By Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism of Baden-Württemberg (Germany).
Only a few months to go until, on October 1, Expo 2020 Dubai will open its doors to the public — almost a year later than originally planned. What was unthinkable last year is now becoming reality. As one of the first major international events, the Expo will enable millions of people from all over the world to come together again in person. Preparations are in full swing. 192 participants are currently making every effort to complete their pavilions in time so they can present their ideas and solutions for a more sustainable future to the world.
For the first time in the history of the world fair, one of the participants will be Baden-Württemberg. “We will be the only region among a large number of nations to be represented with our own pavilion, the Baden-Württemberg House. This is a great privilege and a unique opportunity. Fairs such as the Expo are one the world’s most important platforms”, says Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism of the state of Baden-Württemberg. “With our pavilion, we want to present Baden-Württemberg to the world and our international partners as a hub for science, culture, innovation and tourism. The Baden-Württemberg House sets out to show what we stand for, what is important to our citizens and why our companies and research institutions are so successful worldwide.”
With a powerful and self-confident presentation, Baden-Württemberg wants to draw attention to itself, present solutions for the world of tomorrow and remain in the memory of every visitor. The concept is impressive: The pavilion offers a host of exciting highlights. This includes not only the facade of the pavilion, which is modeled on a Swabian half-timbered house and was created using sustainable spruce wood from Baden-Württemberg. Inside the pavilion, visitors will find a cold-air lake, powered by regenerative energy. They will enter into a completely different environment, with the opportunity to retreat from the hectic Expo hustle and bustle.
In addition, the pavilion features a number of exciting exhibits with fascinating effects and light projections to not only shed more light on the history of innovation of the federal state, but also interactively present future-oriented solutions from the fields of infrastructure, mobility, architecture, Industry 4.0, energy, AI and bioeconomy. A variety of cultural and culinary events, children’s activities and special features on typical national festivities, such as Advent and Carnival, as well as trade and business events are planned to accompany the exhibition. Around 100 artists from Baden-Württemberg will be in Dubai to showcase the state’s rich cultural heritage.
Against the backdrop of the corona pandemic, Baden-Württemberg also wants visitors who are not in Dubai to be part of the Expo experience. Together with the Stuttgart-based Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO, a “digital twin” of the Baden-Württemberg House was developed. “This way, people all around the world can visit our virtual pavilion and learn more about Baden-Württemberg”, explains the Minister.
Feel the Spirit of Innovation – that is the motto and mission of the Baden-Württemberg House at Expo 2020 Dubai. The project is supported by around 20 sponsors, including internationally renowned companies and innovative start-ups. Furthermore, about 120 partners from the worlds of science, business, education, arts, culture and politics are contributing to make the pavilion a must-see – both in Dubai and virtually.
For further information
Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism
Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism of Baden-Württemberg- by Martin Stollberg
