Hannover – “Industrial companies have to implement in a few months what would otherwise have taken years,” says Dr. Jochen Köckler, CEO of Deutsche Messe AG. “This requires a platform where people can discuss challenges, present solutions and expand networks, which is exactly what the HANNOVER MESSE Digital Edition is. With more than 1,800 exhibiting companies, the world’s leading tradeshow for industry remains the central platform for innovations and solutions for industrial transformation – even in times of Corona.”

HANNOVER MESSE features innovations ranging from AI for industry to technologies that simplify programming robots to solutions for climate-neutral energy supply. “The main topics at this year’s HANNOVER MESSE include AI and machine learning, robotics, Industrie 4.0, C02-neutral production, and Logistics 4.0 as well as solutions for the e-mobility of the future. In the coming week, the HANNOVER MESSE website will be a global knowledge and networking platform for visitors from the manufacturing and energy industries,” says Köckler. “Despite the pandemic and the contact ban, we bring together technology providers and customers at the customary time in April.”

EXPO: Room for innovation

The EXPO area provides visitors direct access to the technologies and solutions of exhibiting companies. Approximately 7,000 products will be on display, including 1,700 tradeshow premieres and almost 400 R&D projects. The program – which includes 750 live exhibitor streams, 750 product videos and 11 exhibitor channels – provides visitors with concrete solutions for optimizing industrial processes via best-case applications, video tutorials and video chats. “We have expanded HANNOVER MESSE with a comprehensive product database that delivers the right solution for every problem,” explains Köckler.

CONFERENCE: Room for inspiration

German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel gives her opening address live from the Federal Chancellery on 12 April at 1:00 p.m. CET, followed directly by Indonesien president Joko Widodo. Beginning at 10:00 a.m., German economics minister Peter Altmaier, BDI president Dr. Siegfried Russwurm, VDMA president Karl Haeusgen, ZVEI president Dr. Gunther Kegel, and mayor of Hannover Belit Onay discuss current economic policy issues and challenges.

From Tuesday to Thursday, the focus is on technological innovations and solutions: What role does AI play in industry? How does data generate added value? What potential does hydrogen offer for industry? In the CONFERENCE area, speakers inspire visitors with ideas and visions and offer specific measures for industrial transformation.

Speakers include Herbert Diess, CEO of Volkswagen AG; Marianne Janik, CEO of Microsoft Germany; Roland Busch, CEO of Siemens AG; AI legend Toby Walsh; Eugene Kaspersky, founder and CEO of security company Kaspersky; Thomas Saueressig, board member of SAP; Bill McDermott, CEO of ServiceNow; and Claudia Kempfert from the German Institute for Economic Research.

“RESET.RETHINK.RESTART.” is the motto of the WomenPower career congress on Friday, 16 April. The program includes workshops, panel discussions and new solutions for networking as well as speakers such as Siemens HR head Judith Wiese and German state secretary for digitalization Dorothee Bär.

NETWORKING: Room for interaction

All visitors at HANNOVER MESSE Digital Edition can directly contact exhibitors, speakers and other visitors via a personalized entry page with a corresponding dashboard that searches, sorts and displays relevant companies, speakers and participants. Visitors initiate contact requests with a click and then exchange information per video chat or video call.

“We are opening a new chapter with the HANNOVER MESSE Digital Edition and are overwhelmed by the encouragement and trust from industry. Based on the experience of the HANNOVER MESSE Digital Edition, in the future we will combine the best of the digital and analog worlds to create a holistic hybrid tradeshow experience for our customers.”