From digital transformation to carbon-neutrality, individualization and demographic change, Hannover Messe provides a neutral platform where industrial companies and leaders can find mutual solutions to overcome today’s challenges. Interview with Arno Reich, Senior Vice President of Hannover Messe at Deutsche Messe.
With the industrial transformation knocking at the door and the urgency of fighting climate change, no company is immune to the numerous challenges that this fast-changing world is bringing. This year’s Hannover Messe shows how digitalization is still the top priority, follow by sustainability and innovative approaches towards production and the recruitment of key human resources to make the transformation happen. Always projected to boost international dynamic and innovative industrial markets, the upcoming show will have Indonesia, one of the biggest digital economies in Southern Asia, as partner country.
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A. Reich: Four trends – digitalization, individualization, carbon neutrality and demographic change – are driving industrial transformation. As a result, customers today face very different challenges compared to only a few years ago, and exhibitors must adopt new technologies, processes and recruiting initiatives in order to help their customers overcome these challenges.
A. Reich: Yes. Indonesia has set the ambitious goal of becoming Southeast Asia’s biggest digital economy by the end of 2020. In order to achieve this goal, it launched the initiative “Making Indonesia 4.0”, which focuses on areas such as digitalization of industry, energy reform, education, innovation, and foreign investment.
A. Reich: We took the step to ensure that visitors fully experience how software, IT and automation interact with logistics. Beginning this year, logistics systems providers will be located with automation companies, while logistics software providers will be located with IT companies.
A. Reich: Hannover Messe features more than 80 conferences, forums and special displays that offer visitors a broad range of technical and business expertise as well as networking opportunities. For example, the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS) brings together 3,000 participants to discuss the topic “Glocalisation: Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Global Value Chains”.
A. Reich: Hannover Messe provides a neutral platform where industrial companies as well as business leaders and politicians gather to discuss the issues you mention. Therefore, we believe in more cross-border cooperation, not less.
A. Reich: Industry is responding to climate change by developing innovative technological solutions for CO2-neutral production. Industrial companies understand now that environmentally friendly production is not only a cost-saving measure, but also an indication of social responsibility. As far as improvements, tempo and global cooperation need to increase.
A. Reich: We maintain a number of digital channels that visitors can use to optimize their visit, including our website (hannovermesse.com), the Hannover Messe App, Social Media, and a Newsletter. We also offer exhibitors a digital visitor analysis through Waytation, which helps them fine-tune their exhibits and product presentations for visitors.
Sara Ibrahim & Kay Petermann