World

Sergio Dulio (UITIC): AI is an important tool that companies cannot be unware of

Oct 24, 2025 World Footwear Voices

The World Footwear attended the 22nd UITIC Congress in Shanghai back in September. We had the opportunity to talk with Sergio Dulio, president of the UITIC, about some of the main conclusions of the congress. Watch the interview below to learn about it

Joana Vaz Teixeira_World Footwear: Over the past few days, we have heard dozens of different perspectives on AI. From your vantage point as UITIC president, what are the most important takeaways from this congress?

Sergio Dulio_UITIC: I think the one most important takeaway from this congress, which was also the challenge we launched when we decided to focus on the theme of this congress, the topic of AI, was: is AI really here as far as the footwear sector is concerned? And anticipating what I will be saying officially, because we are close to the final session of our Congress, I can say that it is in fact, just to give you a little bit of statistics, 12 out of 16 of the presentation mentioned AI. So, mention in terms of practical application. It is here in the design process, in the optimisation of logistics, in the manufacturing process, in dealing with consumers. It is even here, as we heard only a few minutes back, in the assessment of the life cycle of a product. So, the question was: is AI in the sector already? At least from this observation point, I would say “yes, it is”. And I think this is a message, we are in China, we had presentations from different countries, many of them came from China, so it’s a sort of final conclusion we can draw in the place where we are. But I think it will have to be considered as a lesson, as a takeaway, also for footwear companies all over the world, in all the other countries. AI is a tool. It’s an important yet delicate tool to be managed, but it is something companies cannot be unaware of. It is their responsibility to adopt it as much as possible.

Joana Vaz Teixeira_World Footwear: During the congress, and also linked to the theme of the Congress, we have spoken about competitiveness and sustainability as priorities for companies. How do you think AI can help the footwear companies to stay competitive and be sustainable, being producers of sustainable products?

Sergio Dulio_UITIC: Yeah, I will answer first about competitiveness. As we heard, and as it was stated by various presentations, AI is a powerful tool. It’s a powerful tool to make your processes smoother, more efficient, to have a better conversation with your consumer, to optimize your logistic supply chain, for instance. So, it is an enabler for competitiveness. That’s why I’m saying since companies cannot be other thing but competitive, AI is the tool they need so far. Get closer, learn about it, there are some implementation burdens that must be considered. Nevertheless, it’s here to stay and it’s a tool companies must use. We also learned that AI is an empowering technology also for sustainability, as in one of the most recent lectures we listened to. So, I think AI and sustainability are reinforcing each other. I would say AI would make sustainability more adoptable, more visible and more doable.

Joana Vaz Teixeira_World Footwear: This congress has brought together leaders from different countries. We have different continents represented here. How do you think UITIC can foster the ongoing collaboration between different players, so that all these learnings and all these key takeaways on AI, competitiveness, and sustainability can be spread across the industry globally?

Sergio Dulio_UITIC: I’ll tell you what my personal vision is now, having served as president of the association for two years already. I think it is a mission that UITIC has, that was stated back in 1972, when the association started, but that now requires some adjustments for the age in which we live, for the time in which we live. UITIC must evolve, it must change, in the direction that you said, of providing more insight and a sort of more dedicated service to our members. Number one: we have to expand our membership, which is something that is happening. It will happen even more in the future. We have in mind, as executive committee of our association, other initiatives in the direction of renewing the way UITIC works, making it more modern, with other ways of spreading the so-called technological scientific culture, which was the original mission. The mission has not changed, the way we accomplished the mission must change.

Joana Vaz Teixeira_World Footwear: We are about to close this conference, after these days of visits, discussions, conversations, which were very useful for everyone. My question is: what can you share with us about the next edition of the UITIC congress?

Sergio Dulio_UITIC: I can share that there will be one, for sure, very likely in 2027. We want to reestablish our original timing of a congress every two years. What I cannot tell you yet is where. Even though we are in discussion with possible candidate countries for that. I cannot tell you whether the congress would be exactly as we had it in 2023, which was my first one as incoming president, and in 2025 again. This goes back to what I said before: we must change our congresses, evolve in that direction. But there will be one. There will be one, perhaps with a different format in a country I cannot reveal yet, but we expect to be able to announce it in the next one to two months.

Joana Vaz Teixeira_World Footwear: Thank you, Sergio. Congratulations. This was the interview with Sergio Dulio, president of UITIC. Stay with us for more news about the footwear industry.