CES Asia is limited to only to types of companies: well-known brands and those with innovative technologies. (Photo : Reuters)
Consumer Technology Association (CTA), owner and producer of the International Consumer Electronics Show (International CES), will partner with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba to present the second CES Asia in Shanghai next month, according to a CTA announcement on Tuesday, April 5, China Daily reported.
Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the CTA, said that unlike the International CES, which has been held in the United States since 1967 and open to all types of technology companies, the CES Asia "is limited to two types of companies: a company with a well-known brand name or a company with innovative technologies."
The report said that last May, the inaugural Asian version of the U.S.-based CES was held at the Shanghai New International Expo Center, while this year's event will be held on May 11-13 in Shanghai.
Shapiro said that this year's event will be larger as it would double the scale of last year's event.
"Spanning up to 40,000 gross square meters (20,000 net square meters) of exhibit space, CES Asia 2016 will feature more than 300 exhibiting companies highlighting breakthrough technologies across 15 product categories--from 3D printing and smart home technology to robotics, wearables, vehicle technology and more," the CTA officials said in a statement.
"Three focuses for the event are the Internet of Things, connectivity and innovation," Shapiro added. "For the first time, a special area that focuses on startups, the same as the 'Eureka Park' that was shown in the Las Vegas International CES, will be built in the venue . . . more than 20 French startups will also set up booths in the area."
A separate demonstration area for drones will also be held during the event, the CTA said.
While noting the distinction between auto shows and CES, Shapiro said that they will also showcase the latest tech in the auto industry such as self-driving cars.
"CES is more focused on the future technology and the ecosystems behind the cars, while auto shows are about what products that consumers can purchase today," the CTA CEO said.
John Kelly, senior director of International Programs and show director of CES Asia, said that automobile companies like BMW, Maserati, Volvo and General Motors will participate in the event.
According to Yin Jing, president of Tmall 3C & Home Appliance Business Unit of Alibaba Group, the collaboration between Alibaba and the CTA in the CES Asia 2016 will further be extended to the upcoming International CES 2017 that will be held in Las Vegas.
Yin said that using Alibaba's marketing resources and user base, they would like to help foreign tech companies expand to Chinese market through CES, which is recognized as the world's incubator of the latest technology breakthroughs.
"Consumer technology industry professionals from China and across Asia, including 5,022 senior level executives and 7,987 representatives from buying organizations, will see the power of CES Asia that fosters innovation and serves as the place for brands to position themselves to new and existing audiences," the CTA said in a statement.
"In a time of rapid change of innovation, a technology show is very important to gather everyone in the industry, including the press, investors, buyers and others to talk about the trends and technologies to see where they should be going and inspire new ideas," Shapiro said.
Shapiro noted that the growing number of companies developing partnerships is one of the biggest changes in business, as some of the largest companies in the world are interested to invest in startups or partner with smaller ones.
