paolo Brizzi clearly reflect CIM’s role: connecting the needs of Italian industry with international ecosystems of innovation and technology transfer.
From July 17 to 20, CIM participated in the World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2026 in Shanghai, an international event dedicated to the evolution of artificial intelligence, its industrial applications, governance, and collaboration between businesses, institutions, and research centers.
CIM’s presence at WAIC serves a precise purpose: to closely observe emerging technological trajectories, establish relationships with new industrial players, and identify solutions and expertise capable of generating value for the Italian production system.
Being present where innovation takes shape allows CIM to bring the needs of Italian and European companies into the international dialogue and, at the same time, bring technologies, knowledge, and potential partners closer to our industrial system.
The dialogue reported by CCTV
This bridging function is concretely represented in the report produced by CCTV during the WAIC.
Paolo Brizzi, Digital Factory Program Lead at CIM, is followed as he initiates a discussion with a Chinese artificial intelligence company. The dialogue starts from the technological update needs of European companies and addresses concrete topics: AI application scenarios, the supply chain, and development opportunities in the European market.
According to the CCTV narrative, in just over ten minutes, a meeting held at a stand already outlines a possible collaboration between the two markets.
Brizzi summarizes CIM’s approach as follows:
“My goal is not simply to be a buyer or a supplier of technology, but to identify areas where we can develop solutions together and collaborate closely. We want to consider the application of Chinese innovations in Italy and Europe and, at the same time, we welcome Chinese companies looking to develop partnerships in Europe.”
His words express a central principle: going beyond the simple buying and selling of technology to build co-development paths based on industrial needs, complementary skills, and shared objectives.
The significance of the CCTV feature
CCTV, China Central Television, is the national television network of the People’s Republic of China and one of the country’s primary institutional information channels.
The special report, titled “连接彼此 共创未来”, translatable as “Connecting, creating the future together”, lasts 2 minutes and 48 seconds and was published on July 19 by the CCTV News Client.
The content is attributed to 新闻联播 – Xinwen Lianbo, CCTV’s main national news program, broadcast daily at 7:00 PM on CCTV-1.
The relevance of this presence lies not only in the visibility obtained, but in the role assigned to CIM within the story: that of a European interlocutor capable of expressing concrete industrial needs and transforming a technological discussion into a possible collaboration.
A signal for CIM and for Italian industry
CCTV’s decision to cover the meeting represents an external sign of recognition for CIM and contributes to consolidating its positioning within international industrial innovation processes.
The value of the experience lies above all in its concreteness: starting from a business need, identifying relevant technologies and skills, and verifying the conditions to build joint projects. This is the same mission that CIM pursues in Italy: accompanying companies in transforming technological innovation into real applications, skills, and growth opportunities.
From Turin to Shanghai, being where innovation is born means making it accessible and useful to Italian industry.
