The 2026 World IoT Top 500 Summit was grandly held in Beijing, China on 15 July 2026, marking the opening of the 2026 Conference on Sustainable Development of Global Intelligently Interconnected Digital Economy and the 11th World Internet of Things Convention. During the summit, the globally anticipated 2026 World IoT Ranking List Top 500 was officially released. Opening remarks were delivered by He Xuming, Chairman of the WIOTC Executive Committee; H.E. Khalil Hashmi, Ambassador of Pakistan to China; Li Zhengmao, Chairman of the Board of the World Broadband Association (WBBA); and Ni Jianzhong, President of the China Mobile Communications Association (CMCA). He Qiang, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the WIOTC Executive Committee, delivered a thematic report titled "Shaping a Global Model to Promote Digital Innovation". Su Tao, Vice Chairman of WIOTC Executive Committee, introduced the 2026 World IoT Ranking List Top 500. Liang Zi, WIOTC Spokeswoman, released the latest news on the 2026 Conference on Sustainable Development of Global Intelligently Interconnected Digital Economy and the World Internet of Things Convention. Representatives from government agencies, embassies in China, international organizations, IoT and digital economy enterprises, and think tanks from more than 40 countries attended the summit.

In his opening remarks, He Xuming, Chairman of the WIOTC Executive Committee, stated that the WIOTC is an internationally influential and authoritative organization dedicated to the Internet of Things (IoT) and digital economy. It is committed to supporting governments and enterprises worldwide in their digital economic transformation, upgrading, and innovative development. Beginning from this year, the WIOTC will provide strategic advisory services on advanced digital economy and social development for national and local governments as well as enterprises worldwide. It will also work jointly with governments and enterprises to establish Advanced Digital Economy Innovation Centers and develop solutions for sustainable digital economy and social development at the national, regional and enterprise levels. The Convention is also willing to collaborate with international standards organizations, certification bodies and other relevant institutions to jointly explore and formulate globally applicable standards and certification systems for digital economy cities and enterprises. Through these efforts, it aims to foster exemplary countries, cities and enterprises in the global intelligently interconnected digital economy, thereby leading and promoting high-quality innovation and sustainable economic and social development worldwide.

H.E. Khalil Hashmi noted that the theme of this summit is highly forward-looking, perfectly aligned with today's rapid evolving global digital landscape, and presents a clear vision for inclusive, collaborative, and future-oriented technological progress worldwide. I commend the World Internet of Things Convention for its enduring contributions and its continued commitment to bridging the global digital divide, aligning technological advancement with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and fostering an open global digital economy framework. These efforts have laid a solid foundation for cross-border industrial innovation and inclusive technological growth. Pakistan stands ready to work closely with China and all international partners to shape a more connected, innovative, and prosperous digital future together.

Li Zhengmao noted that he global IoT has moved beyond the stage of extensive growth driven merely by the sheer number of connected devices, and has entered a stage of high quality development characterized by AI empowerment, industry leading, regional diversification and value realization. The industry value is shifting from hardware terminals to platform services, digital intelligence and industry-specific solutions. The overall trend of IoT is evolving from interconnected to Intelligently interconnected, with the core driver shifting from connection volume to the data value unlocked by AI. IoT will advance further toward broadband-enabled, intelligent, secure, and green development, with its market size continuing to expand, application scenarios broadening, and the overall industry transitioning from scale-driven growth to value-driven upgrading. As a member of the global IoT industrial ecosystem, WBBA stands ready to work hand in hand with governments and international organizations around the world—particularly through strengthened cooperation with WIOTC—to promote the development of cloud-network-broadband industries, accelerate the intelligent IoT upgrade, build a solid foundation for the digital economy, and achieve inclusive and universally beneficial development worldwide.

Ni Jianzhong noted that the global industrial landscape is undergoing profound transformation. The Intelligent IoT has evolved from mere "device connectivity" to a core foundation driving new quality productive forces. The enterprises featured on this year's World IoT Top 500 represent the backbone of the entire industry. They also bear the mission of digital transformation and serve as the vehicle for integrating the digital with the real economy. These Top 500 enterprises should root in the real economy, empowering smart manufacturing, smart agriculture, low-carbon energy, and smart cities with IoT, and driving comprehensive digital economic transformation across traditional industries.

In the thematic report "Shaping Global Models and Advancing Digital Innovation", He Qiang stated that the 2026 World IoT Ranking List Top 500 introduces new evaluation dimensions focusing on the digital economy and frontier high technologies. According to the ranking, China ranks first in the number of listed enterprises, followed by the United States, with the European Union ranking third. Huawei once again tops the ranking, while frontier technology and artificial intelligence enterprises—including SpaceX, NVIDIA, China Mobile, Origin Quantum, and DeepSeek—have achieved significant upward movement in the rankings in recognition of their outstanding innovation and technological leadership. According to the report, 179 Chinese enterprises are included in this year's ranking, and the combined digital economy output of these listed enterprises has reached nearly RMB 90 trillion. 89 U.S. enterprises are included, with a combined digital economy output of USD 12 trillion. More than 100 enterprises from the European Union are listed, and the combined digital economy output has reached over USD 7 trillion. In addition, more than 130 enterprises from major economies such as Brazil, Russia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, India, Korea and Australia are also included, with their combined digital economy output expected to exceed USD 6 trillion. The report noted that the World IoT Top 500 enterprises from China and the United States have become the principal driving force behind the sustained growth of the global digital economy.

