It is the successful first step in a new cooperation: from 27 to 30 October the promotional products network PSI, together with manufacturers from the industry, were guests at iENA in Nuremberg. The inventor's fair showcased about 800 inventions and new products from 30 countries to an international specialist public. This is a pool of innovations that had aroused the interest of the promotional products industry before the fair. Approximately 50 iENA visitor tickets had been requested by PSI members. The PSI presented itself at the fair with a stand of its own and held daily consultation hours where it provided assistance to manufacturers for negotiating product sponsorships with inventors.
"For the industry and the PSI, this step is of major strategic significance since of course the market also relies on innovations," says PSI Director Michael Freter. "The positive response we received from our members during iENA confirms this. By cooperating with iENA we can meet the need for new products in the best possible manner. The presence of inventors at the Düsseldorf PSI is a targeted expansion of the trade fair to include the segment of product ideas and inventions."
At PSI 2012, which will be held from 11 to 13 January, the iENA exhibitors can present their ideas to the promotional products industry. As a result, PSI will not only be THE trade fair for new products in future but also a leading trade fair presenting innovations before they even exist.
Product sponsoring accepted well
The inventors can also qualify for a PSI product sponsorship. Under this cooperation arrangement, PSI manufacturing companies take on sponsorship for the invention which they take to the ready-for-market stage. As a result, both sides benefit from this pilot project. Manufacturers can familiarise themselves with products at the very beginning of their value creation process, actively support their entry into the market and thus add new and unique products to their range.
To inventors, product sponsoring offers the opportunity to bring their products to the marketable stage and to sell them. The PSI therefore received a lively response from exhibitors at iENA. During the fair, 15 inventors booked a stand at PSI. One of them is Katrin Starke, inventor of a process for the production of coloured decorative surfaces: "I will exhibit at PSI 2012 because I want to advertise my process. I think that it offers many possible applications for the promotional products industry. In my opinion coming to iENA was a very positive move by PSI." Portraits of the inventors who will be guests at PSI can be found shortly at www.halle13.net.
Liaising with associations and multipliers
Furthermore, the PSI strengthened and expanded personal contacts with associations and multipliers from the inventors' sector. The exchange with the representatives of the "SIGNO" programme deserves particular mention in this context. The programme is run by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) and supports universities, companies and independent inventors in the legal protection and commercialisation of their innovative ideas. The PSI also established contacts with the ERINET network for the support of inventors, the German Inventors' Association, the Innovations-Forum magazine, the Austrian Inventors' Association, America's largest inventors' trade show INPEX, Tepac Erfinderconsulting, the Steinbeis Transfer Centre, the German Patent and Brand Office, the SpieleGilde association of the games industry as well as the BSGE (Federal Association for Souvenirs, Presents and Honorary Awards).
The PSI team advertised the iENA cooperation project not only at its iENA stand. PSI Director Michael Freter also took advantage of the IENA opening press conference to introduce the PSI and explain the advantages of the HALLE13 project.
Together with these organisations, the PSI will further publicise the HALLE13 project in inventors' circles in the coming weeks.
Comments at iENA on the cooperation with the PSI:
"The PSI is a real highlight at iENA. The PSI Inventors' Package for Halle 13 is a thoroughly useful offer for inventors. We booked it straightaway and of course also applied for the Genius Award. Now we are looking forward to the PSI 2012 Trade Fair. Keep it up PSI!" Gerhard Mayer, My Käfer GmbH
"The Navipointer is a finger stall for operating all types of touchscreen devices. It can be used in a large variety of fields, such as sports, industrial safety, Smartphones. I will be at PSI because my Navipointer is the prefect promotional product for state-of-the-art touchscreen technologies. I only heard about PSI at iENA and decided to book the Inventors' Package immediately." Stefan Fleck, Cumulus53 LTD
"I will be at PSI 2012 because I see the presentation of my invention at PSI as a good opportunity to position my innovations in the promotional products market. I heartily welcome the fact that the PSI is fulfilling its task of establishing contacts between innovators, its members and therefore the market at iENA as well." Jürgen Freigeber, funletic GmbH
"I will be at the PSI Trade Fair next year because I have known that fair for years, but inventors were not allowed to exhibit there up to now. For this reason I very much welcome the decision of the PSI to bring inventors to the fair. I know that the PSI Trade Fair is the largest European fair for promotional products. I have been inventing promotional products and household products for 35 years. Therefore I am extremely pleased to be able to exhibit my products at PSI 2012 now." Bruno Gruber, inventor
"I am going to exhibit at the PSI Trade Fair because I believe that at this event I will be able to present my product to an expert public that immediately recognises an attractive promotional product." Dietmar Bruker, inventor
"I will be at PSI 2012 because it is a platform where I can find exactly the customers for marketing an effective promotional product. I therefore consider the fact that the PSI invites inventors to the PSI Fair a fantastic opportunity." Friedhelm Limbeck, member of the Tordynex Medical AG supervisory board
www.psi-network.de
For any further information please contact:
Nadine Lente
Email: nadine.lente@reedexpo.de