The Fourth Industrial Revolution Alliance, which aims to bridge the technological gap between countries, was launched at the ongoing China International Import Expo in Shanghai on Friday.

The alliance was initiated by the Investment and Technology Promotion Office of United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

It welcomed 30 founding members, which include municipal governments of Jinan and Xiamen, companies such as SAP China and Rockwell Automation China, and associations such as China Association of International Trade and Shanghai Foreign Investment Association.

Li Yong, director-general of UNIDO, said the rapid advances in digital technologies — artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, additive manufacturing, the internet of things and blockchain — are driving the fourth industrial revolution, and reducing the technological gap between industrialized countries and developing countries should be a primary task.