Dr. Köckler, what has been the response to this year's digital Hannover Messe from exhibitors on the one hand and visitors on the other?
We are experiencing a great deal of interest in the Hannover Messe Digital Edition. Companies are increasingly looking for digital opportunities to launch their new products and solutions on the market. They are relying on us because, as the world's largest industrial trade fair, we are in a position to master these new challenges. We demonstrated this in July 2020 with the Digital Days and we will prove it again in April.

More than 1,300 exhibitors from all over the world are taking part in Hannover Messe Digital Days, which means we have clearly exceeded our target. We are also seeing strong demand for tickets from visitors. However, it is still too early to give any figures at this stage.

Were there any difficulties in convincing companies to participate in the virtual event and how were you able to overcome them?
We made the decision to hold the Hannover Messe Digital Edition together with our exhibitors and partner associations right from the start. We offer market-driven events, and since Hannover Messe cannot currently take place as an in-person event for the reasons we know, we are forced to organize alternative events. With the Hannover Messe Digital Edition, we are offering a platform where visitors can find out about innovations from different sectors across all industries - in a compact format over five days, or on our website before and after the actual trade fair. Our new matchmaking tool in particular offers all participants new opportunities to initiate business contacts.

What are the highlights of this year's event and what should our readers definitely not miss?
The Monday of the fair is all about political discussions. In addition to Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel, Lower Saxony's Minister President Stephan Weil and the Lord Mayor of the City of Hanover, Belit Onay, the Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier and the Federal Minister of Research Anja Karliczek, who will present the Hermes Award in the afternoon, will also be speaking. From Tuesday to Thursday, the focus will be on the core topics of the Hannover Messe. These include the digitalization of industry, the platform economy, artificial intelligence, lightweight construction, cloud solutions, opportunities for industry through climate protection and the energy transition, forecasting in uncertain times and the Silicon Economy. On Friday, Deutsche Messe is organizing the WomenPower career congress, which this year has the motto "Reset.Rethink.Restart.". It will focus on socio-political topics such as AI, equal opportunities and sustainability as well as very specific career topics.