The world’s leading exhibition for AV and systems integration makes its debut at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Vía in June. February sees online visitor registration open for Integrated Systems Europe 2021. It comes at a time of high anticipation by an industry that is keen to ‘get back to work’ in the second half of the year.
As ever the primary focus for ISE 2021 will be a show floor featuring the world’s leading providers of AV technology and solutions. The spacious halls of the Fira Gran Vía will host nine dedicated Technology Zones, two making their debut. This will be complemented by four days of inspiring industry-leading content, world class keynote speakers, professional development programmes, conferences and a suite of new audio demo rooms.
Throughout the show’s duration, there will also be an online hybrid accompaniment to the physical event featuring news, analysis and networking opportunities. More details on this initiative will be announced in the coming weeks.
With the backdrop of the global pandemic ISE’s priority in recent months has been devising the means to deliver a safe and secure event for all exhibitors and visitors. To make this possible ISE and co-owners AVIXA and CEDIA have been working in close participation with the City of Barcelona, the venue and relevant authorities.
‘Safe Travels’
In early January this year, Fira de Barcelona announced that it has received the ‘Safe Travels’ stamp for its protocol against the transmission of COVID-19. This means that the prevention and safety protocol against COVID-19 developed by Fira de Barcelona for its venues and events has merited the internationally recognised endorsement from the World Travel Tourism Council (WTTC). The set of measures put in place has been developed in collaboration with the specialist risk management consultancy Aon and the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona.
ISE has just published A Guide to Safe Visiting, an 8-page document outlining the safe practice protocols that have been put in place with the Fira Gran Vía to ensure that the visitor experience is safe and secure. The guide can be located on the ISE website.
Looking confidently ahead to the show, Integrated Systems Events Managing Director Mike Blackman commented: “We are delighted that 81% of our top 100 customers are confirmed and will be bringing the latest AV technologies and innovations to Barcelona. Today, over 40,000 sqm of space is signed up with over 700 exhibitors confirmed. New companies are continuing to book their place on the floorplan. We know from feedback from our surveys, the industry cannot wait to get back to ISE and we look forward to welcoming them. It’s time to connect and get back to business.”
Dave Labuskes, AVIXA CEO, concurs: “The annual calendar of trade shows provides a rhythm and cadence to our ever-changing and advancing industry. As individuals move in and out of roles within the industry, these shows have always provided a touchpoint that allows us to reconnect with the people we do business with. I am certain that all of our past and future attendees are anxious to meet again in person soon, and the research reinforces that emotion. The incalculable value of ISE to the exhibitors as a platform for engagement and thought leadership and to the attendees as a community from which to learn and grow compels us to do everything in our power to ensure that there will be a safe return of ISE in 2021 and an exciting debut in Barcelona.”
Giles Sutton, joint CEO of CEDIA concludes: “In our industry, the experience is everything. Home technology products need to be touched, seen and heard if integrators are to recommend and specify them on projects for their customers. More than that, our industry is a community that benefits from meeting, talking and build relationships with others as well as the opportunity to learn from experts at in-person training.”
ISE 2021 Highlights
Hola Barcelona!
ISE 2021 will take place in one of Europe’s most vibrant, cultural and beautiful cities. It will benefit from the early summer month’s weather in an easy to navigate venue. This makes it an attractive destination for exhibitors and attendees. Once again, KNX will be the event’s Presenting Show Partner.
Technology Zones:
With plenty of space and no restrictions on stand size ISE 2021 will feature nine Technology Zones, all designed to help visitors easily find the exhibitors most relevant to their interests.
- Audio: Firmly established as the key destination for professionals looking to find out about the latest audio innovations, whether around signal processing and transport, immersive spatial audio or the cutting edge of loudspeaker and console design
- NEW: Broadcast and Content Creation: ISE has presented solutions for broadcast and content creation for use in permanent installations and in live events for several years. The dedicated zone will showcase integrated solutions including cameras, microphones, audio consoles, production switchers, intercoms, video interfaces, processors and KVM switches
- Digital Signage and DooH: This zone will showcase a broad range of technologies for advertising and information delivery solutions for the retail, transportation, healthcare, corporate, education, leisure, and hospitality sectors
- Education Technology: This zone is for educational institutions, businesses, private tutors and professional development specialists. ISE will provide a shop window to the latest technology derived educational tools and solutions
- NEW: Live Events: The zone will present solutions for small, temporary venues right up to major stadium events. The new area will showcase lighting and lighting control, rigging and staging equipment, motion tracking and holography
- Residential: Highlighting the latest developments in the connected home as well as home entertainment and energy management
- Smart Buildings: This zone features a wide array of integrated solutions for the control of air conditioning, lighting and shutter control, security systems, heating, ventilation, monitoring and alarming
- Unified Communications: This zone delivers innovative new platforms designed to facilitate collaborative working and enhanced productivity across sites and countries
- VR/AR/XR Zone: Showcasing new and established providers of these transformational, experiential solutions gaining wider use by the day
Audio Demo Rooms
ISE 2021 will see the premiere of a suite of high-quality audio demo rooms, which will be operating throughout the exhibition’s duration. These will be set in the Filmax Cinema complex just 200 metres from the Fira. This location ensures the best of audio environment to hear and experience the latest audio innovations from a range of leading exhibitors in rooms that can seat up to 400 visitors.
