IFA Berlin 2023 Day One: Innovation takes centre stage at IFA

Technology is once again taking centre stage in Berlin as brands, trade visitors and consumers from around the world are packing the halls of IFA 2023.

More than 2,050 exhibitors from 48 countries are showcasing their latest innovation in 26 Halls and across 130,000 square metres. However, it was not just the halls that were packed. Visitors also thronged IFA Outdoors, a place to meet, reflect or sample street food, which is located in IFA’s famous Sommergarten.

This year’s opening keynotes were presented by two Chinese companies: HONOR and Hisense. Promising to “unfold tomorrow”, HONOR unveiled the HONOR Magic v2 – the world’s slimmest and lightest foldable phone, with a battery life that outpaces most premium “bar phones”. George Zhao, the Chief Executive Officer of HONOR, also showed off a concept device, the HONOR V Purse. Also a foldable phone – promising to be even slimmer than the Magic v2 – the Purse has its foldable screen on the outside and can be customised with a range of fashionable straps. Clasped shut, the Purse looks and feels like a purse, but the screen can be set to show any kind of image – whether that’s to reflect the mood of the wearer or to transform the phone into the perfect accessory for the wearer’s outfit.

Hisense, meanwhile, explained its innovation philosophy of scenario-driven solutions. Consumers expect their devices to be intelligent and integrated with each other. Fisher Yu, the President of Hisense, said Artificial Intelligence would transform how humans interact with machines and predicted that screens – from the TV itself all the way to screens on fridges or washing machines – would become key user interfaces. Joined on screen by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, Mr Yu also announced that Hisense will be an official partner of UEFA’s Euro 2024 football championship.

After the Hisense keynote, it was time for the very first IFA Leaders Summit to kick off. On Friday and Saturday, industry leaders will discuss key industry issues like innovation, artificial intelligence and sustainability. Among Friday’s speakers were Chris Miller, author of the Financial Times business book of the Year “Chip Wars”, and Jordi Maxim van den Bussche (better known by his online handle Kwebbelkop), who is using AI as a content creator.

On Saturday, the IFA Leaders Summit will tackle many sustainability topics like energy efficiency, the circular economy and innovation with impact. Influencer and investor Diana zur Löwen will discuss ‘the anatomy of disruption’.

Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner also visited the IFA halls. Speaking in the innovation hub IFA NEXT – where more than 350 start-ups have their stands – he said that IFA was as much a part of Berlin as the “Funkturm” (the iconic broadcasting tower) was a part of the exhibition grounds.

Philipp Maurer, the chairman of industry organisation gfu – who own the IFA trademark – said that IFA once again showed its value “as a driver of innovation and economic growth”.

IFA Berlin 2023 will be open until Tuesday, 5 September. Visitors will find most of the industry’s big names in the exhibition halls, like AEG/Electrolux, Beko/Grundig, Bosch, Fitbit, Haier, Hama, Hisense, Honor, Jura, Kärcher, LG Electronics, Liebherr, Loewe, Metz, Miele, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Siemens, TCL, Thomson and Vestel. Famous names like SpaceX and Tesla will also exhibit in Berlin for the first time.

NOTES FOR EDITORS
IFA 2023 will take place from 1-5 September at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds (Messedamm 22, 14055 Berlin). Tickets are available online in the ticket shop at www.ifa-berlin.de.

IFA Management GmbH is a joint venture of gfu Consumer & Home Electronics GmbH (owner of the IFA trademark rights) and Clarion Events Ltd, which is responsible for organising IFA in Berlin.