Celebrating 60 Years of Innovation: The History of Electronica

This year, electronica, the world’s premier trade show for electronic components, will celebrate its 60th anniversary! This is an incredible milestone for the trade fair that began with humble origins. Electronica has become the global epicenter for innovation, letting companies of all sizes share their expertise on technology trends and foster new partnerships across various markets. November’s fair promises to be the largest in its history, drawing thousands of exhibitors and industry professionals to fill the 18 exhibition halls at Messe München fairgrounds for the first time.  

The focus of this year’s iconic show will be the future vision of an all-electric society, which we are moving closer to each year, especially now with the advent of artificial intelligence. This landmark anniversary year promises to be the largest and most influential in its history. As we get closer to the trade show’s commencement, let’s reflect on the factors that have shaped it into the pivotal industry platform it is today.

From Humble Beginnings to Extraordinary Heights

The first electronica fair was held in 1964 in Munich, Germany, and was called “a novelty in the German trade fair industry.” The Federal Republic of Germany, right behind the U.S. as the most crucial producer of electronic products at the time, seemed to be “predestined” to host such a trade fair.  

As Munich's newspaper quoted, the first iteration of electronica was “better than its reputation,” with over 407 companies from 16 countries exhibiting to over 14,000 trade visitors. Within the eight days of the fair, a model of the Syncom III communication satellite was shown after being lost in transit for five days before its rediscovery in the Munich Airport for the start of the fair.  

After its debut, electronica quickly rose in renown and stardom to become one of the most influential trade fairs within the industry. In 1966, the number of exhibitors nearly doubled, with 22,000 visitors attending that year’s event. The Munich newspaper once again praised electronica, calling it “a spectacular success in the professional world.”

“With this year’s event, electronica has established a reputation that will make it difficult even for the major players in this industry to continue to pass it by,” the newspaper concluded.

With that feather in its cap, electronica quickly became a must-attend event for industry professionals and one of the most important meeting places to learn. Electronica’s history states, “countless innovations such as the microchip were presented to the world for the first time [at Electronica].”

Microprocessors in the 70s, mobile communication in the 80s and 90s, and digitalization in the early 2000s all had their time in the spotlight at electronica. Since the fair was initially conceived to be dedicated to the burgeoning field of electronic components, cutting-edge technologies have remained its biannual focus since its inception.  

Electronica has quickly evolved into an industry behemoth synonymous with advancement and change within the electronics industry. Exhibition Director Katja Stolle says, “Electronica has become an indispensable platform for all companies in the electronics industry, from key players to startups.”  

2024 promises to be a monumental year for the trade fair and those attending the show. “The current booking status proves that once again, as 2024 will be the first time we fill all 18 exhibition halls, together with SEMICON Europa in two halls,” says Caroline Pannier, Deputy Exhibition Director. “That shows that electronica is more important than ever for tackling the challenges facing society at a time when electronics is shaping our everyday lives more than ever.”

More than 2,800 exhibitors are expected, and around 70,000 visitors will attend, eager to learn more about how future technology will shape a sustainable and livable all-electric society. Sourceability cannot wait to talk to all of you and share our thoughts on how our solutions can help support a more integrated electric society.