Security Essen 2018 Focuses on Digitalization and Networking

This year's edition of the global fair for civil security will focus on innovative, digital subjects more strongly than ever before. The Advisory Board for Security Essen was recently able see confirmation of this as the fair management presented the realignment of the fair, the renting level and the comprehensive supporting program to them. The unanimous tenor: the experts — including managing directors of renowned companies in the security sector as well as associations — see Security Essen 2018 as being optimally positioned. Due to advancing digitalization, cyber crime is regarded as one of the greatest dangers in the 21st century — opportunities to transfer knowledge and to exchange experience are becoming all the more important.

Security Essen from September 25 to 28 will take place in the modernized halls at Messe Essen for the first time and this has made a complete restructuring of the fair possible. The event will be divided into six subject areas, giving optimum orientation for exhibitors and placing of trade visitors. "Because the Cyber Security and Economic Security areas are becoming ever stronger, we have deliberately decided to give them their own hall in a prominent place at the East entrance to the fair site," said Oliver P. Kuhrt, CEO of Messe Essen.

The refocusing will be accompanied by a new, attention-grabbing supporting program. For example, the Federal Office for Information Security and the Federal Association for Security Technology will stage the Cyber Security Conference, which will be tailored to users and be convenient and quick to reach within the fair. And the Discussion Circle on Internal Security will take place with participants from the police, sciences, judiciary and politics, as well as from local authorities and the security industry. Some exhibitors will also design a large special show area in Hall 8 entitled "The Public Security Forum" in which live scenarios for the protection of public spaces will be shown.

The realignment is proving Security Essen right: the booking rate is already above the high level of the preceding event. The Fair Advisory Board showed that it was very satisfied with this development. Norbert Schaaf, Chairman of the Advisory Board and simultaneously also the Chairman of the Board of BHE Federal Association for Security Technology commented: "We are expressly supporting the new positioning of Security Essen. The strict hall allocation, the stronger alignment to future subjects and the sector-specific supporting program will make the fair the meeting place for decision takers from all fields of security in 2018." This realignment is also reflected in the line-up of the Fair Advisory Board itself. For the first time in its history, Security Essen has appointed not only representatives of associations but also entrepreneurs to this body. "In this way, we are moving much closer to the industry. It is important to us to constantly be in close and direct dialogue and thus be able to accommodate the wishes of our exhibitors and visitors even better and quicker," said Oliver P. Kuhrt, CEO of Messe Essen.