Without technology no event,
without innovation no progress.
…Experience innovation – on and behind the stage.
Without good infrastructure, creative ideas, and smart technologies, no event can run smoothly these days. Goal 9 of the Sustainable Development Goals – “Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure” – thus directly impacts the event industry. The key question is: How can we use innovations not only to organize events, but also to create experiences with real added value? The event industry is all about using technology sensibly, designing functional infrastructures, and creating spaces where creativity comes alive.
Events have long been more than just a stage and a buffet – they are multimedia platforms where interactive experiences are created, and logistical masterpieces are revealed.
Even the journey can be part of the overall experience – and at the same time contribute to sustainability. So why not plan a 45-minute walk past food spots or cultural highlights instead of a ten-minute bus ride? In big cities, public transportation is often the more relaxing, cheaper, and faster option anyway. With clever planning, mobility becomes an integral part of the event.
Digital tools also help save resources – from online invitations to paperless check-ins. Hybrid formats open events to a wider audience, whether on-site or connected digitally.
Innovation is also evident behind the scenes: energy-efficient lighting, reusable exhibition and stage elements, and modular room concepts ensure that sustainability and professionalism go hand in hand. Sustainability and innovation are no longer mutually exclusive – they reinforce each other.
SDG 9 reminds us that sustainable progress isn’t just a matter for large industries. Small steps, creative ideas, and smart decisions in everyday event management also help shape the infrastructure of tomorrow.
In the event industry, this means using technology intelligently, making processes more efficient, and planning spaces flexibly – so they can be combined and used in new ways time and time again. Infrastructure is more than just a power and water connection – it’s the network that makes experiences possible.
