It is my great pleasure to welcome you to attend the International Top-level Forum on Disruptive Innovation in Information Technology (FIT), which will be held in Xi’an, China, on October 25-26, 2016.

    The theory about disruptive innovation was first coined by Harvard professor Clayton M. Christensen in his book ‘The Innovator’s Dilemma’, published in 1997. Clayton’s theory explains the fact that an innovation transforms an existing market or sector by introducing simplicity,  convenience, accessibility and affordability, where complication and high cost are the status quo. Nowadays, information technology has already become one of the driven forces in supporting disciplinary interaction, technological innovation and economic development. Disruptive innovation plays an increasingly important role in information technology revolution.

    This forum will provide a platform for outstanding professionals from academies, industries, universities and governments all over the world, to share the latest insights into the frontiers of Information Technology, and explore the potential disruptive innovations in the predictable future. Several parallel sessions will be set up on selective research domains, such as network and advanced computing. I have also invited some distinguished scientists, scholars and researchers to deliver speeches on their prominent achievements in their research field. More than 400 global participants are expected to attend this event. You will have an invaluable opportunity to appreciate the different views on disruptive innovation in information technology, and benefit a lot from the brilliant speeches.

    This Event is sponsored by Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE). CAE is a national and independent organization which is composed of the elected members owning the highest honors in the community of engineering and technological sciences in China. CAE undertakes significant missions to initiate and conduct strategic studies, provide consultancy services on the key issues of engineering and technological sciences, promote the developments of national engineering and technological sciences, and devote to the benefits and welfare of China.

     Xi’an is the capital city of Shaanxi Province, located in the center of the Guanzhong Plain and in the northwest of China. As one of the oldest cities in China, Xi’an is not only known as the capital of 13 ancient dynasties, the starting point of the Silk Road, but also famous for its plenty of vividly-demonstrated historical sites and relics, such as the so called World’s Eighth Wonder - Qin Terracotta Warriors, the magnificent Ming City Wall, the Bell tower, Dayan and Xiaoyan Pagoda and so forth, all of which attract numerous foreigners every year. You can enjoy visiting these worldwide popular miracles when staying in Xi'an.   

    I have full confidence that this forum will bring about invaluable information to all of you, and will also be a monumental event to be remembered by all of us.

    I'm looking forward to meeting you at this exciting event in Xi’an, in October!

Xicheng LU

Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering and Forum Chair

April, 2016