Su Tao. Vice Chairman of the WIOTC Executive Committed elaborated on this year's ranking list, stating that this year's ranking list has incorporated new elements such as digital economy and cutting-edge technology. The selection committee, comprising over 30 members from more than 20 countries, evaluated and ranked enterprises based on established criteria, including R&D capabilities in intelligent connectivity and digital economy high-tech, technological innovation, contribution to the digital economy, sustainable development, and industry influence. The Top 500 globally representative enterprises were selected from over 10,000 companies across more than 90 countries.

Representatives from embassies in China, renowned think tanks, international organizations, local government agencies and the World IoT Top 500 enterprises took part in the international cooperation dialogue. They engaged in vibrant discussions on topics including energy digital transformation, international cooperation in the digital economy, and the digital development needs of national and local governments and enterprises. Representatives from government agencies of multiple countries and enterprises listed in the World IoT Top 500 shared their views on global digital cooperation and the development opportunities presented by China's 15th Five-Year Plan, proposing closer international collaboration and the joint development of a global digital economy market.

Experts and scholars including Zhang Qin, Chen Wenling, Lin Chengzhen analyzed the trends in digital economy transformation and industrial upgrading, and put forward recommendations for building a global industrial ecosystem for the digital economy. Mr. A Anindityo Adi Primasto, Counsellor and Head of Economic Section of Indonesian Embassy in Beijing, Miao Qing, Chairman of Yingli Group, Zhao Bingdi, President of Panasonic corporation of China, Song Yunbo, Chief Sustainability Officer of GCL Group, Ma Liang, Chairman of BOE Energy, Wang Zhizhong, General Manager of IBM Northern China Region and Shenzhen, Hu Hongyuan, General Manager of New Energy Industry, Ant Digital Technologies, Jin Xu, Chairman of China Association of International Trade, and Zhang Chuang, Director of Baoding Municipal Data Bureau, Hebei Province shared their respective views and needs on global digital economy transformation and strengthening international cooperation. They agreed that all parties should seize the opportunities arising from China's 15th Five-Year Plan, strengthen international cooperation, address common challenges through joint efforts, promote the transition from the Internet of Everything to the Intelligently Interconnected Internet of Everything, and accelerate the transformation from the digital economy to an advanced digital economy, so as to achieve shared development and jointly benefit from the dividends of digital transformation and industrial upgrading.

Liang Zi, WIOTC Spokeswoman, released official information on the 2026 Conference on Sustainable Development of Global Intelligently Interconnected Digital Economy and the World Internet of Things Convention. According to the announcement, this year's annual conference is scheduled to be held simultaneously in China and France in November 2026. Centered on the theme "A World of Smart Interconnection, A Future of Win-Win Cooperation", the conference will feature an opening ceremony, the World New Economy Forum, the Ambassadors Forum, the Urban Innovation and Development Forum, together with a series of parallel forums covering industrial development, smart agriculture, intelligent transportation and connected vehicles, smart energy, healthcare, low-altitude intelligent connectivity, satellite IoT, AI, standardization, and international exchange and cooperation. Special sessions will also be organized for national and local governments as well as enterprises. During the conference, the Blue Paper on the Global Intelligently Interconnected Digital Economy Development will be officially released. Other major events will include the announcement of Global Demonstration Cities, Enterprises and Outstanding Cases for the Intelligently Interconnected Digital Economy, and the presentation of the World IoT Digital Economy Awards.

The conference will focus on promoting the transformation of the Internet of Everything-enabled digital economy into an advanced Intelligently Interconnected Digital Economy. It aims to establish global benchmarks for the intelligently interconnected digital economy, provide valuable references for the digital transformation of governments and enterprises worldwide, encourage innovation-driven development of the global digital economy, foster the development of a global digital economy market, and promote innovation in the digital economy and society. Through enhanced international cooperation in digital innovation, the conference also seeks to contribute to world peace, improve smart production, smart living and smart working for people around the globe, support the United Nations Global Digital Cooperation initiative and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and contribute to building a global community with a shared future for mankind.

This year's conference will invite the Secretary-General of the United Nations, senior officials from government agencies of relevant countries, ambassadors to China, and leaders of regional organizations including EU, ASEAN, and the League of Arab States (LAS). Invitations will also be extended to senior representatives of United Nations agencies, including ITU, UNIDO, UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCTAD. Representatives from leading international organizations—including ISO, IEC, WFEO, IEEE, and CENELEC—as well as representatives from research institutions, business associations, think tanks, and enterprises in the Internet of Things and digital economy sectors, are also expected to attend. The conference is expected to attract thousands of participants from around the world. Major international and Chinese media organizations, including Xinhua News Agency, China Media Group (CMG), European Times, BRICS TV, PR Newswire, Phoenix New Media, and Euronews, will be invited to cover the event.

For the 2026 World IoT Ranking List Top 500, please visit: www.wiotrl.com (www.wiotrl.com)

The 2026 World IoT Ranking List Top 500, released at this summit, has established a global benchmark for advancing the transformation and upgrading of the digital economy. It demonstrates the strength of innovation driving the development of the global digital economy and recognizes the outstanding contributions made by the listed enterprises to innovation and sustainable development in the global digital economy. Zhang Hua, Vice Chairman of the WIOTC Executive Committe, extended congratulations to the listed enterprises. During the summit, certificates were presented to representatives of the Top 500 enterprises, including IBM, Panasonic, Vodafone, China Mobile IoT, CETHIK, iFlytek, 360 Group, GCL Group, Yingli Group, Pateo, Invengo, Ant Digital Technologies, Nxin, and Geespace.