Last week, the world's leading trade fair and conference for electronics - the electronica - started in the Bavarian state capital. With 3,000 exhibitors from 50 countries, it is one of the largest, if not the largest, industry events worldwide. More than 70,000 visitors from over 80 nations are expected in the Munich exhibition halls from 13 to 16 November. Also, to experience the first European electronica SEMICON Europe, the largest European semiconductor fair. Silicon Saxony is back this year with a joint booth. 32 exhibitors from the Saxon microelectronics and ICT network presented their latest smart services and solutions. Even before the start of the fair, the Business Connection Forum - organized by Silicon Europe - also networked experts and high-tech companies at Infineon's headquarters. 

The merger of electronica with SEMICON Europe takes the continent's largest semiconductor trade fair to a new level. 70,000 expert visitors streamed through a total of 14 exhibition halls in the Bavarian capital during the four days of the fair. For the first time, this year also offered the companies of the semiconductor industry this great platform. Already last year, within the scope of productronica with its 30,000 visitors, 1,200 exhibitors and nine exhibition halls, SEMICON Europa benefited from the new Munich framework. "After the past, extremely successful events of SEMICON Europe in Dresden 2015 (Germany), in Grenoble 2016 (France) and last year as part of productronica, even greater opportunities will open in 2018.  More exhibitors, more visitors and an even greater proximity to important sectors such as the automotive industry, medicine, consumer electronics and more create the best networking and marketing opportunities - especially for companies and institutions in the semiconductor industry, "explains Heinz Martin Esser, CEO of Silicon Saxony e. V. In addition to even more space and audience, the electronica 2018 promoted a whole series of new products. Four new conferences (Electronica Automotive Conference, Electronica Embedded Platforms Conference, Electronica Medical Electronics Conference and Wireless Congress), 16 forums (of which the electronica Connectors Forum and the electronica Power Forum will for the first time offer "know-how to go") and the new Hall C6 (with their live demonstrations showing the industry's products in their respective applications) captivated the international trade audience. Alone 8,000 participants registered for the conferences and forums.

INDUSTRY 4.0 AND THE INTERNET OF THINGS ARE CREATING A NEW "TECHNOLOGY WAVE"

Experts expect a sales increase of the semiconductor industry to one trillion dollars by 2030. The current wave of technology in the Internet of Things (IoT) is said to wash between 20 and 50 billion in the coffers of the industry. After the PC wave of the early 2000s and the mobile wave around 2010, the IoT wave is expected in Europe around 2020. More than ever, European companies, research institutes, networks and associations are now looking to take advantage of the opportunities they offer. Currently, about 4.5 billion euros are invested in new company locations in Saxony or the expansion of existing infrastructures. Ascending trend! Industry 4.0, the Internet of Things and the industry's preparations for this are making it possible. Globalfoundries, Infineon, Bosch, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) are examples of this ever-growing investment culture.   

SMART SYSTEMS HUBS IN LEIPZIG AND DRESDEN ARE TO INSPIRE THE ICT INDUSTRY

Currently, 3,900 ICT companies with more than 62,000 employees and an annual turnover of 15 billion euros are already responsible for the technological expertise in Silicon Saxony. Companies such as VW, Siemens, Infineon, T-Systems or Bosch as well as research institutions such as Fraunhofer, HZDR or Leibniz are concentrated in the high-tech triangle between Dresden, Leipzig and Chemnitz. A world-wide unique value creation chain offers possibilities, which elsewhere require national or even worldwide networking. From the education of excellent professionals at excellent universities in Dresden, Leipzig and Chemnitz to outstanding research and development at Fraunhofer, Leibniz and Co. to companies from all areas of high technology - from software to hardware to connectivity - the conditions are right. The federal and state governments will also invest more than 100 million euros in the coming years as part of the latest initiative for stroke - eg for a co-innovation center at the TU Dresden. In addition to the Leipzig Smart Infrastructure Hub, the Dresden-based Smart Systems Hub - Enabling IoT is now in full swing. His claim to network scientists, producers and users in the field of IoT was again underlined in Munich. 

BUSINESS CONNECTION FORUM AS A PRELUDE AT THE BAVARIAN INFINEON HEADQUARTERS

Just one day before the start of electronica and SEMICON Europa, the Business Connection Forum, which was co-organized by Silicon Saxony, brought together more than 50 participants from France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and Germany at the Infineon headquarters in Bavaria. Twelve company pitches, including six by Silicon Saxony members, opened the event. Presentations by the host Infineon, the North American network NY Loves Nanotech and Silicon Europe, the participants agreed to the subsequent international networks.   

SILICON SAXONY CONVINCES WITH 32 EXHIBITORS AT ITS JOINT BOOTH

A day later, it was also at the Silicon Saxony joint booth and in the context of SEMICON Europe to make contacts. Numerous members of Silicon Saxony such as the state capital Dresden, Fabmatics, Adenso , Bilfinger, camLine, Rudolph Technologies, Fraunhofer or znt not only presented their services and solutions, but also answered the questions of the trade fair visitors. Numerous innovations or even world novelties made the large-scale joint stand a visitor magnet. The never-ending stream of guests was only topped by the booth party late on Wednesday evening. Sponsored by the Silicon Saxony Member  znt-Richter, the association offered music and catering. SEMICON is already registering the Saxon high-tech network for the upcoming SEMICON Europe as part of next year's productronica, the sister fair of electronica, from 12 to 15 November 2019. Then Saxony will once again present its technological know-how in Munich. The continuation of the success story is thus firmly planned. The Silicon Saxony Team welcomes its guests in Messe München.

Uwe Beier (left) and his Adenso team are present at the Silicon Saxony stand with three world firsts in wafer handling. "We like to come to SEMICON Europa with Silicon Saxony, where we acquire large orders for Adenso every year," explains Uwe Beier. The Silicon Saxony joint booth at the SEMICON Europe 2018.

Related Linkswww.silicon-saxony.de www.semiconeuropa.org    www.productronica.com   www.electronica.de    Pictures: Silicon Saxony