by Wesley W. Busch

HOUSTON, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The 37th CERAWeek by IHS Markit, an annual energy conference that features presentations and discussions by energy industry and governmental leaders, will be held on Monday in Houston, Texas, the United States.

According to the organizer IHS Markit, a press conference by the International Energy Agency (IEA) on Monday morning will kick-off the five-day CERAWeek 2018. The theme for this year's event is "Tipping Point: Strategies for a New Energy Future."

The speaker lineup for the conference will delve into the dynamics of the energy markets, technology, governmental policies, environment and global economy. The strategies to direct the opportunities and meet the challenges facing the energy industry are sure to be discussed and dissected.

The event will include 3,000 global industry leaders and policymakers from over 60 countries and the energy value chain, who have chances to exchange ideas, learn from others and build relationships as they take part in discussions about the future of global energy.

A special session, called "Innovation Agora" will convene a prestigious roster of innovators and thought leaders to share ideas on how to accelerate innovation across the energy spectrum, and on how the great wave of new technologies will reshape the energy future.

Some other special programs include Energy Innovation Pioneers -- aiming at leading companies and entrepreneurs who are working on technologies and business models that could rock what has been conventional thought within the global energy industry; Future Energy Leaders -- fostering exceptional individuals from companies, policy, academic institutions and non-government organizations (NGOs) to encourage them to meet current and future energy challenges; and Women Leaders in Energy -- promoting camaraderie, informal dialogue and networking of women in the energy industry.

In 1983, Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) was founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the United States. The energy research and consulting firm quickly became known for its critical knowledge and independent analysis on energy markets, geopolitics, industry trends, technology and strategy.

Each year, CERA clients gathered for a few days in Houston, long the energy capital of the nation, and to some people the world, to attend the executive conference where they gained insight into the energy future while connecting with their peers. Over time, the program was expanded to five days of informative sessions and networking opportunities-and named CERAWeek.

More than three decades later, CERAWeek by IHS Markit has become the world's premier energy event. The conference is distinctive in the extraordinary depth and breadth of its content and the quality of the dialogue among participants.

U.S. Colorado-based Information Handling Services (IHS) was founded in 1959, aiming to serve customers ranging from governments and multi-national companies to smaller businesses and technical professionals. In 2004, IHS acquired CERA.

London-based Markit was founded in 2003 and is a global financial information and services company.

IHS Markit began trading on July 13, 2016 on the Nasdaq Global Select Market following the completion of merger of HIS and Markit. The new combined company, IHS Markit, was based in London.

Then the merging between IHS and the smaller London-based Markit was known as an "inversion," in which U.S. companies are bought by or merge with foreign firms to reduce U.S. corporate tax burdens.

Today, IHS Markit is a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide.