Walloon tech shines in Las Vegas
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the largest in the sector, is taking place in Las Vegas despite the pandemic but without giants such as Google and Microsoft. Fifteen Walloon start-ups have crossed the Atlantic thanks to support from AWEX. Seven start-ups and eight SMEs will be present in the busy Eureka hall.
Access to the tech mecca is based on a dossier, and a company can only participate twice. While this show is an invaluable springboard for carving out a place on the international scene, this year, companies will have to take into account the fact that less than half of the exhibitors are present (2,000 instead of 4,400). However, the absence of the giants of the sector will perhaps allow smaller companies to create a place for themselves. They include Levita, which offers presentations of levitating objects, something very popular in the luxury sector, and e-peas (spin-off of UCLouvain), which offers solutions for making devices autonomous in terms of energy.
Among the SMEs, we note the presence of drone specialist ALX Systems, and intoPIX, which offers file compression systems. Also on the trip is Back2buzz, which reconditions smartphones and develops eco-friendly accessories. The company has been on a roll during this raw materials crisis and has even received the Solar Impulse label, making it one of the 1,000 solutions for a more eco-responsible society. These solutions combine environmental protection and financial viability.
Walloon firms will have a real opportunity to meet partners and investors and develop internationally.