Daegu Metropolitan City in South Korea, under the leadership of Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, will host the 2024 Future Innovation Tech Expo (FIX 2024) at Daegu EXCO from October 23 to 26, 2024, showcasing cutting-edge technologies such as UAM, mobility, robots, AI, and semiconductors.
Organized with ETAuto as the media partner, FIX 2024 aims to serve as a comprehensive business platform for unified industry trends centered on innovative technologies.
FIX 2024: FIX 2024 will be an ‘innovation technology integrated platform,’ providing a space where nascent technologies across various fields can be observed. The event will combine formerly separate exhibitions, such as the ‘ICT Convergence Expo Korea (ITCE)’ and ‘Daegu Robot Expo (ROBEX),’ into a single, expansive occasion held across the entire EXCO venue. This four-day event aims to bring together both domestic and international participants, featuring sections like Mobility Hall, Robot Hall, ABB Hall, and Startup Hall.
Daegu has been focusing on fostering new industry policies, making it a prime location for such an integrated business platform. Over the years, the city has garnered experience from hosting notable events like the Daegu International Future Auto & Mobility Expo (DIFA), which has paved the way for this specialized new industry exhibition.
Mayor Hong Joon-pyo said, “We are preparing FIX 2024 to become a global specialized exhibition comparable to the world’s top three IT exhibitions. We will spare no effort to establish Daegu as a central city for new industries.”
The Mobility Hall, stemming from DIFA, aims to ensure FIX 2024’s inaugural success by showcasing an array of cutting-edge technologies in the mobility industry. This includes electric vehicles, hydrogen vehicles, autonomous driving, secondary batteries, and electrification components. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy will co-host the event, featuring global companies like Hyundai, Kia, Samsung SDI, and GM.
A venue will be created to demonstrate and experience future technologies such as SDVs, PBVs, and concept cars. Promotional booths for the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport (set to open in 2029) and a UAM experience center will also be available, providing VR experiences and various promotional programs.
The Robot Hall will take over the position of the Daegu Robot Expo (ROBEX). Daegu has actively pursued investment agreements with global companies such as Rainbow Robotics, STS ROBOTECH, and Bear Robotics, aligning with the ‘National Robot Test Field Project.’ The Robot Hall will display the current status of manufacturing robots, F&B serving robots, AI robots, delivery robots, and AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robots). A special Startup IR pavilion will promote investment in robot companies, aiming to establish Korea as one of the top three global robot nations.
The ABB Hall will inherit the legacy of the ICT Convergence Expo Korea (ITCE). Daegu is striving to create a national digital innovation district, evidenced by SK Group’s announcement to build an 800 billion won AI data center in Suseong Alpha City. The ABB Hall will showcase ICT that drives future industries, society, and the economy, including AI, blockchain, big data, ICT, cybersecurity, non-memory semiconductors, and the metaverse. The hall will also highlight Daegu’s current status as the largest digital innovation hub outside the metropolitan area and the center of ABB industry development, offering experiences of commercial services and technologies using ABB.
Driving future innovations
FIX 2024’s key feature is the platform for ‘sharing innovative technologies’ and ‘discovering technologies/companies leading the world.’ A startup arena will be set up to host the ICT idea and startup competition festival. The ‘PNP Korea Expo’ hosted by Plug and Play (PNP), the world’s largest accelerator, will feature startup IR pitching and investment networking. The ‘Global Innovator Festa (GIF)’ will showcase startup technology exhibitions and product experiences.
Mayor Hong Joon-pyo said, “We are preparing FIX 2024 to become a global specialized exhibition comparable to the world’s top three IT exhibitions.” He reiterated the city’s commitment to establishing Daegu as a central hub for new industries through this event.
Throughout the event, international conferences will feature keynote speeches from top-tier global anchor company speakers on future innovation technologies, introducing the latest trends and technologies in new industries through individual tech sessions. The mobility sector will cover electrification (EV), UAM, SDV, and autonomous driving, while the robot sector will discuss global robot industry changes and response strategies. The ABB/semiconductor sector will focus on AI, metaverse, cybersecurity, and semiconductor trends.
Additional large-scale business programs include new technology presentations, investment attraction briefings, export consultation meetings with 200 selected top buyers from 30 countries, and purchasing consultations with major companies and public institutions. New events like the Innovation Awards, presentation of the Gaia-X (data industry) joint project results, smart mobility startup camp, job fairs, and Daegu Night (networking) will also take place.
To encourage visitors to explore Daegu, the city plans to link cultural facilities such as the Daegu Art Museum and Concert House with exhibitions and performances during the event. Various tours, including new industry tours, modern alley tours, and visits to Kim Gwang-seok Street, will be available to provide diverse attractions. Mayor Hong Joon-pyo highlighted the city’s dedication to positioning itself as a central city for new industries through FIX 2024.
The exhibition and conference will span the entire exhibition hall of Daegu EXCO, covering approximately 30,000 square meters, with 450 companies and 2,000 booths. The events will kick off on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, with the conference concluding on Friday, October 25, and the exhibition running until Saturday, October 26. Supporting events for visitors will include future mobility test drives, advanced technology experiences, international exchange forums, and hospitality, tourism, and transportation assistance.
