With AI, IoT, Smart Embedded Tech, ChatGPT, and many more being the buzzwords, who doesn’t want to know about the latest innovations in the technology space. India’s largest technology and infrastructure expo – Convergence India – is where one can know about the latest innovations and technological advancements happening that will shape up the future. In its 30th edition, Converge India, will be witnessing a mega participation from more than 1000 companies from over 40 countries. Besides multi-national brands and stratups, the expo sees participation from key stakeholders such as government departments and public sector undertakings. We had the opportunity to interact with Ms. Chandrika Behl, MD, Exhibitions India Group, who shared insights and key attractions of the Convergence India 2023 expo and its co-located expos.
Here’s an excerpt from the interaction.
When was the Exhibitions India Group founded and the Convergence India and Smart Cities India expos launched?
Exhibitions India Group (EIG) was founded in 1987 as a premier trade promotion organisation that would act as a bridge between the government, industry, media and academia, among others. The group promotes trade, fosters investments, and facilitates joint ventures and technology transfers by providing networking opportunities through international business-to-business exhibitions and conferences.
Convergence India was one of the first international events launched by the company in 1992. At that time, the Information; Communication Technology, IT/ITeS, IoT and telecom sectors in the country were still in a nascent stage. Since then, technological advancements have changed the manufacturing landscape and the market conditions across these industries. And Convergence India has been leading the digital revolution from the forefront. The Smart Cities India expo was launched alongside the Government of India’s landmark Smart Cities Mission (SCM) in 2015 to help fulfil the vision of creating sustainable and modern cities in India.
Over the years, Exhibitions India has introduced other world-class expos. However, Convergence India and Smart Cities India have emerged as the leading platforms for all the target industries. Not only have the number of participants increased but new segments promoting emerging technologies have been introduced. Notably, we have become the one-stop destination for private players to connect with government bodies and representatives.
How has your experience been in simultaneously hosting the two shows of this scale?
When both the events were launched, most of the technologies being promoted were unknown to industries. However, we have made it a point to continue evolving with the times to work in tandem with government agendas and targets and showcase the best technological advancements from across the globe to the industry.
With time, Convergence India and Smart Cities India have become a hub for future technologies, innovation and everything that is ‘smart’ and ‘sustainable’. We have consistently aligned our agendas to promote the digitisation of industries and to create a robust ecosystem for the growth of our cities and economy. Since both expos share a similar vision, it was natural to get them together on a shared platform. This allowed greater exposure to the participants and opened new markets for them. Together, the two expos create a competitive environment for the associated sectors to network and expand business opportunities, build new relationships, explore new technologies, and reach out to sector experts and mentors.
What is special about your shows and how are they different from competition?
All our events are driven by a desire to contribute towards India’s growth story. The expos draw inspiration from initiatives such as Make in India, Digital India, Start-up India, and the Smart Cities Mission to create an environment conducive for fulfilling the vision of these initiatives. For example, when Convergence India was launched, the IT/ICT and IoT sectors in India were barely recognisable. Today we are ranked third worldwide with over 600,000 cloud experts across all verticals, including technology. The expo has played a crucial role in providing a platform for Indian IT, Telecom and BPM to forge strategic alliances with each other and international players. This helped them to achieve technological upgradation and also diversify across verticals. The expo also became the launchpad for many start-ups associated with the space, some of whom went on to become Unicorns.
Similarly, the story of the Smart Cities India expo is intertwined with the Smart Cities Mission, which has helped it to emerge as one of the most impactful events in space. It facilitates coordination between governments and technology providers to pool the expertise needed to implement and integrate the latest and innovative technologies for the public good. The expo also provides opportunities for collaboration and partnerships among the private players, including overseas participants, which is perhaps the best way of marking growth.
It is, perhaps, one of the reasons why the Smart Cities Mission under the Ministry of Housing Urban Affairs has partnered with event organisers India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) and Exhibitions India Group to support the expo.
Convergence India is celebrating 30 years this year. What should the industry and guests expect when they visit the expo this year?
Convergence India is one of the first and oldest events catering to the IT/IoT and Telecom segments in India. Over the years, the expo has expanded its influence across various industries. When Convergence India was launched in 1992, sectors such as IT/ICT, IoT, Big Data, Cloud, Blockchain, etc., were either in the nascent stage or unheard of. The expo has since become the central platform for showcasing these revolutionary technologies and is the foremost venue for startups to learn and explore the best in the industry.
The 2023 edition of the expo will host over 1,000 companies, including 200+ startups, from around 40 countries. The conferences being organised alongside the expo will have 150 speakers, including those from the Union and State governments, industry, think tanks and academia. The expo will be graced by the Ministers and senior dignitaries from the Government of India along with industry leaders, Smart City CEOs, city planners, Mayors, Ambassadors and stakeholders from India and around the globe. The three-day event is expected to see a footfall of 50,000+ visitors.
