CEBIT Hannover - Biggest and most important platform for green IT

CeBIT 2010, 2 to 6 March

    * CeBIT Green IT latest episode in success story
    * Cooperation between BITKOM, BMU, UBA and Deutsche Messe
    * Congress highlight: Annual conference with participation of Norbert Röttgen, German Minister for the Environment

CeBIT has established a reputation as the biggest and most important platform for green IT. The trade fair first focused on this subject in 2008 with the launch of the Green IT Village, which was further developed to appear again in 2009 as the Green IT World. Building on its past success the organizers now have created a new event: CeBIT Green IT, which debuts this year on over 2,000 square metres in Hall 8. This event is thus six times bigger than the initial venture. Like its predecessors, it is organized by Deutsche Messe in cooperation with the high-tech industry organization BITKOM and the German Ministry for the Environment.

The aim of CeBIT Green IT is to provide trade visitors with comprehensive information on economically successful green products and business models, as well as affording providers and users an opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences. The focus is on green IT solutions and products covering the whole product cycle - from energy-efficient design and smart infrastructures through to the recycling and remarketing of ICT products.

"In the business segment the important thing is to demonstrate the huge pivotal role of IT in a greener future. The significance of IT in reducing CO² emissions in various industries - for example, through the introduction of intelligent processes or resource efficient IT-controlled production - should not be underestimated. Our industry has found that the demand for this kind of technology has grown again over the past few months", reports Martin Jetter, member of the BITKOM Board. According to Jetter "it is particularly at times of economic crisis that green IT offers companies a great opportunity to reduce costs. However it is not just about saving money. Innovative ICT technology can also help curb climate change related to consumer behaviour. Concrete suggestions about changing behaviour can help us achieve greener ICT applications."

On every day of the trade fair the CeBIT Green IT forum will feature conferences, discussions and talks on "green IT" and the topic of "green through IT". A major recurring theme throughout is the question: "How can ICT be used to optimize efficiency in costs and resources?" The highlight of the Forum is undoubtedly the annual conference of the German Ministry for the Environment, the Federal Environment Agency and BITKOM. The keynote of the event, which opens at 10 a.m. on 5 March, is: "Objective: Green through IT!" The German Minister for the Environment Dr. Norbert Röttgen has already agreed to take part in the event.

At 1.00 p.m. on the first day of CeBIT (2 March) the main conference theme is "Green IT Strategies and Practices for a Sustainable Europe". Speakers will include representatives of the European Commission and Dennis Pamlin from the WWF. The next session - starting at 10 a.m. on 3 March - will focus on ICT applications for electro-mobility and e-Energy.

From 2.30 to 4.30 p.m. on the same day various high-calibre speakers, including Prof. Klaus Töpfer, will take part in a high-level panel discussion. The theme on 4 March starting at 10 a.m. will be "ICT Remarketing & Recycling - Renewed Products for a Renewable Economy". Full program details of the Forum can be found online at www.bitkom.org/de/themen/51051_60694.aspx.

 

- Gabriele Dörries-