Global innovators make most of Shanghai's major import expo

The spillover effects from past attendance at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) have attracted exhibitors from around the globe to launch new products at the ongoing eighth expo in Shanghai.

The participation of 43 trade delegations, more than 700 sub-trade delegations and nearly 450,000 professional visitors has made the CIIE a premier platform for global firms to showcase their state-of-the-art technologies.

EssilorLuxottica's Nuance Audio Glasses, an innovative product that combines cutting-edge audio-visual technology, is making its Chinese debut at this year's CIIE.

Designed for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss, the glasses integrate proprietary open-ear hearing technology into stylish frames. This provides clear auditory support while addressing aesthetic concerns and psychological barriers associated with traditional hearing aids.

The hearing glasses support prescription lenses, catering to both vision and hearing needs and featuring long-lasting battery life. The product has the potential to significantly improve quality of life for more than one billion people, according to the company.

Epiroc, a Sweden-headquartered productivity partner for mining and infrastructure industries, is showcasing advanced remote control equipment, including the system being used on the Simba 1354 underground drill rig. The equipment transforms traditional underground operations into remote operations from an office, reducing labor intensity for operators.

Based on 5G network technology, the remote control system integrates an intelligent onboard control system, vehicle communication system, and high-precision sensor system. Operators can input the target hole depth and issue commands with a single click, allowing the system to execute automated single-hole drilling operations.

"Our advantage is deep technical heritage, which we combine with Chinese innovation and speed to accelerate R&D on innovative technology," said Wayne Symes, president of the underground division at Epiroc.

Amsterdam-based Royal Philips is displaying more than 10 AI-powered health technology solutions, focusing on clinical innovations in AI-enabled imaging diagnostics, intelligent intervention navigation and critical care.

Among them, Azurion provides a total solution in interventional treatment. The company says this treatment is aimed at advancing towards a new generation of standards through procedural breakthroughs, precise imaging and AI interaction.

Dedicating nearly half of its annual 1.7-billion-euro ($1.95 billion) R&D investment to AI and data science, Royal Philips said it will continue to enhance diagnostic efficiency and improve health outcomes with smart tools, collaborating with Chinese partners to drive digital transformation of the healthcare system.

Major exhibits by Japan's Olympus include the GIF-EZ1500-C electronic upper gastrointestinal endoscope, featuring innovative extended depth of field (EDOF) technology. This technology combines images focused at close range with those focused at a distance to produce images with a wider depth of field, resulting in higher clarity and richer detail across the entire image area.

According to the company, thanks to a high-resolution sensor and noise reduction algorithms, the device can deliver low-noise images in high quality, helping doctors improve lesion detection rates. A representative added that Olympus appreciates the CIIE for highlighting global innovation and serving as an open window for the company to gain a deeper understanding of the Chinese market and industry needs.