Themed "Tech Creates World," the 9th China (Shanghai) International Technology Fair (CSITF) opened on Thursday, highlighting advanced technologies in digitalization and green development.

Eight editions of the fair have been held since 2013. As an important platform for displaying advanced technologies, the fair not only links innovative resources, but also deepens international exchanges and cooperation in the field of technology trade.

This year's CSITF, running from June 15 to 17, has attracted nearly 1,000 domestic and foreign enterprises, focusing on an open global industrial chain and a technology-driven future.

Digital, green focus

The exhibition areas for 2023 CSITF have been optimized to focus on digitalization and green development.

With a total area of 35,000 square meters, there are five major exhibition areas this year: themed pavilions, energy and low-carbon technology, digital technology, biomedicine, and innovation ecology services.

The fair also features a technical cooperation zone for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), gathering fruits of technological innovation and cooperation from BRI regions.

Smart, innovative robots

Among numerous cutting-edge products, China's self-developed electric tilt-rotor aircraft, which is debuting, is under the spotlight.

Capable of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL), the aircraft is characterized by high load capacity and low noise.

Developed by Shanghai TCab Technology Co., Ltd, the E20 eVTOL has a designed maximum range of 200 kilometers and a cruise speed for 260 kilometers per hour with 320 kilometers per hour at maximum.

It is a green and sustainable product that fits the requirements of the future of urban three-dimensional transportation system, serving mainly for low-altitude tourism and air taxi, said Huang Yongwei, founder and CEO of Shanghai TCab Technology.

"It is a transportation pattern which provides short-distance travel between 30 and 150 kilometers in the inter-city or intra-city areas. The ticket price of this air taxi will be similar with the traditional taxi fare, but the speed will be five times faster."

Huang said the aircraft will make its maiden flight this year and is expected to achieve mass production in the future as planned. 

Moreover, an electric rice transplanter is making debut at the fair, conducting plant-seeding with satellite navigation and positioning services without manual interventions.

"The work route of the machine is computer-edited in advance, and it can work for 24 hours a day theoretically," said Li Changxing, technical advisor of Shanghai Diantian Network Technology Co., Ltd.

In addition to the robotic rice transplanters, robots working on sowing and fertilizer distribution are also debuting at this year's fair.