By Puja Chandra Nanda
#IFA20
In its Digital Press Conference streamed live from Berlin on 19th May, 2020, the IFA team made an almost-historic announcement to media persons tuned in from around the world. The #IFA20 slated for September, 2020 will go ahead as a physical in-person event at Messe Berlin! This makes IFA 2020 one of the first major global trade events to be held since COVID-19 plunged the world into a crisis.
IFA remains a major global platform for trade and commerce where manufacturers, retailers, brands, consumers and media all come together to showcase and explore the latest and most innovative solutions in the world of electronics, consumer appliances and technology. This special edition of IFA would try to retain the essence of the annual event, albeit in a new format and structure and with restricted attendance, keeping in line with COVID-19 safe distancing guidelines.The Digital Press Conference saw some key announcements being made by Jens Heithecker, IFA Executive Director and Dirk Koslowski, IFA Director.
Here are the key pointers for #IFA20:
- IFA 2020 will run for 3 days from the 3rd to the 5th September, 2020, instead of the week long event planned earlier.
- IFA 2020 will feature four standalone events under the IFA umbrella to be held at one exhibition site.
- IFA 2020 will not be open to public. It will be an invite-only event with the total number of attendees capped at 1000 per day, to manage the flow of attendees and ensure everyone’s safety.
- IFA is in preparation to set up a Digital Hub which will give everyone the opportunity to join IFA 2020 remotely as in-person attendees are restricted.
- Opening Keynote for this year’s IFA would be delivered by Cristiano Amon, President of Qualcomm. Qualcomm is the undisputed global leader in mobile connectivity and Mr. Amon would be sharing latest developments with regard to 5G capabilities and other tech solutions by his company.
“Wireless technology has never been more essential. I look forward to sharing how 5G, AI and other key technologies will deliver the capabilities the world needs during these unprecedented times and beyond at IFA Berlin 2020” – Cristiano Amon, President Qualcomm
#IFA20’s 4 standalone events will be:
IFA Global Press Conference – has been turned into this year’s Global Showcase for Innovation and Technology. The conference will see around 800 journalists attending from 50+ countries. This will include 300 invitees to the press conference scheduled in Cyprus in April which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 situation. All keynotes and company press conferences will take place on a limited number of stages. The journalists will be able to arrange face to face interviews with company spokespersons, presenting an excellent opportunity for journalists to hear the brand stories upfront in the post COVID-19 scenario.
IFA NEXT & SHIFT Mobility – will be a three-day exclusive live event at which companies including start-ups will present their innovative products, concepts and solutions, network with experts and create global awareness of their brands.
IFA Global Markets – is IFA’s central sourcing platform for OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer), ODMs (Original Design Manufacturer), suppliers, and brands from all over the world. This year IFA Global Markets’ role is more significant as the world’s first sourcing event and marketplace in the midst of lockdowns and economic uncertainty.
IFA Business, Retail & Meeting Lounges – offer an excellent business networking opportunity for companies and trade visitors. Companies will have the chance to hold meetings in the exclusive conference and exhibition rooms provided at the venue. They can use digital booking tools to maximize this networking opportunity ahead of major sales days such as Black Friday and Christmas.
In addition, the Virtual IFA Experience will ensure that those who cannot attend the event in person can do so virtually and be part of the incredible IFA experience.
The IFA 2020 promises to be part of an innovative solution to support the industry in these unprecedented times. As Jens Heithecker, the Executive Director of IFA Berlin, said:
“After all the event cancellations during the past months, our industry urgently needs a platform where it can showcase its innovation, so that it can recover and rebound. The recovery of our industry starts here at IFA Berlin.”
Read more at https://www.ifa-berlin.com/
