IFA keynotes from Huawei, Qualcomm, Roku and Arçelik – artificial intelligence, voice control and networking are the main trends in consumer electronics and home appliances – Japan is the first Global Innovation Partner for IFA Next – Ford, Daimler, Fujitsu und AXA are shaping the future of mobility – IFA Global Markets well established as Europe’s largest sourcing fair
Berlin, 4 September 2019 – Artificial intelligence, voice control and 5G networking are the three major trends in the consumer electronics and home appliances industry at IFA 2019. With a record volume of orders exceeding 4.7 billion euros at last count, IFA is once again a preferred platform for the world’s leading brands. The innovations, products and services on display here will shape sales in the specialist stores as well as in the online stores at Christmas and during the end-of-year period. With a fully booked exhibition space, IFA 2019 in Berlin is going to host 1,939 manufacturers and brands in 163,900 square meters (net) of exhibition space spread over two sites – the exhibition grounds under the Radio Tower and the STATION Berlin, which will host the IFA Global Markets, Europe’s largest sourcing show for trade visitors.
“The strength of innovation and the ability of the participating industries to react quickly and flexibly to demand and meet consumer needs has shaped IFA’s success story to date. It has developed into the world’s most important platform for consumer electronics and home appliances, and, thanks to its compelling platform, acts as a sustainable growth and innovation driver. This is also confirmed by its impressive figures, with an order volume of 4.7 billion euros in 2018. Retailers, trade visitors, media and the general public will again find an even larger number of innovations and new products than at any other trade show in the world during our six-day fair in Berlin,” says Hans-Joachim Kamp, chairman of the supervisory board of gfu Consumer & Home Electronics GmbH, the organizers of the IFA.
“Economic conditions in many regions have been less positive in recent months. There have been, and still are, a number of political developments which have not exactly strengthened consumer confidence. As a result, some markets have weakened or become more volatile, without showing any clear direction. Business has become somewhat more challenging as a result. Nevertheless, the household appliance industry is doing quite well, which makes us feel optimistic about the future. As the most important meeting place and marketplace for the home appliances industry, IFA will again make a positive contribution,” explains Reinhard Zinkann, chairman of the ZVEI Home Appliances Association.
“Our IFA team has two goals: present the best innovations and inspire co-innovation. What you can see here in Berlin is the pinnacle of technology, products that are ready for sale during the most important and busiest time of the year, the Christmas season,” says Dr. Christian Göke, CEO Messe Berlin, adding: “The high standard of innovation on display in Berlin shows how important it is to keep trade barriers low. Otherwise progress and innovation will slow down. This, in turn, is detrimental to consumers and society.”
IFA Next
As the first global partner of IFA NEXT, Japan has an exclusive pavilion in Hall 26 where start-ups and top IT companies from all over the world are exhibiting, as well as featuring fascinating speakers at the IFA+ Summit and on the IFA NEXT Innovation Engine stage. With a maxim of “interface with consideration and sensibility”, the Japan Pavilion will demonstrate new interfaces between man and machine, in which cyberspace and physical space are highly integrated. As part of the pavilion, Japan will present a new user interface designed specifically to enable all social groups to benefit from digital technologies in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
Artificial intelligence, IoT – the Internet of Things – and the new 5G mobile network are just some of the topics in focus on the IFA NEXT global innovation stage in Hall 26. In the middle of the hall, the two presentation areas – the “Innovation Engines” – allow speakers to highlight and communicate more clearly the benefits of the exhibited product solutions, technologies and services. IFA NEXT will feature an exciting mix of start-ups, tech companies and research institutes.
Japan Pavilion – development of man-machine interfaces
Robotics – living with intelligent machines
IFA NEXT – the global innovation hub at IFA
IFA KEYNOTES
Ambitious and influential CEOs will present open, critical and perhaps controversial strategies for our digital future in the IFA keynotes. Against a background of political and economic discussions, it will be particularly interesting to experience the visions of both a Chinese and an American global player on the first day.
Chengdon (Richard) Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group will explain why 5G could be the technology that significantly changes IoT, autonomous cars and smart devices (IFA Opening Keynote, September 6, 10:30 am).
Cristian Amon, president of Qualcomm, the U.S. chip maker, also believes that 5G will fundamentally advance technology progress, ushering in the next “age of great invention” (IFA Keynote, September 6, 2 pm).
Anthony Wood, founder, chairman and CEO of Roku, Inc., the most successful challenger to Netflix and traditional TV, will speak about the visionary innovations that will further transform television (IFA Keynote, September 7 10:30 am).
With twelve global brands, Arçelik is the market leader in many countries, with two of the largest European household appliance brands, Beko and Grundig. Hakan Bulgurlu, CEO of Arçelik, will talk about his company’s strategies and its significant global position (IFA Keynote, 7 September, 2 pm)
IFA+ SUMMIT
This year, the power of data is the major topic at the IFA+ Summit – the IFA’s congress about the future. Numerous international speakers will look at the development of disruptive technologies and analyze their impact on our digital future on 8-9 September.
Technology pioneers: Women shaping our future
Quantum bits and AI: How they will influence our future
Dataism: The development of a new reality
SHIFT AUTOMOTIVE
SHIFT Automotive, the convention about mobility on 10-11 September, start-ups, technology leaders, car manufacturers and urban planners will come together to discuss how the latest technologies and future-oriented mobility concepts will change the way we live, work and drive.
How autonomous driving is changing mobility storytelling
SHIFT automotive brings the future of mobility to IFA
IFA GLOBAL MARKETS
At IFA Global Markets, Europe’s largest sourcing fair in STATION Berlin, near Potsdamer Platz, suppliers, component manufacturers and OEMs/ODMs will meet with customers and partners from the consumer and home electronics industries on 8-11 September.
Speed-dating & master minds @ IFA Global Markets
A roundup of market developments
Developments in the various market segments are looking quite different in 2019. In consumer electronics, global sales of 740 billion euros are expected this year. This is a decline of 1.8%. In contrast, the global market for electrical household appliances is developing positively. Market researchers expect an increase of around 9.4% to just under 90 billion euros for small electrical appliances, and a 2.2% increase for large electrical appliances, to almost 182 billion euros
For the technical consumer goods on the global market, including consumer electronics and home appliances, the total sales is forecast to be more than one trillion euros, 1.011 to be exact. Despite such negative influences as trade conflicts, Brexit and the economic downturn, the global market appears to be stable overall. However, these factors make it difficult to forecast accurately in the long term. In some countries, the first effects are being felt as consumers are less willing to buy in a clouded consumer climate.
The IFA will again be a positive influence on the international and national markets this year. With its compelling format and platform, the IFA is a drive of growth and confidence in business.