IdeenExpo opening press conference

Fun with natural sciences and technology
The Salzgitter Group actively participates with ideas, people and interactive exhibits

The largest and most exciting classroom in the world will open its doors again from July 4-12, 2015: IdeenExpo in Hanover. The concept has now been presented at an opening press conference in Hanover.

Once again, Salzgitter AG will feature as one of its major exhibitors and promoters, supporting IdeenExpo in the role of premium sponsor and participating with creative ideas, workshops and numerous members of staff.

Salzgitter AG views IdeeExpo as an excellent communication platform "for inspiring children and young people for technology and natural sciences by involving them directly and for presenting steel to them as a fascinating material with exciting application potential," as Beate Brandes, Head of Personnel at Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH, explained. "IdeenExpo ideally compliments and reinforces our long-standing activities to awaken the interest of school children for careers in natural sciences and technology.” 

The commitment is also part of Salzgitter AG's regional responsibility as an international corporation headquartered in Lower Saxony. 

"High Five For the Future" is the IdeenExpo's slogan. The slogan is doubly well-suited to be Germany's largest natural sciences and technology event for young people: On the one hand, this year will be the fifth time that IdeenExpo takes place and, on the other, the slogan stands for an optimistic look to the future and draws attention to the fact that skilled professionals and experts have the best prospects in the labor market.

The fifth IdeenExpo also centers around aspirations, interaction and fun. The event, one of its kind in Germany, is supported by the Federal State of Lower Saxony, as well as by numerous partners from the world of commerce, science and the media. "We are proud that IdeenExpo takes place here with us in Lower Saxony", declared Stephan Weil, Lower Saxony's Minister President, at the opening press conference. "Against the backdrop of demographic change, Lower Saxony in particular depends on sparking the enthusiasm of young people for careers in natural sciences and technology. I am all the more delighted at the renewed and successful cooperation between business, science and politics. IdeenExpo will help us to win tomorrow's experts and specialists.“

"IdeenExpo 2015 is set to grow: we are enlarging the exhibition space to encompass around 100,000 square meters in total", explained Dr. Volker Schmidt, Chairman of IdeenExpo's Supervisory Board. Whereas the 2013 event was held in Hall 9 and the outside area, it will now be extended to include Halls 7 and 8, with the main intention of shortening waiting times: "The centerpiece of IdeenExpo was and is the interactive exhibits. If you are looking for inspiration through science and technology you need time and the space to try the exhibits out in peace and quiet. We reached our capacity limits here in 2013."

High-profile companies with global operations, such as Volkswagen, Autostadt, Salzgitter AG, ZF Friedrichshafen and Deutsche Telekom, have all committed once more to IdeenExpo in 2015. In 2013, virtually every second person of the 342,000 visitors did not come from Lower Saxony but traveled from elsewhere in Germany. The steadily rising importance of IdeenExpo is reflected by the roadshow: The tour begins in Berlin in the spring, with more than 150 stops planned in all federal states.

Captions:
Start to IdeenExpo (from l.): Oliver Ihn, IdeenExpo Ambassador; Olaf Brandes, IdeenExpo general manager; Minister President Stephan Weil; Dr. Maria Schrader, Autostadt; Prof. Dr. Jürgen Leohold, Volkswagen; Dr. Volker Schmidt, Chairman of IdeenExpo's Supervisory Board; Beate Brandes, Salzgitter Flachstahl; Andrea Henning, ZF Sachs; Carmen Fricke, IdeenExpo Ambassador 

IdeenExpo Ambassador Carmen Fricke (r.) with “Salzgitter Sunflower” presented to her by Beate Brandes, Head of Personnel at Salzgitter Flachstahl.