Not only German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Brazilian President Lula da Silva, but also Roland Busch (Siemens), Christian Klein (SAP), German Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche and Boris Pistorius, the Germany’s Minister of Defense, were present. International politicians from Canada’s Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly to Stéphane Séjourné from the European Commission also visited the show.
Dr. Gunther Kegel, President of the ZVEI
“The new HANNOVER MESSE concept is a success. The Center Stage was especially well received. This strengthens our profile as a place for high-level exchange, particularly with politicians. HANNOVER MESSE sends an unmistakable signal in terms of content: we urgently need rapid deregulation so that we can assert ourselves as a location amid international competition, especially in the field of industrial AI. Companies have impressively demonstrated the potential of the technology. Now Berlin and Brussels need to eliminate barriers to progress.”
Thilo Brodtmann, Managing Director of the VDMA
“HANNOVER MESSE and the companies from the machine and plant building sector strikingly demonstrated that they are meeting the challenges of a world characterized by multiple crises. Digitalization of our industry is progressing at a rapid pace, while AI and humanoid robotics represented the defining themes at this trade fair. Industrial SMEs want to supply technologies that will keep us internationally competitive in the future, and they can do it too. Politicians in Berlin and Brussels must contribute to this urgently. We need the far-reaching reforms that have been promised. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche have made corresponding announcements here at the trade fair, and they will be judged on them.”
Center Stage @ HM26
Over 170 speakers, around 100 sessions, and 2,190 minutes of live program.
Voices from the Industry
What key influencers and stakeholders are saying about the HANNOVER MESSE 2026.
+++ Schaeffler wins the 2026 HERMES AWARD Read more »
+++ HERMES Startup AWARD 2026 goes to Swiss startup BTRY Read more »
+++ The Engineer Woman Award 2026 goes to the Aerospace Engineer Annemarie Lohse Read more »
+++ Young Engineer Woman Award goes to Robotics Engineer Norah Kimathi Read more »
