Hannover Messe 2011, the world’s leading showcase for industrial technology, will see experts discuss key innovations for urban infrastructure and unveil technologies geared to tomorrow’s cities.

The annual expo, to be held from April 4 to 8 in Hannover, Germany, will feature a new display category focusing on innovations for urban infrastructure and cities: “Metropolitan Solutions.”

'The sustained growth of cities all over the globe is placing increased pressure on urban infrastructure. Numerous technologies already exist that can bring about significant improvements in lives of city-dwellers,” says Dr Wolfram von Fritsch, chairman of the Board of Management at Deutsche Messe.

“In its role as the world’s most important platform for industrial innovations and technologies, Hannover Messe 2011 will present relevant solutions within the framework of a new, dedicated display category.”

Climate change, dwindling natural resources, population growth and urbanization are posing an increasing challenge to cities all over the world – above all, with regard to the energy, water, mobility and building infrastructure.

According to the United Nations Organization, six billion people – two thirds of the world population – will be living in cities by 2050.

The so-called megacities in Asia (those with populations in excess of 10 million) will experience particularly strong growth. In China, for example, it is expected that at least 60 per cent of the population will live in cities by 2030.

In Europe as well, rban modernization and maintenance will play a crucially important role.

'Metropolitan Solutions' will be staged in Hall 8 at Hannover Messe 2011. The existing flagship fairs Industrial Automation, Energy, Wind, Power Plant Technology and MobiliTec already centre on innovations in the area of automation, energy and mobility.

Metropolitan Solutions will blend in perfectly with this existing line-up. It will create an international platform where enterprises can demonstrate forward-looking models in the area of energy, water, mobility and building infrastructure.

The exhibition will include various reference projects featuring (for example) smart power grids, large-scale charging networks, energy-efficient building concepts, and innovative methods for drinking-water production.

The exhibits will be augmented by a high-profile forum at which experts from all over the world will present reference projects and describe the interplay between various technologies.

“It is the ideal forum for discussing the key future questions relating to urbanization,” says Oliver Frese, the senior vice president responsible for Hannover Messe at Deutsche Messe.

“Only a truly international event such as this can generate the necessary impetus for tackling the technological and social challenges confronting urban centres,” he pointed out.

Alongside technological aspects, Metropolitan Solutions will also deal with the financing of infrastructure projects. Hannover Messe stands out by virtue of its international content and diverse spectrum of industries.

Every year visitors and more than 100 high-ranking delegations from the political and business communities come to Hannover in order to tune in to the latest trends and solutions.

Running from April 4 to 8, a total of 13 flagship fairs will present a complete cross-section of industrial technology – ranging from industrial automation, power transmission and component supply to energy and R&D, said Frese.-TradeArabia News Service