Key Attractions of the Expo:
- The international conference will have concurrent sessions spread over three days and will focus on the government’s initiatives to develop India into a ‘Digital’ economy. Discussion areas will include upcoming technologies such as 5G adoption; the changing face of AI, Blockchain & ChatGPT; strategies to prevent cybercrime; new use cases in Telecom; the future of Digital Twin and IoT; next frontier for Digital Gaming and OTT, innovative FinTech business models, etc.
- The expo has received support from the following ministries; Government campaigns: Digital India, Skill India, Smart Cities Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Ministry of Science & Technology, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC).
- The expo will host Country Pavilions from Russia, the United Kingdom, Slovakia and China.
- Curated B2B meetings will be held during the expo. This value-added service will assist exhibitors to establish new business engagements and create lucrative business opportunities through one-to-one interaction.
Please share something about the co-located expos being organised?
- The Mobile India Expo is a leading exhibition on Mobile Devices, Accessories and Gadgets industry. It offers an unmatched buyer-seller platform enabling all participants to network with brands, manufacturers, OEMs/ODMs, new & emerging brands, corporate buyers, distributors, wholesalers, stockists, department stores, retail chains, e-tailers and end users – enabling participants to showcase cutting-edge technology, create a strong brand and develop a robust distribution channel.
- The Internet of Things India expo is the focal point for established businesses, start-ups and tech talent to meet with top investors, influencers and professionals. It will showcase IoT innovations in the fields of smart cities, design applications, enablers, industrial IoT, data analytics and many other disruptive technologies for enterprises.
- The Embedded Tech India expo is a platform that showcases latest trends and developments in Embedded Technology ecosystem that power smart devices, smart manufacturing, smart transport, smart industries, smart homes, smart cities, IoT devices and demonstrations showcasing the reliability of electronic systems, IoT applications, distributed intelligence, and solutions for smart future and other technology solutions.
- The FinTech India expo will showcase companies and institutions involved in financial technologies, including blockchain, cryptocurrency, digital banking, e-Wallets, payment gateways, point of sales (PoS) & payment solutions, cyber security, banking & insurance solutions, accounting auditing solutions, E-commerce solutions, robotic process automation (RPA), transactional platforms, data analytics and more.
- The Digital Gaming India expo will present emerging trends and technologies in the gaming sector, from software solutions in animations, to VFX, software developers, Cloud computing, digital gaming services etc. It focuses on hardware components in chipsets for motherboards, console gaming platforms, CPU manufacturers, desktop gaming platforms, etc.
- The ‘Startup Hub Pavilion’ at the 30th Convergence India expo will feature over 200 startups that will bring innovations across the different verticals of emerging technologies, ICT, Smart Cities technologies. There will be mentoring sessions from the pioneers of the ecosystem, and specially curated conference sessions, will be organised alongside the Start Pitch Competition and the Investor & Startup meet. Startups will generate B2B leads along with making meaningful business relations with the industry stakeholders.
Who all are expected to attend the expo?
We will be displaying different technologies during the three-day expo. Companies, organizations and individuals working in any of the technology domains mentioned can be a part of the expo.
Technologies on Display:
- IT & Communications: GPON / FTTH products (ONT, OLT), Android / iOS Apps for WiFi Management, FTTx Infra, Unified Communications; Enterprise Telecom Products, 5G xHaul Timing Aware Switch, Network TAPs; Packet Brokers, 5G Infrastructure – Test Verification.
- Satellite Communications: Satellite IOT Network Communication, iNetVu mobile antennas, VAST systems with one button, motorized and automatic.
- OTT / IPTV: AndroidTV, Media Player, Video streaming Solutions, Video Delivery over IP, Headend in the CLOUD, Middleware, Cloud Streaming, Cloud Distribution, Video Appliances.
- Broadcast, Content Distribution and Delivery: Set-Top Box, DTH Antenna, Satellite Receiver, Media Storage, CDN, Head End; Cable TV, Cable SMS, ISP AAA Server; CRM Application
- IoT / AI / ML, Data Analytics & Big Data: Industrial Cellular Router (4G/5G), Industrial Switches, PoE Lan Extenders, Media Converter, IOT Hardware Manufacturer, IOT Gateway, IO Cards and Customized Products, Routers, Gateways, Telecom Monitoring Solution and energy Meters
- Embedded Tech: Electronic Components, PCB, Electronic Manufacturing Services, Server Motherboard, Desktop Motherboard, Memory products, DashCam (DVR)
- FinTech, Cyber Security & Surveillance: Lending Solutions, Insurance Solutions, Retail Solutions, e-Learning & Immersive Technology, Payment Aggregator, Treasury Management, Spend Management and Corporate Cards Platform, CBS, POS Solutions & Equipment, Risk Assessment and Digital KYC
- Mobile Accessories: TWS, Wireless Speaker, Headset, Wireless Headphone, Power Banks, Mobile Battery, USB Cables, Touch Screen, LCD, Connectors, Plugs and Jacks, RF Connectors, Charger Connectors, Neckband Headphones, Mobile Phone Charger, Wired Earphone
- Digital Gaming: Gaming Application Software, AR/VR Equipment, Apps & Games, Games Developer, drone, cameras, telescopes, gaming consoles