Preliminary final report: Strong analytica reinforces leading position

"This year's analytica has exceeded our expectations and once again has fulfilled its role as a leading international trade fair for this industry. An atmosphere of dynamic growth was clearly noticeable. Companies and industry associations are expecting an upswing already this year," said Norbert Bargmann, Deputy CEO of Messe München GmbH.

With 1,038 companies from 37 countries, analytica 2010 had more exhibitors than the latest time it was held in 2008. In a survey of visitors, industry representatives were very positive about the presence of all leading international manufacturers. That and the large share of international exhibitors (37.5 percent) underscored analytica's character as a leading exhibition.

Top marks from visitors
The number of visitors who attended this year's fair remained stable despite the difficult state of the economy over the past few months. Nearly 33,000 trade visitors from more than 120 countries came to Munich. The share of international visitors was also up considerably. In addition to Austria, Great Britain and the United States, the top ten visitor countries included Italy and France. Slovenia, Turkey and Malaysia saw remarkable increases in the number of visitors.

The fact that visitor interest was so high was also reflected in a survey of visitors at the 2010 fair, which was extremely positive. 97% gave analytica an overall rating of good to excellent, and 81% are definitely planning to attend again in 2012. 94% of visitors gave analytica top marks for its character as a leading exhibition, and 91% praised it for being so international (all information is based on a survey by the independent research institute tns infratest).

Satisfied exhibitors presented innovative solutions
The exhibitors were also very positive about the outcome of the fair:
Dr. Hans-Jürgen Knabe, Managing Director of Deutsche METROHM GmbH & Co. KG: "METROHM Deutschland has been part of this fair since the first analytica in 1968. That one demonstrates how important this fair is to us and the industry – it is the leading trade show for analysis technology. [...] One of this year's noticeable trends was the considerable increase in the number of international visitors compared to previous years."

This opinion was also shared by Joachim Gerstel, President & CEO, joint analytical SYSTEMS: "As an innovative company and long-term exhibitor, we appreciate analytica, especially as a platform for presenting new products. During the past few days, we have welcomed more than twice as many visitors to our stand as at the last analytica in 2008. We will definitely be here in 2012, because the quantity and quality of the customers at analytica is extraordinarily satisfying."

First-time exhibitors were also positive about the results of the fair. Dr. Detlef Terzenbach, Project Director at Hessen-Biotech, HA Hessen Agentur GmbH: "This is our first year at analytica, and we are participating in a joint exhibit for the region. [...] We and our exhibitors are very satisfied with how our stand was positioned and with the outcome of the exhibition. We have every reason to return again in 2012."

The biotechnology sector, and the Biotech Forum, which was held for the first time ever, were extremely well received. That was also confirmed by Prof. Dr. Horst Domdey, spokesman of the Bavarian biotechnology cluster and Managing Director of BioM: "[...] all of the halls were bustling with activity, and this year the biotechnology sector was a genuine highlight - and deservedly so. I may have gotten the wrong impression, but I have never seen such an active, bustling analytica. For me, this is an excellent sign that the life-science industry is alive and well."

analytica Conference – International scientific dialog
The organizers of the analytica Conference including "Forum Analytik" were extremely satisfied with the outcome of the conference. "Attendance at this year's analytica Conference increased by a good five percent to 1,197 visitors. The synergies that the scientific conference benefits from because it is held at the same time as the trade fair have convinced our participants and speakers from Germany and abroad. For them, the conference is the most important analysis platform in Europe, a key forum for a necessary and profitable dialog for everyone involved," summarized Renate Kiessling, Conference Manager for the analytica Conference at the German Chemical Society (GDCh). 140 renowned speakers shed light on the latest analysis trends for biology, medicine and pharma research and topical issues in environmental and food analysis in four plenary presentations and 23 symposia. Special highlights included the GDCh awards ceremony, presentations on patent-pending laboratory diagnostics, separation techniques in the life sciences, doping analysis, proteome research, fine-particle testing and the toxicology of fine particles as well as lectures about the use of modern chemical-analysis technology on art objects and how analysis is helping to treat diabetes.

Careers in chemistry, pharma and biotech
Naturally, there is also one thing that no trade fair can do without: For all those who are looking for a new challenge in their professional lives, today's Job Day will be a career springboard. Dr. Eva Birkmann, CEO of jobvector: "Based on the response prior to analytica, we are very optimistic and expect well in excess of 2,800 applicants, which would be a considerable increase over 2008."

First exhibitor statements about analytica 2010 are available online: http://www.analytica.de/en/Home/Journalists/exhibitor-statements-2010

The next analytica will be held in Munich from April 17 - 20, 2012. Until then, the global analytica network features other platforms for the industry - i.e. analytica China, which takes place in Shanghai in September of this year, analytica Vietnam and analytica Anacon India in Mumbai.