Barcelona gears up for next week's ISE, the world's leading audiovisual expo

Barcelona is preparing to host Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), the world's largest exhibition for AV and electronic systems, from January 30th to February 2nd at the Fira de Barcelona in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. The previous edition of the ISE congress in Barcelona attracted 58,107 attendees from 155 countries.

In the show's 20th year, ISE is approaching a milestone as it is set to be the biggest and most exciting show yet. ISE 2024 will feature the largest exhibition floor ever, spanning eight halls at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via, representing 30% more space than last year.

Anticipation is also building for the highest attendance ever recorded at ISE, cementing its reputation as an event for industry professionals. ISE 2024 will offer the most comprehensive content program to date, with nine conferences covering a wide range of topics critical to the AV and systems integration industry.

Catalonia will be the 5th territory with the most companies and entities participating in the event, surpassed only by China, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and ahead of countries such as South Korea, the Netherlands or France, according to data from ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment. In fact, Catalan participation in the congress represents 67% of the country's total companies present at ISE.

“ISE is consolidating in Barcelona and is ready to stay there for many years”

Mike Blackman, Managing Director at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE)

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As announced yesterday by the Minister of Business and Labour, Roger Torrent, 80 Catalan companies and technology centers will participate with a stand at this year's Integrated Systems Europe (ISE). According to ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment, this is 9.6% more Catalan participation than last year and the highest number in the history of ISE, the world's most important event in the audiovisual sector.

Roger Torrent made the announcement after a meeting with ISE Managing Director Mike Blackman. The head of the Department of Business and Labour has assured that "the consolidation of the ISE in Catalonia and Barcelona clearly reinforces the global vision of Catalonia as a technological reference point". In this sense, he stressed that "the ISE is an opportunity to generate a positive impact for Catalan companies in the sector: the presence of the congress is important not only for its physical presence but also for the ramifications that Catalan companies can establish there".

Barcelona's ISE expects 70,000 attendees

ISE Managing Director Mike Blackman explained that "the 2024 ISE will break participation records, with 1,340 companies with a stand and an expected 70,000 visitors, 25% more than in the 2019 edition". Blackman stressed that the congress "is consolidating in Barcelona and is ready to stay there for many years. Our community is very positive about us being here, and the good relationship with the government helps". The meeting was also attended by the Secretary of Business and Competitiveness and CEO of ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment, Albert Castellanos, and the Executive Director of ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment, Joan Romero.

Government boost to the audiovisual sector

Of the total number of Catalan companies that will have a physical space at the event, 30 of them will be located in the pavilion of the Government of Catalonia at the ISE, organized by ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment and the Catalan Institute of Cultural Enterprises (ICEC). The space, which will be 63% larger than last year with 650m² of floor space, aims to help companies present their technological solutions in the audiovisual field, find new clients, partners, or investors, and open new international markets.

In fact, ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment expects that the Catalan companies located in the Catalan government pavilion will hold around 1,000 business meetings and business visits during the four days of the congress and that, over the next year, they will generate a volume of business of between 2 and 2.5 million euros from their activity at Integrated Systems Europe.

The Catalan companies that will participate in the Catalan government's stand at the ISE are:

• Aiwa Europe.
• Albadalejo.
• Amate Audio.
• All About Media.
• Blackfish.
• Catalan Audiovisual Cluster.
• Computer Vision Center (CVC).
• EGM Studio.
• Eurecat.
• FEDE.
• Fluendo.
• i2CAT Foundation.
• iDISC.
• LEDSCONTROL.
• NRDmultimedia – Vector3.
• SeeSound.
• Bol Production House.
• Desilence.
• Eyesberg.
• Onionlab.
• Tigrelab.
• VPM.
• Carpa Revolució.
• Handpoem.
• Hulahoop.
• IotTable.
• IZI Record.
• OMNIQO.
• Waital.
• WindowSight.

Open Innovation Challenge

The Catalonia Pavilion in Congress Square hosts local businesses active in the AV industry and highlights business growth opportunities. It is also the location of the ISE Open Innovation Challenge.

The Challenge is a hybrid matchmaking service that connects technology providers with Catalan corporations looking to purchase solutions. It consists of rapid business meetings to allow Catalan companies and startups to respond to various technological challenges in the audiovisual sector, presented by around fifteen multinationals and other companies such as LG, 3CAT, Kave Home, Lavinia, and AirParfum-Puig.

More than 300 companies are expected to participate to solve challenges related to the application of artificial intelligence, content creation, generative AI, 3D solutions, holograms, or computer vision associated with the cultural, cosmetics, health and wellness, furniture and decoration, or education sectors, among others. ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment organize this activity as a member of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) of the European Commission in Catalonia.