Triumphant debut of ISE in Barcelona

The expectations generated by the premiere of Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) have lived up to reality. The world's largest audiovisual fair has landed this week in the Catalan capital after a long wait, considering that its arrival was announced in 2018 and then the pandemic delayed its grand debut, allowing only a small pilot test last summer. Despite the long wait, the first edition has delivered. So much so that, on its first attempt, it has already positioned itself as one of the most important international congresses held in the city, with the aspiration of reducing the distance that separates it from the great fair protagonist, the Mobile World Congress (MWC).

Demonstrating that fairs have returned to what they were, recovering the hustle and bustle and leaving behind masks, antigen tests, and distances, ISE has managed to attract some 43,700 attendees from 151 countries in its first year at Fira Gran Via. The figure is slightly lower than the organization's forecasts at the beginning of the congress, when they placed it at 50,000 registered attendees, but it should be noted that this type of event still suffers the effects of the COVID crisis and is affected by the absence of Asian companies, especially Chinese ones, as well as the veto on Russian companies due to the war in Ukraine.

All in all, the fair has brought together more than 800 stands, among which were the main brands in the audiovisual sector, such as Sony, Sennheiser, Panasonic, Cisco, Google Meets, Zoom, Chrome, Lenovo, Samsung, Microsoft, Logitech, Canon, Epson, LG, Sharp, or Intel. There has also been space for local companies, which have had the opportunity to play at home, as well as for multinationals that have established themselves in Barcelona with the arrival of ISE, such as the German Lang or the Chinese Infiled. No one was missing and, as indicated by the organization, the exhibitors have been more crowded than expected and "many fruitful business contacts" have been made.

Screens, chromas, cameras, spotlights, speakers, and microphones have invaded the halls of Fira in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat from Tuesday until this Friday, coinciding with the IOT Solutions, an alliance that will be maintained in the coming years. But the ISE has also made its presence felt in the city, with the aim of introducing the industry to those who do not frequent exhibition venues, with a mapping at Casa Batlló made by artist Refik Anadol ---and which was auctioned for 1.38 million euros--- and another in Plaza Espanya.

"As we all recover from the impact of the pandemic, it's wonderful to be here in Barcelona at what feels like a normal ISE in its new home," said the fair's executive director, Mike Blackman. The ISE left its previous location, Amsterdam, after 16 years because it had become too small and was looking for a venue where it could grow. With this first show of strength, the congress will see if it continues on a growth path in the next edition, which will return to its usual dates, at the beginning of the year and with less summery temperatures. "We look forward to building on this success to return on January 31 next year for another energizing, exciting, and inspiring ISE, here, at Fira Gran Via," Blackman adds. They have a contract with the fair institution until 2024, but everything indicates that this is a long-term relationship.