In addition to the established measurement technology and sensor technology trade fair SENSOR+TEST in Nuremberg and Sensor China, now in its tenth edition, another high-profile event is developing in China: the Sensor and Application Technology Conference with the Shenzhen International Industrial Automation and Robot Exhibition.
Anyone who has ever visited Shenzhen will certainly agree with the statement that the region is “the most modern city in the world.” Prof. Thomas Ortlepp, managing director of the CiS Research Institute, was also impressed by the city of the future, which was a fishing village just 40 years ago and has since developed into a high-tech metropolis. He was invited to give the opening speech at the 4th Sensor and Application Technology Conference in mid-November 2025, and in his keynote address entitled “Innovations in industrial sensor technologies,” he provided an overview of current development trends in silicon-based microsensor technology.
The accompanying trade fair focuses on industrial automation, robotics, intelligent manufacturing, and solutions for the smart factory, bringing together over 400 exhibitors in an area of 30,000 m². Humanoid robots in particular were a highlight of the event. One of the robots on display, for example, has around 4,000 force sensors built into it. These silicon strain gauge sensors enable smooth and precise movements with a lightweight construction weighing only 22 kilograms.
The future is not conceived on the drawing board; it is already being lived.
