Key highlights – Smart Manufacturing Going Global: Building Connected Factories for the Global Market

As manufacturing enterprises accelerate their global expansion, smart manufacturing is evolving toward intelligent connectivity that spans the entire value chain—from R&D and production to operations and customer service. The MWC26 Shanghai Smart Manufacturing Summit convened global industry leaders to explore how AI, 5G, the Industrial Internet, and enterprise-grade connectivity empower manufacturers to scale globally and build “Connected Factories” for the global market.

On 25 June 2026, during MWC26 Shanghai, the summit titled “Smart Manufacturing Going Global: Building Connected Factories for the Global Market” was held. The summit was moderated by Dr. Lin Li, Head of Ecosystem Engagement, Greater China of GSMA. Industry leaders from manufacturing, telecommunications, industrial automation, and international organizations gathered to discuss how AI, 5G, the Industrial Internet, enterprise communications, and global connectivity facilitate cross-regional collaboration, global customer operations, and international expansion—supporting the transition of manufacturing enterprises from “Automated Factories” to “Connected Factories”.

UNIDO: Driving Global Collaboration to Accelerate AI-Empowered Sustainable Manufacturing

Ciyong Zou, Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development of UNIDO, shared insights on the new opportunities and challenges facing smart manufacturing transformation from a global industrial development perspective. He noted that artificial intelligence, advanced connectivity, and industrial digitalization are reshaping global manufacturing; however, gaps in digital infrastructure, technological capabilities, talent, and financing continue to hinder many countries and enterprises from participating in global value chains. To address this, UNIDO is driving technology transfer, capacity building, and industrial collaboration through the AIM Global, the Centres of Excellence network, and various international cooperation programs, all aimed at promoting more inclusive and sustainable industrial development.

5G Alliance for Connected Industries and Automation (5G-ACIA): Unlocking AI Manufacturing Potential Through Industrial-Grade Connectivity

Rui Bai, China Ambassador of 5G-ACIA, shared insights on network infrastructure development trends in the industrial AI era. She highlighted the significant achievements of 5G-ACIA in ICT and OT collaboration, shop-floor integration, standards development, testbed deployment, and private network implementation. She stated that efforts will continue to drive the convergence of 5G private networks, the Industrial Internet, and AI innovation, providing smart factories with more stable, secure, and intelligent connectivity, thereby helping enterprises achieve production automation, flexible manufacturing, and intelligent operations while accelerating the digital transformation of the manufacturing sector.

Meta: AI Reshapes Customer Connectivity; Rich Media Messaging Emerges as a New Gateway for Enterprise Intelligent Interaction

Bruce Song, APAC Marketing Lead, Business Messaging, Meta, shared emerging trends in enterprise-customer communication during the AI era. Business Messaging is becoming an important interaction gateway in the AI era, spanning the entire customer lifecycle—from marketing and transactions to customer service and identity verification—helping businesses maximize customer lifetime value. He introduced the “10/20/70 Rule”—comprising 10% AI capabilities, 20% technology infrastructure, and 70% operating models—emphasizing that the operating model is the key factor in unlocking true business value.

Festo: AI Across the Entire Manufacturing Lifecycle

Zuolin Jiang, Managing Director of Festo BRGC, shared digital transformation practices from the Jinan Global Manufacturing Center and introduced the company’s “Digital Strategy 2030”. He emphasized that digitalization extends far beyond production automation; it must encompass the entire product lifecycle—from design and manufacturing to equipment maintenance and customer service. Festo has implemented smart manufacturing practices at its Jinan Global Manufacturing Center by leveraging digital solutions such as AI-driven predictive maintenance, digital twins, energy management, and intelligent O&M. These initiatives have significantly reduced unplanned equipment downtime and maintenance costs, while continuously enhancing production efficiency and product quality.

Panel Discussion: Open Collaboration Drives Scaled Deployment of Smart Manufacturing

The panel discussion was moderated by Nishtha Mehta, Senior Advisor International – AI for Industry Manufacturing Centers of Excellences of UNIDO. The panellists included: Lei Jing, Director of the Industrial Internet Business Unit & Chief Expert in Digital Intelligence Applications, China Unicom; Yifan Yu, Chief Scientist, AILINK; Rajnish Sharma, Global Vice President & President of Infosys China; Zheng Li, Strategic Business Manager, Rockwell Automation (China); Niko Ni, Director SMPV. The discussion focused on building essential capabilities for manufacturing enterprises during their globalization journey. All panellists reached a consensus that “going global” is no longer just about the international deployment of production capacity and products. It requires building a comprehensive capability system that encompasses industrial connectivity, platform systems, customer engagement, and global operational collaboration—accelerating the evolution from “Automated Factories” to “Connected Factories”.

As global manufacturing competition intensifies, smart manufacturing is moving beyond a narrow focus on internal factory efficiency to a new stage of supporting global market operations. Looking ahead, the deep convergence of AI, 5G, the Industrial Internet, enterprise communications, and global connectivity will empower more manufacturing enterprises to build “Connected Factories” for the global market, enabling the transition from simply moving manufacturing abroad to exporting high-level global operational capabilities.