CeBIT draws closer
In a few months, the time will come again: CeBIT 2017 in Hanover will take place from March 20 to 24, and the Swiss ICT industry wants to score points with innovative strength.
The Swiss ICT industry wants to build on the success of its major appearance as CeBIT partner country in 2016 and will focus on its innovative strength next year. The 600 m2 Swiss Pavilion promises a synergetic appearance of Swiss start-ups, established companies and top universities at top international level (for more information, see here), as the umbrella organization ICTswitzerland promises at the media conference on November 24. The Swiss Pavilion Arena will once again feature presentations by Swiss exhibitors and inspiring start-up pitches.
Autonomous postbuses and a quadcopter on a leash
Since this summer, two autonomously driving buses have been operating almost daily on a circular route of about 1.5 kilometers in downtown Sion as part of the "SmartShuttle" test operation. Swiss Post will also be present at CeBIT with this innovation: Two Postbuses without a driver will transport visitors around the exhibition grounds (Video SmartShuttle). ETH Zurich, in turn, will present, among other things, Fotokite Phi, a quadcopter with a camera that is controlled by a tether like a dragon. Fotokite is an ETH start-up that has its roots in ETH Zurich's Flying Machine Arena. The flying robot does not require GPS, remote control or control via app. Complex algorithms for the automatic stabilization of unmanned aerial vehicles make this possible (Video Fotokite).
Platform for innovative ICT start-ups
At the next CeBIT, Swiss ICT start-ups will have the opportunity to present themselves in an international light in the Swiss Pavilion and on the start-up platform Scale11. With professional trade fair support and financial backing from government and private organizations, the start-ups at CeBIT will have the best opportunities to take their first step towards export, according to a statement made at the media conference.
New focus
A major IT trend is the merging of the real and digital worlds: virtual and augmented reality applications (VR/AR) will conquer industry and services in the near future. That's why the upcoming CeBIT will take up the topic area with its own focus, said Oliver Frese, Deutsche Messe.
Artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, the cloud and, of course, cyber security in all its facets will be an important topic in Hannover. The organizers will also be focusing more than ever on the topic of drones. Following this year's successful premiere, CeBIT will be focusing on the 'Unmanned Systems & Solutions' create a top international event for technologies and solutions related to unmanned systems, said Oliver Frese.
Travel offer
For the Swiss ICT scene, ICTswitzerland is offering two travel packages in cooperation with a trade fair travel specialist (all-in tickets from Zurich and Bern: air travel, accommodation, etc.). Further information can be found here.
