The International Union of Shoe Industry Technicians (UITIC), established in 1972, is an organization which aims at developing technical knowledge in the footwear industry, in particular by organizing international conferences on a regular basis and by taking the initiative in setting up information exchanges between its members, mainly in the field of technology. UITIC’s main activity is to organize the most prestigious meeting of experts in the world, the "UITIC International Footwear Congress". This event tackles the latest technical problems or innovation in the footwear industry. Visits of footwear factories and related industries are organized before the Congress. UITIC’s members are footwear experts, research centers, private companies and technicians from footwear associations, coming from 27 countries.