Expo will be held in all halls of EXCO from October 23 through 26

Daegu Metropolitan City (DMC; mayor: Hong Joon-pyo) will be hosting Future Innovation tech eXpo 2024 (FIX 2024), a celebration of innovative technologies that will illuminate the future, in October at EXCO.

FIX 2024, which will be hosted from October 23 (Wed) through 26 (Sat) in all exhibition halls of EXCO, is a platform for innovative technologies that offers a sample of the latest technologies (e.g. future mobility (UAM), robotics, AI, semiconductor) in one place.

In response to today’s demand for an all-inclusive business platform that is sensitive to global trends in new industries and grounded in innovative technologies (based on the rise of new industries and blurring of inter-industry boundaries), DMC has, through concentrated development of policies on new industry, amassed all of the industrial infrastructure that is necessary for the creation of such a platform. For the past few years, DMC prepared an expo specializing in new industries based on its experiences with hosting the Daegu International Future Auto & Mobility Expo (DIFA).

FIX 2024 will jointly feature several events, such as ICT Convergence Expo Korea (ITCE) and the Daegu Robot Expo, that were thus far held individually with DIFA in the center. It will be participated in by domestic and foreign companies at the top of their game as well as renowned experts on relevant fields.

(1) Exhibitions

① Mobility pavilion: DIFA

The mobility pavilion will be celebrating the first year of FIX through a display of diverse cutting-edge technologies from throughout the mobility industry (e.g. electric car, hydrogen car, autonomous driving, electrical parts).

As in 2023, DIFA is co-hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, with preparations well underway for exhibiting by global mobility companies such as Hyundai Motor, Kia Motor, Samsung SDI, and GM. There will be demonstrations and interactive opportunities of futuristic technologies that the public has already become familiar with, including SDV, PBV, and concept cars.

A PR booth for Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Integrated Airport, which will be opening in 2029, UAM zone that provides a virtual tour of the airport, and content on the former site of Daegu’s military air base are also expected to attract the attention of visitors.

② Robot pavilion: Daegu Robot Expo

In carrying out the National Robot Test Field project starting this year, DMC has been actively recruiting and signing contracts for investments from global corporations such as Rainbow Robotics, STSROBOTECH, and the American company Bear Robotics.

The pavilion will introduce visitors to the status of robotics technology in Korea, including a cooking robot, F&B serving robot, AI and delivery robots, and AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot).

There will also be a special “Startup IR (Investor Relations)” pavilion to encourage investments for robotics companies that can hopefully fuel Korea’s rise as one of the world’s top three countries in robotics.

③ ABB pavilion: ITCE

DMC is currently busy with preparations to create a national digital innovation complex in Daegu. In December 2023, SK Group announced that it will be building an AI data center in Suseong Alpha City with a budget of approximately KRW 800 billion.

The ABB pavilion will feature examples of ICT that will play an essential role in future industries, society and the economy such as AI, blockchain, big data, cyber security, nonmemory semiconductors, and metaverse.

ITCE will show how much progress DMC has made as ABB hub and largest center for digital innovation outside Seoul/Gyeonggi-do. Visitors will also be able to experience ABB-applied commercial services and technologies.

④ Startup pavilion: Startup Arena

The most defining trait of FIX 2024 is its combination of PR on innovative technologies and the discovery of promising technologies and companies. The Startup Arena will include both parts through two events: the PNP Korea Expo, which is hosted by Plug and Play (world’s largest accelerator) and offers startup IR pitches and investment networking opportunities that will be attended by startups, partner companies, investment companies, and representatives from related fields; and Global Innovator Festa, which will display startup-developed technologies and allow visitors to try out startup products.

(2) Conferences

FIX 2024 will also simultaneously feature several international conferences. There will be keynote lectures on innovative technologies by speakers from global anchor companies, with noted Korean and foreign speakers hosting tech sessions on the latest trends and technologies in various areas.

The mobility conference will introduce the latest trends in electric vehicles, UAM, SDV, and autonomous driving. The robotics conference will explain changes in the global industry, response strategies, and country-specific trends. The ABB/semiconductor conference will introduce trends in AI, metaverse, cyber security, and semiconductors.

In addition to an unprecedented lineup of large business programs, including new technology presentations, investment information sessions, export consultation area (participated in by top-grade buyers representing 30 countries and 200 companies), and export conference attended by conglomerate/public organization buyers, FIX 2024 includes a wide range of auxiliary events, including the newly-instated Innovation Awards, presentation of outcomes of the Europe Gaia-X data project (jointly undertaken with Korea), Smart Mobility Startup Camp, job fair, and Daegu Night (networking event).

To encourage visitors to stay in Daegu beyond the expo, DMC has worked with cultural facilities (e.g. Daegu Art Museum, Daegu Concert House) to hold performances and art exhibitions in conjunction with the expo. Daegu’s tourism resources (e.g. Kim Kwangseok-gil Street) will also be mobilized to provide a wide range of things to see and do, including a New Industry Tour and Modern History Street Tour.

Mayor Hong Joon-pyo said, “We are working hard to turn FIX 2024 into a global trade show that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s top three IT expos. We will be doing everything possible for this year’s FIX to establish Daegu’s identity as a center of new industries.”