The parallel forum “Technology · New Driving Force” of the First World Textile Merchandising Conference invited technical experts from well-known enterprises from countries like UK， Israel， South Korea and Japan and representatives to share and exchange ideas over cutting-edge technical topics like textile supply chain， intelligent textile， nanotechnology， technical textiles， medical textile materials and new retail field， etc.

The academician Yu Jianyong from the Chinese Academy of Engineering put forward six ideas over scientific and technological innovation in his speech： firstly， scientific and technological innovation is an important core power for transformation and upgrading of our textile industry. Secondly， main features of scientific and technological innovation should be defined and several key features — green， intelligent and new material— should be mastered to step towards high-end and diversified directions. Thirdly， application field of textile innovation should be extended， and the emphasis should be laid on industrial technologies besides civilian technologies； fourthly， importance should be attached to the design from raw materials， processing to recycling and to full life cycle so as to new intelligent manufacturing pattern. The attention should be paid to disruptive technologies and basic researches of the textile industry. Fifthly， innovation must grasp carriers with the emphasis being talents. Sixthly， scientific and technological innovation should strengthen multi-party combination and communication. Innovation means that ideas are generated in the communication and ideas are used to produce innovative results.

On the forum， distinguished guest speakers from various countries across the globe gave their keynote speeches. The supply chain expert Professor Omera Khan from Royal Holloway， University of London shared how to transform the textile supply chain to adapt to supply chain changes brought by IT reform in the new economic era. Sustainable change seeking and innovation constitute the motive power for the operation of the whole textile and garment industry in Korea. The senior researcher Piao Junhao from Intelligent Textile Center in Korea Institute of Industrial Technology shared his ideas over rapid innovation of the clothing field. Business development manager Yarden Shmneli in Greater China and East Asia region of Israeli Nano Textile Corporation shared the finishing progress. The senior director Zhang Lei from Toray Fiber Research Institute （China） Co.， Ltd. shared Torays latest research result on PPS filter bags facing domestic coal-fired power plants. Business Division director Yuan Meimei of Tmall new retail platform of Alibaba Group interpreted Alibaba new retail layout and solutions under the new era and analyzed the differences between new retail and traditional retail.

The Tech Dialog sector gathered big names in the industry. Fashion and textile project leader Professor Basia Szkutnicka from Hong Kong Polytechnic University， Executive Vice President Fu Guangwei from China Textile Engineering Society， Vice President of Luthai Group and Executive Dean of Luthai Textile and Garment Engineering Research Institute — Zhang Jianxiang， Vice President Chen Nanliang of Donghua University and Director Zhang Xiaoming of Textile Industry Big Data Center of China Textile City Group Co.， Ltd. discussed about problems like new driving force， new technology， new industry， new industrial format and new pattern in economic and social development in the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial reform， how to realize industry transformation and upgrading and improve development efficiency and quality， how to realize new/ old driving force transformation of the textile industry and how to exert the effect of science and technology in the process of new/old driving force transformation. Then they talked about enterprise practice， talent cultivation， innovation and transformation of scientific and technological achievements and future textile technology to enlighten representatives on the site.

“University-Industry-Research Cooperation Signing Ceremony of Keqiao Peoples Government and scientific research units” was also held during the conference.