The Forums in the Events Program at IFAT

During the entire show there will be a wealth of panel discussions, seminars, exhibitors presentations as well as Country and Theme Specials. All this will be happening in the forums in Halls A5 and B1.

Country Specials

For many years the "Country Specials" have been a firm feature in the events program at IFAT. This is an opportunity to take a close look at what is happening in selected markets around the world, a chance to review the challenges faced there and weigh up the solutions offered. Up-and-coming markets are presented, as well as established ones. This year India, China and Mexico/Central America will be in the spotlight in three Country Specials organized by Messe München in cooperation with the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection (StMUV). The StMUV is also actively involved in another Country Special, on the future of water and energy management in Canada, in cooperation with the Canadian government and the governments of Québec, Ontario, Alberta and British Colombia, and with the support of the Bavarian Research Alliance. A Country Special on Turkey, organized by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) in cooperation with the German Water Partnership (GWP), will be focusing on the specifics of the Turkish market. GWP is also organizing another Country Special, on India. And, for the first time at IFAT, there will be a dedicated Austrian presentation (in cooperation with Advantage Austria) in the forum program.

Theme Specials

Alongside the focus on individual countries, a range of themes of social and political importance will be considered in depth in dedicated lecture blocks. The StMUV is also taking part here, organizing a Theme Special on recycling phosphorus, featuring short talks given by Dr. Marcel Huber, the Bavarian Minister of the Environment and Consumer Protection, and Professor Dr. Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director of the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS, Potsdam). The Federation of the German Waste, Water and Raw Materials Management Industry (BDE) is putting on panel discussions on waste disposal logistics, waste management and aircraft recycling. The panel discussion on "Conservation of resources by means of closed cycle waste management" is being organized by the BDE in cooperation with the BMUB, the German Association of Local Utilities (VKU) and the Federal Association for Secondary Raw Materials and Waste Management (bvse). And in the two Theme Specials organized by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the topics are "Sustainable water management" and "Best practices from BMBF research funding on raw materials technology". In its Theme Special the VDMA Association for Waste Treatment and Recycling Technology explores the question "High recovery rates – too dearly paid for?" The UN, too, is getting involved in the Theme Specials, putting on for the first time in the events program at IFAT the "UN Water Seminar on Water and Energy".

Intelligent urbanization

With its "intelligent urbanization" concept, Messe München is leveraging the various competences in environmental technology, infrastructure, logistics and ICT from its international events and gathering them together in a dedicated platform. This platform covers the entire spectrum of urbanization, in depth and breadth, and highlights synergies between the different interest groups. In the events program at IFAT this year, the subject of intelligent urbanization is being explored in three theme blocks, looking at the opportunities, challenges and solutions in water, waste and secondary raw materials management as well as at best practices. Among the organizations behind the talks in this forum are the StMUV, the BMUB, GWP, Tongji University in Shanghai, the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) and the Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA).

Attendance at the symposia events and the forums is free of charge to IFAT ticket holders. Simultaneous interpreting (German/English) will be offered at the lectures.

The events program held in the forums in Halls A5 and B1 will be supplemented by many special events in Hall B0 – in the "Think Green – Think Future" Session Areas, in the Internationales Congress Center München – ICM and in the conference rooms. And, for the first time, there will be five live demonstrations on the open-air site.