TNW
A new initiative for ISE is a collaboration with The Next Web (TNW), a future-proof tech media company owned by the Financial Times, which focuses on sharing, inventing and advancing tech developments through a wide range of physical and online events. ISE has been working with TNW since 2020 to produce its monthly RISE Spotlight webinars. At ISE 2021 TNW will be delivering keynote speakers and cutting-edge content showcasing new technology, startups and business development.
Pavilions
The Catalonia Pavilion in Hall 4 (produced by ACCIÓ, the Catalonian business development agency) will feature 30 local companies showcasing local and regional AV innovators and service companies. Plus, there will be a dedicated visitor networking programme.
ISE Conference programme
ISE 2021’s conference will run from Tuesday to Friday. It will cover areas such as Digital Signage, Smart Buildings, XR and Control Rooms. New for 2021 will be three ISE additional conferences focusing on Broadcast/Content Creation, Digital Learning and Workplace Evolution. Attendees can expect a packed roster of cutting-edge content delivered by some of the world’s leading experts and thought leaders. TNW will be augmenting the conference content themes by delivering four days of keynotes and daily showcases of innovative startups.
ISE 2021 will also see the return of the CEDIA Design & Build Conference, targeted at architects, interior designers and other design and build professionals in the residential space. CEDIA will also be running its popular professional development training programme throughout the show.
A new conference also joins the programme, the result of a new partnership: the Superyacht Technology Conference is dedicated to superyacht technology. It will run over two days and encompass 20 speakers, 400 delegates, workshops and demos, an Awards ceremony and after-party.
Also making eagerly anticipated returns are the AudioForum from Connessioni, attractionsTECH hosted by blooloop, covering the visitor attractions market sector and AGORA, a conference from stadium-focused live events magazine MONDO | STADIA, which will explore the growing importance of stadiums as a key market for AV integration professionals.
AV Experience Zone
The AV Experience Zone is a new three-day initiative produced in association with AVIXA that will see Spanish integrators and end users attend specially curated Spanish language presentations and show floor tours focusing on Corporate/Hospitality, Retail and Education.
Startup Innovation Zone
New for 2021 will be a dedicated show floor feature area showcasing cutting edge startup businesses, particularly focused on the local region. This will be produced in association with TNW and ACCIÓ.
AV Career Day
ISE, AVIXA and CEDIA will join forces once again to host the popular initiative that sees higher education students visit the show for a day of talks, tech tours and networking.
Inavation Awards
I
navate magazine will once again be hosting its prestigious Inavation Awards ceremony on the first night of the show. Taking place for the first time at the Museu d’Art de Catalunya, it will celebrate achievements of integrators and technology managers across the breadth of the global AV industry.
Why the industry is looking forward to ISE
During the challenging times of the past nine months the importance of ISE to the global AV and systems integration business has never been more apparent. Many exhibitors and attendees view the show as the catalyst for the business year ahead. Here’s what some of them have recently had to say about the relevance and importance of ISE 2021:
“2020 has been an uncertain year for our industry and we look forward to returning to some kind of normality for 2021. We are excited to attend ISE and have the opportunity to meet our customers face-to-face again.” Michelle Downey, Marketing Director EMEA, HARMAN
“Our industry is one of the largest economic sectors. In addition to commercial events, events in the business environment are essential for the success of the economy. Only in an emotional, experience-oriented environment we can succeed in developing and fostering customer relationships through face-to-face communication. Positive emotional experiences, through the use of AV technology, promote socio-cultural development and also the connection of people of different cultures and countries. The language of emotion is international. For this experience there is no digital alternative with a similar effect. Of course, health and safety come first, but an event like ISE is highly professionally organised and well planned, which means that risks can be avoided, and protective arrangements can be implemented with the highest precision. We are looking forward to ISE 2021 in Barcelona and we are 100% committed.” Eva Claudi, CEO, Lang-Iberia
“So, ISE 2021 in Barcelona – I can’t wait – this is the most important and the most anticipated ISE ever. And it makes me think of two words; one is community, the AV community and two is the word critical. We have become critical to so many aspects of life – if you think of education, telemedicine, how an enterprise is being able to operate, people being able to work from home. even personal lives, looking at quiz nights, virtual dinner parties, keeping connected with friends and family over video. We’ve just become absolutely so important to how people work every day. So, when I go to ISE I’m expecting to really grasp that critical nature of our business.” Jon Sidwick, Chairman, AVIXA; MD, Collabtech
“The show will give a great visibility to our business and will make the heads of the IT departments to finally know the AV industry. When customers get inside ISE and see the volume of the show and everything that moves around it, they will realise the size of this industry, something that they cannot even imagine”. Aristeo López, General Director, Tower TBA
“Since the show will be on all the (Spanish) national news programmes and that enormous visibility will generate great opportunities for Spanish AV companies.” Alberto Cáceres, CEO, Trisón
And finally
Over the coming weeks new initiatives and features will be announced as we work towards the debut of ISE in Barcelona. What a journey it has been so far. Please join us…
Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2021 will take place at the Fira de Barcelona, Gran Vía, on 1-4 June 2021. For more information, please visit www.iseurope.org.
