“Global Summit of Innovations“: ACHEMA Opens in Frankfurt

With 3,813 exhibitors and about 133,000 m² exhibition space ACHEMA has opened today in Frankfurt. For the first time, the majority – 53,9 % of the exhibitors – come from abroad. The biggest groups behind Germany come from China and Italy. Until Friday, the organizers expect about 167,000 participants from more than 100 countries at the “global summit of innovations” where exhibitors from 56 countries present new products and technologies for the chemical, pharma and food industry.

Innovation was the leading tune of the opening day. Prof. Dr. Stefan Hell, who is not only the current Nobel Prize Winner, but also a successful founder, gave the keynote speech.

During the Opening Session, the ACHEMA Start-Up Award was awarded for the first time to three young start-up companies.

Jürgen Nowicki, Chairman of the ACHEMA Committee, said during the opening press conference: “Significantly increased internationality and slightly increased exhibitor numbers give prove to the fact that ACHEMA is on track and has once more confirmed, or even strengthened its position as the world’s leading trade show for the process industries.”

Prof. Dr. Rainer Diercks, Chairman of the Board of DECHEMA e.V., named ACHEMA “the global summit of innovation”. Being interdisciplinary and highly international, according to him ACHEMA is a “melting pot of ideas”. Diercks also pointed out that the contribution of chemistry and process engineering to the solution of global challenges such as water supply, food or health is not well-known to the general public. ACHEMA therefore aims increasingly to enter into a dialogue with the public.

The General Manager of the German Association of Chemical Industries Dr. Utz Tillmann emphasized the importance of the innovation association of automotive engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and chemical engineering for Germany as an innovation centre. those who want to move forward in a sustainable, long-term fashion cannot afford to ignore innovation. He demanded “more political backing for innovation“.

The importance of the chemical industry for overall innovation should be brought much more strongly to the attention of the general public. All speakers in the panel warned that Germany and Europe could fall back as places for innovation if the political and societal framework was not improved.