In January 2016, electronica’s popularity “exploded,” Angela Marten, exhibition director, said, seeing nearly 3,000 exhibitors and more than 73,000 visitors. “We stretched out into Hall C4,” she explained, “but it was pretty clear that next time, we needed to expand further. So making electronica bigger was certainly planned – what wasn’t planned, was that we would end up with 8,000m2more space than 2016.”
Marten also alluded to the fact that the already sizeable event may even try take over the entire exhibition space for electronica 2020.
With the new layout, semiconductors will be in halls A4, B4, C4 and the adjacent halls B5, C5 and C3. As a co-located event, SEMICON Europa will take up part of hall A4. The automotive and embedded systems segments and, directly adjacent to them, displays and sensors will also move closer to the center.
“Electromechanics/system periphery, relays and casing technology are another segment that take up more than two halls, which is why we have chosen a north to south arrangement on the grounds for this as well,” Marten added. “From 2018, exhibitors from these areas will be in halls A2, B2 and C2 at electronica. Circuit carriers and EMS will move to halls A1 and B1, and passive components to A6 and B6. As a result, the remaining areas will move too.”
“Hall C6 is very special,” she added, “as we will be hosting the premiere of electronica experience here.” The hope is that this will create more brand visibility and space for exhibitors demonstrating their products. “We want trade visitors to have one focal point where they can get inspiration.” The hall will also host a career’s fair, where exhibitors can target students who will have free access to hall C6.
The number of forums have also increased for this year’s electronica, and a new medical conference – eMEC – will see its début. Resident highlight topics, such as IoT and cybersecurity, will be joined by newly added ones, covering smart grid and smart energy, and artificial intelligence.
Moreover, electronica fast forward (ee-ffwd) will return for a second year with a new challenge - the sponsors challenge. This gives start-ups the possibility to develop their product with designated hardware provided by the sponsor. For more information, click here.
“We are very proud that we have been able to secure the People’s Republic of China and EU advisor, Jeremy Rifkin,” added Marten. Rifkin will be a keynote speaker for electronica’s opening in the ICM on November 12, 2018, and on the electronica experience’s ‘discovery stage’, where companies can discuss job opportunities within the electronic sector, targeting both aspiring engineers and specific and booming markets areas such as cryptocurrencies.
Despite being unable to predict the number of visitors, Marten believes electronic 2018 will at least match, if not exceed 2016’s impressive figures.