Intensive B2B networking and diverse market insights – the “Bau Online” offering proved to be an important anchor point for the construction industry in turbulent times. 247 exhibitors offered live digital presentations as well as 1:1 conversations, and the conference program highlighted the topics of digitalization, the challenge of climate change, resources and recycling, housing of the future, and the impact of the Corona pandemic on architecture and the construction industry. “The strong participation in ,Bau Online’ shows how valuable our trade fair network is for the construction industry,” explains Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer, Deputy Chairman and CEO of Messe München. “We have offered our customers and partners a bridge to BAU 2023 – for which almost all well-known exhibitors have already announced their participation in the trade fair.” “Bau Online” has “activated the construction industry in an impressive way,” said Dieter Schäfer, chairman of the advisory board of “Bau München” and CEO of Deutsche Steinzeug Cremer & Breuer AG. “Digital B2B networking is making a crucial contribution to keeping business going in these challenging times. However, that doesn’t change the fact that ,Bau Online’ cannot replace the presence trade fair ,Bau’.”

247 exhibitors from 29 countries participated in “Bau Online,” offering 1,495 live presentations and 4,316 1:1 meetings. 23 exhibitors also supported the event as sponsors. During the three days, a total of 38,325 participants from 138 countries connected. In total, the platform counted 218,756 hits during the three days. The conference program included 31 forums in which around 150 experts provided insights into trending topics. The live stream was broadcast for three time zones (Europe/Berlin, USA/New York, Asia/Shanghai).

“For us, ,Bau’ is and will remain a fixed event in our calendar. Being a Gold Partner at the premiere of ,Bau Online’ is a matter of course for Schüco,” explains Dr. Georg Spranger, Head of Marketing, Schüco International KG. “The new format was very well received by us and our guests. And of course we are already looking forward to ‘Bau’ 2023.” Dr. Max Schöne, Managing Director of heroal, says: “We were curious to see how the new, digital format would be received by visitors – and are pleased that ‘Bau Online’ 2021 was a success. We were able to hold numerous valuable discussions with customers and interested parties from all over the world and received a lot of positive feedback on our new products and service offerings.” And Volker Höschele, Country Business Director at Bosch Professional Germany, says: “The ‘Bau Online’ gave us the opportunity to maintain communication and exchange with our dealers and users even in times of distance and to present our new products and innovations. This is enormously important for us. Our thanks go to Messe München for making such a format possible.” “The ‘Bau’ made the best of the situation,” says Stefan Fischbach, CEO of Assa Abloy Sicherheitstechnik. “Especially the live presentations were very well received by our customers. However, the virtual presentations cannot replace face-to-face meetings and we look forward to meeting customers and partners again in Munich in 2023.”

“We need innovation in the construction sector for climate protection and challenges such as affordable housing,” explained Anne Katrin Bohle, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Construction, in the online conference program – and went on to say, “The current crisis has also shown that construction must become even more resilient. Digitalization also aims to support sustainable construction and increase productivity in the construction industry.” Dieter Babiel, Chief Executive of the German Construction Industry Federation, echoed the same sentiment: “Overall, the construction industry has come through the pandemic well so far. Nevertheless, we need entrepreneurial spirit and start-ups for progress, growth and competitiveness.”

The pandemic “has accelerated the climate of change,” said Anja Rosen, architect and managing director of agn Niederberghaus & Partner, “now it is important to perpetuate the pandemic-related resource savings and avoid rebound effects.” For example, by using less space in buildings – and then using it more than once. It became clear at many points: The building of the future is becoming increasingly technical and complex, and early and interdisciplinary planning is essential. Magnus Nickl of Nickl & Partner brought in an example of this: “We don’t see the hospitals of the future as singular buildings, but as platforms that can always be put together as needed.” The “Bau Online” conference program highlighted many important trends in the construction industry – and it became clear “that a simple ‘carry on’ after Corona is not possible,” said Markus Sporer, “Bau” project manager. “The presence fair ,Bau’ 2023 will therefore be more relevant than ever,” explains Matthias Strauss, also project manager “Bau”. “This is where the long-term transformation of the construction industry and all its trades triggered by Corona will be shown in compressed form.”