Dancing robots, emotional speeches and a friendly “rivalry” between US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel: HANNOVER MESSE 2016 began on Sunday evening with a high-caliber opening ceremony.
Hannover – Sunday, 24 April 2016: The Opening Ceremony HANNOVER MESSE took place at the Hannover Congress Center (HCC). Barack Obama, President of the United States joined German Chancellor Angela Merkel to open HANNOVER MESSE 2016.
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Obama also promoted the USA as a production location for European companies. Angela Merkel gladly took the opportunity to respond:
“We love competition. But we also like to win,”
A challenge with a smile. In her speech, Merkel emphasized that cooperation is essential for the future of industrial production – in a transatlantic partnership. “We in the EU want to lead the way, together with the USA,” said the Chancellor, referring above all to the development of global communication and IT standards for integrated industry.
Focus on integrated innovations
However, the opening ceremony at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 was more than a meeting of Heads of State. Amidst musical numbers and dance performances by humans and machines, German Minister for Education and Research, Prof. Dr. Johanna Wanka, presented the coveted HERMES AWARD for industrial innovation. This year’s winner is the Harting Group with its intelligent communication module, MICA .
Michael Ziesemer, President of the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association, emphasized HANNOVER MESSE’s pioneering role in industry worldwide. “We are seeing an industry that is now characterized by cross-sector networking more than ever before.” The many large and small companies in the exhibition center will show what that means in practice in the days to come – based on specific applications. Ziesemer also believes it is critical that USA and Germany work together going forward. He sees outstanding synergies in the USA’s IT expertise and Germany’s experience in industrial processes and intelligent machines. What the two countries now have to do, he adds, is to answer social questions, for example on the future of work and data security: “We will only be able to harness the potential offered by the digital world if we succeed in building trust.”
Visitors to HANNOVER MESSE 2016, which will be open until April 29, can learn all about innovations in integrated industry. Over 5,200 exhibitors from 75 countries have registered for the most important industrial trade fair worldwide.
