Deutsche Messe is organizing Twenty2X, a new trade fair for IT and digitalization, in Hanover from 17 to 19 March 2020. It is intended to once again "offer the SME IT landscape a commercially viable platform". "Our goal is to support small and medium-sized companies in particular with digitalization in order to make them fit for the future and strengthen them in their respective competitive environment," says Andreas Gruchow, Member of the Executive Board of Deutsche Messe AG. "With the new B2B event Twenty2X, we are offering SMEs exactly what they need to position themselves well for the coming years: concrete solutions, modern technologies, best practices and thus a solid basis for decision-making." The new trade fair is primarily aimed at small and medium-sized companies, their managing directors and IT decision-makers as well as start-ups, IT experts and consultants.

Partners of Twenty2X are the associations Bundesverband IT-Mittelstand, eco - Verband der Internetwirtschaft, Voice - Bundesverband der IT-Anwender and the Bundesverband Deutsche Startups (BVDS). "The digitalization of SMEs is the fate of the German economy. As the backbone of the economy, SMEs ensure our prosperity and success today, and the success of digitalization will determine whether this still applies in 20 years' time," explains Oliver Grün, President of the German Association of IT SMEs (BITMI). "For this reason, a central digital trade fair that focuses on SMEs is essential in Germany." Accordingly, the end of 'Cebit' would have caused much regret and led to calls for a new strong platform for networking the IT sector with all user industries. "We are therefore very pleased to be a partner of Messe AG in launching the new digital trade fair 'Twenty2X'."

Focus on three sectors

After Deutsche Messe announced at the end of 2018 that Cebit would no longer take place next year, Twenty2X will take over the legacy of what was once the world's largest IT trade fair almost two years later. The major overlaps between the two events can be seen not only in the date and venue, but also in the focus of the content. The new digital trade fair will deal with all topics relating to digital transformation in the SME sector and will be divided into the areas of Business Management, Security Solutions, New Tech and New Work.

In addition to the exhibition areas, the key digital technologies for SMEs will be addressed and discussed on several stages, according to the organizers. The focus will be on three user industries: Public Administration, Future Mobility and Financial Services.