For the first time in its 73-year history, Hannover Messe has been cancelled.
The global coronavirus and its impact on industry and travel forced Deutsche Messe, owners of the annual trade event in Hannover, Germany to defer the event to April 12-16, 2021.
“Given the dynamic development around COVID-19 and the extensive restrictions on public and economic life, Hannover Messe cannot take place this year,” said Dr. Jochen Köckler, Chairman of the Board of Management, Deutsche Messe AG. “Our exhibitors, partners and our entire team did everything they could to make it happen, but today we have to accept that in 2020 it will not be possible to host the world’s most important industrial event.”
A ban on large gatherings in the Lower Saxony region of Germany was one major factor, as was a sharp decline in industrial activity around the world. In the press release announcing the cancellation, Deutsch Messe officials noted “demand and sales in German industry are declining, resulting in supply bottlenecks, production stops and reduced working hours for employees.”
Hannover Messe officials are working to create an online platform to help deliver technology solutions, enhanced product information and interviews with key industry leaders.
As noted above, this is the first time in Hannover Messe’s 73-year history that the event will not take place. “The need for orientation and exchange is particularly important in times of crisis,” said Köckler. “That is why we are currently working intensely on a digital information and networking platform for Hannover Messe that we will open to our customers shortly.”
The online exhibitor and product search is also being enhanced, for example, with a function that enables visitors and exhibitors to contact each other directly.
“We firmly believe that nothing can replace direct, person-to-person contact and we are already looking forward to the time after Corona,” says Köckler. “But especially in times of crisis, we must be flexible and act pragmatically. As organizers of the world’s most important industrial trade fair, we want to offer orientation and sustain economic life during the crisis. We are doing that with our new digital offering.”