On the afternoon of March 6th, Stone Industry FinInTech Forum & Conference of China Stone Mining Federation and CM Stone Annual Brand Conference, which was jointly sponsored by Tongji University, China Creative Studies Institute and China Chamber of Commerce for stone industry and was organized by China Chamber of Commerce for Stone Industry Mines Committee, CM Stone Industry Group as well as CM-Tongji Stone Industry Research Center, was grandly held at the International Conference Hall on the 4th floor of the C3 Hall of Xiamen International Conference & Exhibition Center.

（The Conference was full of distinguished guests to witness this grand event）

The Unveiling Ceremony of CM-Tongji Stone Industry Research Center

At the beginning of the conference, Mr. Shangqi Qiu, Chairman of CM Stone Industry Group, made a speech, pointing out that CM Stone is an integration and investment group, focusing on the finance and technology of global stone industry. CM Stone has undertaken the historical responsibility to promote industrial upgrading with the support of finance and technology since its establishment. Mr. Anmin Lv, President of China Chamber of Commerce for Stone Industry, said in his subsequent speech that with the coming 70th anniversary of the establishment of China, the stone industry is faced with the industrial reform. Stone Industry FinInTech Forum & Conference of China Stone Mining Federation and CM Stone Annual Brand Conference would grasp the opportunities given by the time, would develop the new ideas for the development of stone industry from the perspective of FinInTech, and would make contributions to the healthy development of stone industry. Yalei Zhang, Dean of Institute of Engineering and Industry, Tongji University, said in his speech that CM Stone and Tongji University reached a strategic cooperation in 2018, jointly established CM-Tongji Stone Industry Research Center and built a “Industry-Education-Research” platform. He believed that the academic and scientific research would bring new energy to the stone industry.

（Shangqi Qiu, Chairman of CM Stone Group Industry, made a speech）

(Yalei Zhang, Dean of Institute of Engineering and Industry of Tongji University, gave a speech)

(Anmin Lv, President of China Chamber of Commerce for Stone Industry, made a speech) 

On the following agenda, Shangqi Qiu, Chairman of CM Stone Group Industry and Yalei Zhang, Dean of Institute of Engineering and Industry of Tongji University jointly held the unveiling ceremony of CM-Tongji Stone Industry Research Center.

(CM-Tongji Stone Industry Research Center was officially unveiled)

The Discussion on Stone Future: Empowering Stone Industry

Centering on four major issues including financial empowerment, green quarries, intelligent manufacturing and stone design, the speakers of the forum came to the stage and explained their ideas.

Shangqi Qiu, Chairman of CM Stone Industry Group mentioned in his speech that Without industry, finance is a false proposition. As the earliest practitioner of the combination between industry and finance in stone industry, Mr. Qi had a deeper understanding of the development of stone industry. He believed that, with the coming of Internet era as well as the advanced development of environmental protection and technology, the eve of stone industry reform has already arrived. With a global vision, CM Stone has always committed to building the most influential stone industry group and stone industry fund in the world. In the era of reform, the power of FinInTech would definitely plays a greater role.

(Chairman of CM Stone Industry Group Shangqi Qiu)

If finance is regarded as the driving force for the development of stone industry, then green mines could be seen as the cornerstone of the healthy development of stone industry. Yalei Zhang, Dean of Institute of Engineering and Industry, Tongji University indicated that stone industry has gradually shifted towards healthy, green and sustainable development along with the increase in environmental awareness. He believed that stone quarries in the future would be a model for green development, which can be achieved by academic research and development, scientific planning and exploration as well as the tireless efforts of all people engaged in stone industry.

(Dean of Institute of Engineering and Industry, Tongji University Yalei Zhang)

Chen Jian, Professor of College of Design and Innovation/College of Architecture and Urban Planning Tongji University claimed that, as the earliest construction materials for human beings, stone which enjoys a long history has still attracted people by its stability and elegant texture. He illustrated the practicality of BIM in stone design through detailed data and rich cases. Nowadays, stone design not only refers to gain the dominance in mines but also to lead the benign development of the market as well as to increase the added value of stone products: The added value brought by “Brand+Design” is immeasurable! Practitioners should cherish stone -- the natural and non-renewable resource and design it with care: By design, stone can change the waste into something useful by design; By design, exquisite stone even can “sing”!

(Jian Chen, Professor of College of Design and Innovation/College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University)

Professor Wenrui Jin, Vice-Director of Industry 4.0-Intelligent Factory Laboratory of Sino-German Engineering Institute of Tongji University has a deeper understanding of intelligent Manufacturing. He illuminated the concept of German Industry 4.0, and claimed that Industry 4.0 would provide great potentials for improving the life cycle of products, mechanical equipment and factories. Intelligent products and equipment are the key elements of a new generation of intelligent manufacturing system, which both play an important part in implicating and influencing the selection of raw materials at quarries, companies’ choices of raw materials before production, the sawing of slabs with saw blades, the polishing of rough boards, the cutting of boards with specific sizes (Infrared bridge-type cutting machine).

(Professor Wenrui Jin, Vice-Director of Industry 4.0-Intelligent Factory Laboratory of Sino-German Engineering Institute, Tongji University)

The event ended successfully with a warm atmosphere. The opportunities for the transformation and development of stone industry are almost in sight.