automatica sprint: New exhibition format in Munich

General conditions such as fixed stand sizes, uniform stand construction, central catering, simplified processes or new cancellation options considerably reduce the trade fair lead time for exhibitors. This ensures the necessary flexibility in the COVID-19 period for all parties involved. automatica sprint has been designed from the outset as both a presence and a digital event, so that the feasibility of the new format is already guaranteed. A wellthought-out hygiene concept also ensures the best possible safety for the participants on site.

Falk Senger, Managing Director Messe München and responsible for automatica sprint explained the background: “Robotics and automation will benefit in the long term from the COVID-19-related digitaliSation boost. This is why there is a great need for orientation and personal exchanges in the community right now. However, as long as the pandemic restricts business, a leading international trade fair such as automatica cannot take place to its full extent. Therefore, we have developed a new, compact format in collaboration with industry, adapted to the conditions of the COVID-19 era: automatica sprint.”

New Concept with Maximum Flexibility and the Usual Quality

automatica sprint is an independent 'subsidiary' of automatica, which fulfills all known quality standards. The new format also focuses on robotics, assembly/handling technology, industrial machine vision and digital solutions for the smart factory. The aim is to intensify dialog and network participants with solutions, knowledge and experiences.

The key features of the new marketplace are flexibility, modularity and openness. This is ensured, among other things, by a central booth builder, central catering in each hall and uniform stand sizes (20-200 m2 ). Exhibitors can customise their space within the framework of fixed specifications. The predefined package versions also considerably simplify the scheduling process. There are also generous cancellation options tailored to the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.

automatica sprint will take place in any case

Ideally, automatica sprint will be held as a presence event in Munich with additional digital offers. If it is not possible to carry out the presence part due to the pandemic, the event will take place as a purely digital event. Digital is not an emergency solution, but an integral part of the concept. The flexible form of the event ensures that exhibitors and visitors everywhere in the world can participate in the new trade fair regardless of possible travel restrictions.

A Community Concept for the Community

The new format was developed together with the automatica advisory board and the conceptual sponsor of automatica, VDMA Robotics + Automation. Patrick Schwarzkopf, Managing Director of VDMA Robotics + Automation: “Such an exceptional situation as the Covid-19 crisis requires new approaches. With automatica sprint, Messe München has succeeded in developing an innovative trade fair format together with industry in response to the current challenges. The new event is the optimal sales platform for the robotics + automation industry in the coming year.”

New robotics and AI platform munich_i at automatica sprint

Together with automatica sprint, munich_i will celebrate its premiere from June 22 to 24, 2021. The platform on robotics and artificial intelligence, newly launched by automatica and the Munich School of Robotics and Machine Intelligence (MSRM) at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), is unique worldwide. Under the motto intelligence empowering tomorrow, the platform provides answers to economically and socially pressing questions such as: How can our work become easier, safer, and more productive with the help of artificial intelligence? How can AI be used today for the major challenges in the fields of health, mobility, and work? The key component of munich_i is a high-tech summit on June 22, 2021, which will take place at the ICM – Internationales Congress Center München. Other elements during the entire duration of the exhibition are the special show AI Society, the elite next-generation competition Robothon® and the "robot driver's license" for communicating the general principles. The munich_i management team consists of Prof. Dr. Alena Buyx and Prof. Dr. Sami Haddadin. Prof. Dr. Buyx is Director of the Institute of History and Ethics of Medicine and holds the Chair of Ethics in Medicine and Health Technologies at TUM. Prof. Dr. Haddadin is Director of MSRM and Chair of Robotics and System Intelligence at TUM.

In addition and parallel to automatica sprint, LASER World of Photonics, the world's leading trade fair for components, systems and applications of photonics, will take place at the exhibition center in Munich from 21st to 24th June. There are attractive synergy effects for the exhibiting companies and visitors to automatica sprint and LASER. While Halls B1-B3 and C1-C3 will be provided for LASER, Halls A1 to A3 are reserved for automatica sprint

The next regular automatica will take place from 21st to 24th  June, 2022.