CEATEC aims to link technology to Japan's recovery

The largest exhibition of cutting-edge technology in Asia, CEATEC Japan 2011 is focusing its efforts on demonstrating how the information technology and electronics industries can help overcome the natural disasters that have befallen Japan this year.

In addition to the annual exhibition's traditional theme of "Smart Innovation: Cutting-edge technologies to create the future," the organizers are introducing the concept of "Safe, secure and smart society, proposed by the IT and Electronics Industries."

CEATEC Japan 2011 gets underway on October 4 at the Makuhari Messe International Convention Complex, just to the east of Tokyo, with the organizers expecting the five-day event to attract 200,000 people.

Virtually all the big names in the technology sector will be represented, including Intel Corp., NEC Group, Pioneer Corp., Toshiba Corp. and Sharp Corp., as well as automobile firms such as Nissan Motor Co. and Yamaha Motor Co.

Products and services on display will range from nanotechnology to supercomputers, environment-friendly cars and robotics.

CEATEC - which stands for Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies - is this year marking its 12th anniversary and will include a series of keynote speeches on subjects such as how electronics is bringing about a revolution in lifestyles around the world and the future of personal computing.

"It is essential for restoration and recovery efforts in Japan to pave the way to regenerating the disaster-affected regions, overcoming the power crisis and maintaining corporate vitality, while at the same time building a safer and more efficient society," the organizers said in a statement.

"We, the IT and electronics industries, are the fount of world-leading energy-saving, environmental technology, and information processing and communications technology that supports efficient energy management and social systems," they added. "We are also industries that must make a significant contribution to recovery from an unprecedented disaster."

Part of the event is being set aside for Smart Community Innovation products and services, including digital health-care and zero-emission homes and vehicles.

CEATEC is a major event for the tech industry with around 800-900 exhibitors and 200,000 visitors - and is comparable to CES (2700 exhibitors and 129,000 visitors) in size and content. Additional tech and CE fairs in the region include The Hong Kong Electronics Fair (2,800 exhibitors) and SINOCES (500 exhibitors).

http://www.ceatec.com/2011/en/

JR