Under the title “Engineering the Future of the Footwear Industry”, the 2027 congress will examine how new technologies and changing market conditions are reshaping footwear design, manufacturing and business models.
Organised in collaboration with Krista Exhibitions and APRISINDO, the three-day event will focus on the overarching theme “Advanced Technologies, Sustainable Manufacturing and Resilience in a Changing Global Landscape”.
A key topic will be the growing use of new technologies throughout the footwear value chain, ranging from Artificial Intelligence and intelligent product design to Physical AI and its potential applications in factories. The programme will also examine sustainability as a competitive factor and explore how footwear companies can become more agile and resilient amid increasingly complex and unpredictable global conditions.
The congress will combine industrial visits, conference sessions and activities linked to two major trade fairs. The first day, 2 August, will take delegates to footwear factories in the Jakarta area, offering first-hand insights into Indonesia’s footwear manufacturing ecosystem. On 3 August, the programme will move indoors for the main conference, featuring keynote presentations, technical sessions and expert panels alongside networking opportunities for footwear professionals, technicians and industry representatives from around the world.
The final day, 4 August, will be held in conjunction with ILF – Indo Leather & Footwear Expo and IGT – Indo Garment & Textile Expo. Congress delegates will participate in the fairs’ opening ceremony, a joint panel programme and an exhibition tour.
The Innovation Showcase, a format introduced in 2023, will also return, providing a platform for additional innovations and contributions within the congress programme. Networking will remain an integral part of the event, with a welcome cocktail scheduled for the evening of 2 August and the traditional Gala Dinner taking place on 3 August.
Founded in 1972, UITIC – the International Union of Shoe Industry Technicians – has promoted the exchange of technical and scientific knowledge within the global footwear industry for more than five decades. Its international congresses bring together experts from across the sector to discuss developments in footwear design, manufacturing and technology.
Further details on the 2027 programme will be announced ahead of the congress.
