The drupa innovation park 2016 (dip) at drupa 2016, the world's leading trade fair for print and cross-media solutions, will again be the focal point for the industry’s latest inspiring and creative developments. The six theme parks will display current trends and topics along with business cases related to process-oriented print and publishing solutions. drupa will take place from May 31 - June 10, 2016 at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Sabine Geldermann, Director of drupa, explained: “The drupa innovation park is a fantastic way for young companies and start-ups as well as global players with forward looking solutions and applications to present themselves. Since it was introduced at drupa 2004, the “dip” has made a name for itself in the industry as a pioneering technology and solution platform for the international print and media industry and we are building on this success. In line with the strategic restructuring of drupa 2016 and its focus on highlight topics, the drupa innovation park, with its six themed areas, will give visitors a chance to get insights into the technologies of the future. We believe that this opportunity will give our industry an indispensable tool to support strategic business decisions.”

At the dip, attendees will find trend-setting innovations, solutions and business cases in a centrally and clearly designed area, covering more than 32,000 square feet in Hall 7.0. In addition, the integrated communication concept on the presentation stage and in the “dip energy lounge” will help to promote interactive dialogue between industry peers.

dip 2016 will be divided into the following six theme parks:

1. Multichannel Publishing & Marketing Solutions
This area will cover topics such as management of cross-media content/assets, web & app publishing as well as database publishing and marketing and brand management solutions. Potential applications and trends such as augmented reality, NFC applications and customized mass production will also be addressed.

2. Web-to-Media & E-Commerce
This area will focus on solutions for web-to-publish and web-to-print, E-commerce & shop platforms, cloud publishing and web editors for design/print and HTML 5.

3. Process Optimization & Automation
This park will include solutions and innovation on the following topics: management information systems, enterprise resource planning, print automation with JDF/JMF, workflow management from pre-press to finishing, process and quality control systems, industrial robots and automation technologies.

4. Added Value in Print
The focus here will be on finishing, further development and the advanced added-value of print products, including innovative substrates, new finishing methods, packaging, label printing & displays, green printing and secure printing.

5. Innovations in Printing Technologies
Modern printing and process technologies will be presented in this theme park and visitors will find applications for functional printing, printed electronics, 3D printing, solutions for prototyping, visualization & workflow.

6. Business Models
New business concepts and models, strategic cooperation and marketing platforms as well as finance concepts and franchising and license models will be the subject of this innovation park.

An international team of experts will again be responsible for designing and marketing the drupa innovation park. “The dip is a platform for all visitors to drupa 2016, sharing knowledge and providing an insight into future communication developments in the print and media industry," stated Frank Romano, Professor Emeritus, Rochester Institute of Technology.

Peter Sommer, Senior Vice President of the Elanders Group, added: “drupa has always been synonymous with technical innovations. But what has been lacking is implementation in successful business models, especially in relation to competition in the online and mobile segments. The drupa innovation park is a beacon in this respect and does what the name suggests. Ideally, it will turn the drupa slogan 'Touch the future' into reality.”

Messe Düsseldorf has again assigned the marketing, communications & events agency Winter Consulting with the organization and design of the drupa innovation park. For more than 14 years, Winter Consulting has been designing and implementing exhibition concepts for innovative trade fairs and conferences. Owner Sandra Winter has been actively involved in marketing, communication and sales in the IT, print and media industry since 1992 and oversaw the drupa innovation parks in 2004, 2008 and 2012. Registration details and more information about the concept will be available at www.drupa.com end of March.