Interview with Malte Seifert, Director of XPONENTIAL Europe
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    After the extremely successful premiere a year ago, champagne corks popped in Düsseldorf. And rightly so. Shortly thereafter, attention turned to March 24, 2026, and the opening of the second XPONENTIAL Europe. In an interview with the Drones editorial team, Director Malte Seifert reveals what visitors can look forward to over three action-packed days, the influence of world politics on his work, and why he and his team still consider themselves at the very beginning of their development.

    Drones: „We are still at the beginning of our development.” You told us this prior to the first XPONENTIAL Europe. Since then, twelve months have passed, and you can boast both an impressive premiere and a completely booked venue weeks before the second edition. Do you still feel like you’re at the beginning?

    Malte Seifert: Honestly? Yes.

    But you and your team have taken a few steps forward since then with „your show“, right?

    Of course. When we announced in May 2023 at XPONENTIAL in Denver that we would host XPONENTIAL Europe in Düsseldorf starting in 2025, we couldn’t have assumed that, just two years later, we would be the undisputed leading trade show for autonomy and robotics in Europe. However, we clearly recognized the need for such a convention format with an exhibition, conferences, and networking events here in Europe.

    The timing couldn’t have been better. Although overall economic conditions remain challenging, especially regarding the military use of unmanned systems, interest in politics, business, and media is hard to beat.

    One can never precisely predict how a novel technology will develop. And when you talk to exhibitors, you hear that attention alone is not everything. For good ideas and innovative products to become sustainably successful ventures, more is needed. For example, a suitable investment and funding landscape, stable supply chains, and practical legal frameworks, not to mention actionable regulations.

    Already several weeks before the trade fair, all spots in the exhibition hall were filled, and additional interested parties…


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