World's largest ICT expo

End-of-show report for CeBIT 2008 (4 to 9 March 2008)

The relaunch of CeBIT was a success: "The new CeBIT format has succeeded across the board, drawing an enthusiastic response from visitors and exhibitors alike," declared Ernst Raue, Managing Board member at Deutsche Messe, at the close of this flagship IT show. "This six-day event has generated a fresh sense of optimism and a premonition of great things ahead in the global IT industry," he added. CeBIT 2008 had revealed a return to the days of euphoria about new technologies and solutions, he asserted, adding that the new CeBIT had again raised the bar: "This show has managed to maintain its momentum throughout. We had a fantastic opening ceremony featuring heads of state and visionaries, which was followed by a charity run attracting over 1,300 participants at the midway point, plus a great weekend to cap it off," he stated.

As Raue sees it: We have delivered on our promise: The revamped CeBIT has asserted itself with a distinct profile, a clear-cut thematic makeup and substantially more content. The past six days in Hannover have sent some very clear signals," he explained, adding that the "Green IT" sector at CeBIT had given the international industry its first platform for dealing with this critical social challenge: "The exhibitors at CeBIT have shown the ICT industry is aware of its responsibilities in this area, and is addressing the issue with a highly innovative approach," he stated.

VIPs from research and industry as well as government figures used CeBIT 2008 to debate and promote issues of core importance to the information society.

The 5,845 exhibitors from 77 countries reported they were leaving Hannover with bulging order books. Despite the shorter run of the new show (six days versus the previous seven), attendance was up three percent over the previous year, totaling 495,000. Visitors from abroad accounted for one out of five attendees - a total of over 100,000, with the Americas accounting for a particularly big increase. The next CeBIT will be staged from March 3rd to 8th, 2009 (Tuesday through Sunday).