Hannover Messe Digital Days will premiere this July, tackling digitalisation, climate protection and demographic change across the two days of the digital event.
The mega industrial technology show had been due to run as normal in March this year but - for the first time in its 73 year history - it opted to skip 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic impact. The next show has been scheduled for 12-16 April 2021.
Back in March, Dr. Jochen Köckler, Chairman of the Board of Management, Deutsche Messe, said: "We firmly believe that nothing can replace direct, person-to-person contact and we are already looking forward to the time after Corona. But especially in times of crisis, we must be flexible and act pragmatically."
Deutsche Messe has since come up with Hannover Messe Digital Days, which will include keynotes from business, science and politics as well as panel discussions, live chats, networking and innovation presentations. The bulk of the event will be themed around how industrial transformation can succeed and which steps industry must take to recover quickly from the consequences of the shutdown.
Dr. Jochen Köckler explained: "With the Digital Days, we are creating an online platform for the entire HANNOVER MESSE community. We had to cancel the show this year due to the corona pandemic, but people still need to learn about the latest technological products and solutions and to talk with experts from all over the world. Because tomorrow's innovations are only possible when different industries and cultures exchange ideas."
Mirroring the show, the conference programme will focus on evergreen topics like Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence, smart energy and logistics 4.0.
Exhibitor products and solutions form the second layer of content while networking will also play a prominent role: All participants can search for suitable business and cooperation partners and contact each other directly using the chat function.
The technology-orientated HERMES AWARD ceremony will, for the first time, be awarded digitally. A jury chaired by Dr. Reimund Neugebauer, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, chose the winner from numerous high-quality submissions. The announcement will be made on 14 July.
Hannover Messe Digital Days will premier 14-15 July.
