Over the past few days, the MCB Pavilion has seen thousands of attendees, all of which have experienced first-hand the cutting edge solutions being created in the Media Cluster. The pavilion has offered a light, Nordic design, with an open and welcoming atmosphere, which has been noticed. Visitors have discovered the technology and solutions of the cluster and, most of all, new contracts have been signed.
MCB Village: A door-opener
Anne Jacobsen, CEO of the Norwegian Media Cluster, stated that the MCB Village has been a definitive success, with a strong positioning of the cluster.
– We have been able to open the doors to our cluster in a fantastic way, with lots of activity and visibility. We have had non stop traffic to our demos, meetings, user groups, workshops, gatherings, social events, demonstrations, and presentations. Absolutely amazing, Jacobsen said.
Anne Jacobsen, CEO of the Norwegian Media Cluster, from the opening of the MCB Village
In addition to the larger companies at the MCB Village, like Mediability, Myreze and Wolftech, smaller companies and startups have been able to join the stand.
– These companies would not have been able to do this on their own, financially or organization wise. Doing it this cooperative way, has allowed the smaller companies a direct highway to the international market. They seem to have had a very busy schedule and lots of fun, which really has pleased me, Jacobsen said.
One of these companies is Motion Corporation.
– It has been absolutely fantastic, said CEO Njål Borch.
– Showcasing under the Media City Bergen umbrella has given us substantial visibility – not only here at IBC, but also within the cluster.
Njål Borch, CEO of Motion Corporation, giving a talk at the stand.
– We now have access to a lot of interesting and important people, and have had meetings with large, international environments. I must say we are really proud to be part of this community. This stand is giving us the credibility we need. We are part of something big here, Borch said.
– Bergen and Norway have been pioneers and entrepreneurs
Kristianne Paasche, Special Advisor for Clusters at Innovation Norway, had the honor of opening the MCB Village stand for business on Friday. In her opening speech, she emphasized the importance of working together and exchanging knowledge.
– For centuries, Bergen and Norway have been pioneers and entrepreneurs, builders and merchants, taking new ideas and great ambitions around the globe. But, it is not only technology that sets us apart. It is also the will and ability to work together, to find the great ideas and build the unique solutions. Whether large and global, or small and new, companies in the Media Cluster collaborate and partner as they look to the future, and invite the world to come along.
– For Innovation Norway, this shared tradition of innovation and technology is also a foundation, and we want to support and help those that build our common future.
Study Tour at IBC
A delegation from Bergen joined us for a study tour of IBC, where they got a complete tour of the trade show, and of course visits to Vizrt, Vimond, Electric Friends, and Sixty, all companies with their own stands. The delegation also spent a lot of time together with cluster companies at the MCB Village.
Bård Sandal, County Director Regional Development, at Hordaland Fylkeskommune, summarized the visit like this:
– It has been very inspiring to see how the Media Cluster is working here at IBC, and also to get a grasp of the international standing that the cluster has. This doesn't only create growth and value in the region back at home, the work being done is also of great significance for the global industry.
Bård Sandal, County Director Regional Development, Hordaland County Council.
The University of Bergen was represented by staff, students and researchers at IBC. Seeing that the student projects are highly relevant for what the cluster companies are working with, the students got the chance to demo their Hololens project at the MCB Village stand.
Audun Gulbrandsen, Master's student, and Joakim Vindenes, PhD Candidate (Both UiB)
The world's first live mixed reality concert
By the use of new innovative gaming technology Myreze are able to create hyper realistic broadcast graphics in real time. To show the possibilities Myreze made a spectacular virtual concert which they launched at IBC in the Media city Bergen village.
Bjørn Myreze at the MCB Village, introducing a virtual concert mixed in real-time.
The Norwegian Media Cluster has grown tremendously in recent years, with Media City Bergen as its hub and the Media Lab as the focal point of activities and projects. What the Media Cluster and Media City Bergen achieves, is impressive and important – leading the way for everyone. More than 80% of these companies deliver new innovations each year, creating jobs and value that reaches far beyond the seven mountains around Bergen.
More pictures from IBC:
Bård Sandal (County Director Regional Development, HFK), Kristianne Paasche (Special Adviser Clusters, Innovation Norway), Roy Tore Jensen (Chairman of Media City Bergen)
Ruth Rørvik (Special Adviser, Municipality of Bergen)
Left: Gustav Tresselt, CEO, Tenklabs, with a guest trying out their demo.
The study tour delegation visiting Electric Friends. Here with CEO Anders Tomren.
From right: Grethe Hjetland, CEO, Highsoft and Karianne Paasche, Special Adviser Clusters, Innovation Norway.
Huge crowd at the official opening of MCB Village.
Innovation Norway's Kristianne Paasche's opening speech.
Harm Christian Tolden, Municipal Director, Bergen Kommune, enjoying the Vizrt Live Show.
Arne Berven, CEO of Wolftech, presenting for the study tour delegation.
Petter Trobe, CEO of MYREZE, presenting for the study tour delegation.
At Sixty's stand: Kjetil Horneland, CEO, presenting for the study tour group.
Outside Mediability's booth at the MCB Village Stand.
Helge Høibraaten, CEO of Vimond, giving a presentation to the study tour delegation.