Mathias Kuepper, Managing Director of Koelnmesse Pte Ltd
The 9th ACM SIGGRAPH Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques in Asia (SIGGRAPH Asia 2016) successfully took place at The Venetian Macao from 5 to 8 December 2016. The 2016 edition was held under the theme “Key to the Future”, with a new Virtual Reality (VR) Showcase being introduced to SIGGRAPH Asia for the first time this year. The four-day event attracted more than 6,000 delegates from more than 50 countries and regions, including industry professionals, academics and technology enthusiasts. Both the organiser and the event manager said they were satisfied with the effectiveness of the event, recognising the importance of the hardware and software of Macao’s convention and exhibition industry, which makes the city well equipped to host international meetings.
‘Oscars’ of the computer animation sector held in Macao
The Conference Chair of SIGGRAPH Asia, Hongbo Fu, said that SIGGRAPH has gained outstanding success in North America since it was first held in 1974. An Asia edition was first held in 2008 and it soon became a renowned platform in the high-quality computer graphics techniques sector, and its awards are now likened to the “Oscars”. The 2016 edition introduced a new Virtual Reality (VR) Showcase to SIGGRAPH Asia for the first time, in order to explore emerging trends and applications in virtual reality, contributing to the ability of the industry to bring new technologies to market.
More than 6,000 delegates from over 50 countries and regions attended SIGGRAPH Asia 2016. Mathias Kuepper, the event manager and Managing Director of Koelnmesse Pte Ltd, said he was satisfied with the results of SIGGRAPH Asia 2016. Mr Kuepper added that the organisation for the event had been highly professional throughout the process. He noted that the event would contribute to the growth of the local convention and exhibition industry, as well as showcasing that particular exhibiting sector’s latest creative technology, along with information and research that features the latest trends of the market. The professional organisational support for the event is one of the reasons why the related conferences and seminars recorded a high attendance, facilitating communication and business collaboration among the participants, added Mr Kuepper.
Large-scale conventions promote development of various industries in Macao
Both Mr Fu and Mr Kuepper pointed out that SIGGRAPH Asia is an annual event that rotates around the Asian region. Macao was chosen to host the 9th edition thanks to the city’s favourable policies regarding entry visas. This helps to attract visits from specialists coming from Mainland China, the United States, the United Kingdom and several other Asian countries and regions. According to both Mr Fu and Mr Kuepper, large hotels in Macao are easy to reach, with major ports of entry well connected to local communities via public transport. Such arrangements not only save time, but also make it very suitable for international events, they added. They also noted the city is well served by food and beverage outlets, shops and leisure and entertainment facilities.
The hosting of SIGGRAPH Asia in Macao would help promote the development of the city’s tourism industry, as well as create fresh opportunities for various other industries in Macao; particularly for the computer graphics sector and for the convention and exhibition industry to collaborate, enabling them to communicate and learn from overseas institutions, said both Mr Fu and Mr Kuepper. They added that local enterprises could also make use of SIGGRAPH Asia as a platform to explore the available market for their services and try to expand it, including potentially to the international arena.
Macao is to host several international, large-scale events in the coming months, starting with the annual prominent event of the environmental sector – the “2017 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition” (MIECF). Other events include: the “iGaming Asia Congress 2017” conference and exhibition – an event that covers several segments of the gaming sector and is organised by the Asian gaming industry, social platforms and mobile app companies; the “2nd International Exposition of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Ancient Art Macao - China” – an event that will gather renowned academics and collectors from around the world jointly to explore topics on intangible cultural heritage; and the “39th Asia Pacific Dental Congress 2017” – an event that will host medical professionals from 30 countries and regions. For more information, please visit the official website of MICE at http://www.mice.gov.mo/tc/.
