Gitex Europe: Launch of the new IT trade fair in Berlin

The first edition of the new IT trade fair Gitex Europe opened in Berlin on Wednesday morning. Companies and start-ups from 80 countries will be exhibiting in six halls under the Berlin Radio Tower until Friday. The focus is on artificial intelligence, digital sovereignty and IT security. The organizers are expecting several 10,000 visitors and want to establish the trade fair in the long term.

“I am very proud and grateful that Gitex has chosen Berlin as its host city,” said Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU), welcoming the trade fair “to the city where Gitex has found a small and hopefully long-term home”.

A start-up called the Digital Ministry

Thomas Jarzombek (CDU), newly appointed State Secretary in the new Ministry for Digital and State Modernization (BMDS), clearly feels at home among start-ups. “We talk a lot about start-ups here, and we are actually building one right now,” said Jarzombek, referring to his ministry. “There are a lot of talented people there who are really keen.”

Exhibitors and visitors are clearly also keen on a new IT trade fair. Halls 1 to 6 at the Berlin Exhibition Center are well booked, with numerous visitors streaming through the entrances at the opening. The audience is international. In addition to German heavyweights such as Ionos, global giants such as IBM and AWS are among the exhibitors – Over 1400 companies are taking part, according to the organizers. Around 500 experts will provide the accompanying program with numerous keynotes and panel discussions.

AI, AI, AI

The prominent theme of the first Gitex Europe is artificial intelligence. France's AI Minister Clara Chappaz praised the Franco-German cooperation at the opening event. “France and Germany have a unique opportunity to create innovations together,” said Chappaz. In this way, Europe could become a “powerhouse”. In Berlin, Chappaz will also meet with the new Digital Minister, Karsten Wildberger, who wants to make Germany the “driving force of Europe”.

Gitex has been held in Dubai since 1981, initially as a traditional IT trade fair for the Middle East and Asia. Since then, the event has grown steadily; in October 2024, the five-day trade fair attracted over 200,000 visitors. With its numerous offshoots, Gitex aims to provide a platform for new technologies, start-ups and investors. “Gitex has always been a place where people come together,” said Alia al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship of the United Arab Emirates, in Berlin on Wednesday.

For the first Gitex Europe, the organizers from Dubai have joined forces with the state of Berlin. Both partners are investing an amount in the low single-digit millions. They want to establish the trade fair as a permanent fixture in the capital and are expecting several 10,000 visitors. “In perhaps two or three years, we want to be the largest tech trade fair in Europe,” says trade fair director Trixie LohMirmand, setting the ambitious goal.

(vbr)