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🇦🇹 Austria /Technology

IFA 2026: Europe’s Great Opportunity Between China and the United States

From Die Presse · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • The IFA technology fair in Berlin features artificial intelligence, robotics and connected home devices among its main themes, with nearly 2,000 exhibitors from about 50 countries.
  • European manufacturers are seeking to distinguish themselves from China’s growing presence by emphasizing cybersecurity and digital sovereignty.
  • Companies including Fritz and Nuki view stricter European cybersecurity rules as a potential competitive advantage, provided they apply equally to all manufacturers.

Headphones that translate any language in real time, exoskeletons designed to help people walk again, and kitchens where artificial intelligence and smart sensors handle almost everything: the IFA in Berlin is showcasing plenty of futuristic technology, even if Star Trek’s replicator has not yet arrived.

Nearly 2,000 exhibitors from around 50 countries are presenting products across more than 25 halls at the world’s oldest technology fair. Artificial intelligence, robotics and countless connected household devices dominate the event. Hisense, LG, Bosch and Samsung are all putting substantial emphasis on AI and smart sensors in kitchen and home appliances.

That also means 40 years of development from Europe. That is very important in today’s world.

· Jan Oetjen, chief executive of FritzOetjen used the company’s 40th anniversary to emphasize European development and digital sovereignty.

But another topic stands out this year, especially as the fair feels increasingly dominated by Chinese companies: cybersecurity. European manufacturers are trying to counter that visible presence by highlighting their own strengths. Smart alarm clocks that track sleep data and smart glasses are on display, but security is also increasingly part of the sales pitch. The more connected devices become, the greater the need for reliable protection of data entering and leaving them.

The only viable path was radical transparency.

· Martin Pansy, founder and chief executive of NukiPansy described how Nuki sought to build trust in its smart locks when the company launched in 2015.

The German company Fritz, which is marking its 40th anniversary, illustrates the argument. “That also means 40 years of development from Europe. That is very important in today’s world,” Fritz chief executive Jan Oetjen told Die Presse am Sonntag. Routers act as digital gateways into people’s homes, making vulnerabilities a potential entry point for attackers and botnets. Oetjen says digital sovereignty means not only autonomy, but also a secure infrastructure.

A similar approach comes from Austrian smart-lock maker Nuki. Customers allow the company into their homes, so founder and chief executive Martin Pansy said the company concluded early on that “the only viable path was radical transparency.” Nuki welcomes the Cyber Resilience Act, which is due to take effect on September 11, but co-founder Jürgen Pansy says that will work only if regulators enforce it and apply the same rules to everyone. The legislation’s security and reporting duties could, if properly implemented, become an important selling point for European manufacturers.

But only if it is fully enforced and the same rules apply to everyone.

· Jürgen Pansy, Nuki co-founderPansy said the Cyber Resilience Act could help European companies only if regulators enforce it equally.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Presse in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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