–IFA Berlin 2023, the world’s largest and most iconic consumer
electronics exhibition, will be held in Berlin, Germany from September 1st to 5th.
The exhibition targets the fourth quarter of the Christmas business and is expected
to attract over 2,000 exhibitors from over 100 countries. IFA Management selected
Taipei as the only key promotional city for the exhibition in Asia and partnered with
the German Trade Office to host an industry trend seminar and media reception in
Taipei on May 31. The seminar introduced the latest highlights of the 99th IFA, Mr.
Axel Limberg, Chief Representative and Executive Director of the German Trade
Office Taipei, Director of the German Trade Office, who served as the main speaker
at the opening ceremony, stated that “the IFA Berlin exhibition is a key platform for
promoting Taiwan-Germany trade.”
In the event, a number of industry experts, including Mr. Dirk Koslowski, Executive
Director of IFA Management GmbH, Ms. Namrata Gotarne, Global Strategic Insights
Director of GfK SE, Mr. Alexander Su, president of DFI Inc., Mr. Allen Jong, President
of Acer Gadget Inc., and Mr. James Wang, Chief Strategy & Sales Officer eYs3D
Microelectronics, Co, explored the latest electronics industry developments and
how they affect our lives. The speakers discussed a range of topics, including the
rise of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and 5G.
Despite the pandemic impact and travel restrictions that prevented many Asian
countries from attending, IFA resumed physical exhibitions last year with over
1,100 companies from more than 45 countries participating and attracting more
than 160,000 visitors in person, proving its influence and success. The organizers
estimate that this year more than 2,000 exhibitors will participate in the show
worldwide after the major lifting of restrictions, generating business opportunities
worth €4 billion (over NT$1.3 trillion). Mr. Axel Limberg emphasized, “The event’s
rich history, global prominence, and extensive lineup of events make it an ideal
venue forging connections, exploring market opportunities, and facilitating
collaborations in various sectors of the consumer electronics industry.”
This year IFA is planning for 13 exhibition areas, including Fitness and Digital
Health, Mobility, IFA Next, Global Markets, Audio, The House of Robots, iZone,
Household Appliances, Computing and Gaming, Sustainability Village, Image and
Video, Home and Entertainment, and Communication and Connectivity. In
particular, IFA this year emphasizes innovation and practicality, launching the new
“The Retailer is King” programme to promote market development that meets the
needs of retailers and consumers, which is expected to benefit participating
exhibitors.
Continuing its international influence for nearly a century, IFA has always been the
largest stage for major international brands to showcase their latest electronic and
home appliances. IFA NEXT, with a new highlight, “IFA Leader’s Summit”,
“Sustainability Village”, “The House of Robots” and the “Gaming and Esports Bar,”
is designed to enhance interaction with the new generation. According to the IFA
organizers, notable topics of discussion will include the future of smart homes and
domestic robots, IoT devices for the upcoming year, immersive technology, AI-
powered devices and smart appliances, and the latest trends in consumer tech. In
addition to experiencing and testing the most advanced robots in 2023 at “The
House of Robots,” the “IFA Leader’s Summit” will incorporate into a vibrant
European technology ecosystem where market leaders, technology innovation
experts, thought leaders, retail industry executives, and decision-makers will come
together. It will focus on exploring the ethical issues and governance and
regulation solutions brought about by the tremendous changes in the robot
industry under the highly developed Artificial intelligence (AI) after AI algorithms
are applied in various tasks such as industrial manufacturing and medical
diagnosis.
In the “Sustainability Village,” more emphasis is placed on consumer attention. As
sustainable development becomes the top priority in all industries worldwide, IFA
is taking a stand for consumers’ “Right to Repair” and setting up a temporary
“repair workshop” on-site to handle electronic waste. There will be a series of
forums on sustainable development applications, focusing on building a new
network connecting sustainable development leaders through IFA communities.
Not only are the top electronic and household products in the exhibition area eye-
catching, but to enhance the impact of the exhibition on all participants and add a
sense of ceremony to Berlin, IFA 2023 will launch #BerlinTechWeek this year for a
series of nighttime events, including “AI Experience Day,” “Live concerts” and
“Gaming Carnival,” bringing visitors an unprecedented IFA city experience.
Mr. Dirk Koslowski, Executive Director of IFA Management GmbH
