EXPO REAL (Messe München)

We’ve already explored what’s happening on Monday and Tuesday at the new InfrastructureNow forum at EXPO REAL (Messe München). Now, let’s turn to Wednesday – day 3 of the programme. What’s coming up? Infrastructure means connection and deals with transports – of goods and people. That’s why Wednesday, 7 October starts at 10.00 h with the panel “Sustainable Mobility and Transport Oriented Development”. Maciej Fijałkowski, Secretary, City of Warsaw, Dr. Gesa Matthes, Strategic Innovation, HafenCity Hamburg GmbH and Samu Szemerey, National Chief Architect for Hungary and State Secretary for Architecture and Construction at the Hungarian Ministry of Transport and Public Works, will present and answer the questions of moderator Prof Greg Clark CBE FAcSS, global consultant for cities. The energy, data centre, defence and financing topics explored in depth on days 1 and 2 are all closely connected to the needs and challenges of cities. So, on day 3, the focus shifts to the urban level – with panels exploring how infrastructure can help shape the cities of tomorrow. The session beginning at 11.00 h is dedicated to “Infrastructure in growing cities”. For the Norwegian capital Oslo Øyvind Såtvedt, Assistant Director General and Head of Business Development, City of Oslo, as well as as well as Sascha Steuer, CEO of the German Verband Beratender Ingenieure, and Christoph Leptien from DWA Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall will join the stage together with moderator Prof Greg Clark. From 12.00 h to 12.50 h it is about infrastructure in “New Cities and New Towns”. Clare Wildfire, Global Cities Lead at Mott MacDonald, Robert Grüneis, Board Member at Vienna’s Wien 3420 aspern development AG, Alejandro Gutierrez, Director at Arup and Elisabet Cirici i Amell, Director General for Spatial Planning, Urban Planning and Architecture at the Government of Catalonia are on stage at InfrastructureNow. Prof Greg Cark will moderate this session as well. And finally, we’ll wrap up the first InfrastructureNow programme on Wednesday – with a strong focus on cities and the infrastructure shaping their future. Here’s what’s in store at InfrastructureNow: https://lnkd.in/dDKrKN3s

Interest in EXPO REAL’s new focus on infrastructure is strong – reflected in numerous discussions with participants and confirmed by the latest EXPO REAL Trend Index 2026, a survey of 430 exhibitors and visitors conducted in August 2026. The findings are clear: 71% of respondents say that infrastructure is playing a greater role in real estate projects today than it did five years ago. At the same time, 70% believe that the growing investment needs will increasingly have to be met by private and institutional investors. The message: infrastructure is becoming an increasingly important part of the real estate and investment landscape. With #InfrastructureNow, EXPO REAL (Messe München) is responding to this shift – bringing infrastructure, capital and expertise together and creating a dedicated platform for the opportunities ahead. Here are a few highlights from the new InfrastructureNow forum, taking place on Tuesday, 6 October, in Hall A3. The morning programme puts a very different – but increasingly relevant – aspect of infrastructure in the spotlight: defense. The keynote “Military Infrastructure in Transition - A Strategic Outlook for the Growing Defense Market“ by Dr Alexander Götz from the Federal Ministry of Defense at 10.15 h will be followed at 10.30 h by the panel discussion “Defense industry – an opportunity for the real estate sector?“ with the keynote speaker as well as Dr Rafaela Kraus (Professorship Business Management & Leadership, University of the Bundeswehr Munich), Christina Schädler (Swiss Life Asset Managers) and Dr Michael Six (Goldbeck Deutschland), moderated by Prof. Dr. Thomas Beyerle. In the afternoon, the focus shifts to another key area of infrastructure: data centers. The keynote at 13.30 h by Dr. Nicolas Sölter (State Secretary, Hessisches Ministerium für Digitales und Innovation) takes “Digital sovereignty: How much independence does Europe really need?” in the focus followed at 14.00 h by the discussion about “Digital Sovereignty Requires Data Centers: How Do We Ensure Acceptance, Capacity, and Speed?“. Among the panelists are Dr. Maximilian Bieri (Mayor of the City of Hanau), Isabelle Peter (Head of Data Center Real Estate Development at Schwarz Gruppe / Schwarz Projektentwicklung), Christoph Gisler (Head Infrastructure Equity at Swiss Life Asset Management) and Dr. Nicolas Sölter, moderated by Alexandra May. At 15.00 h the topic “Closed-Shop Data Center Investments: Where and with Whom is the Action Happening?“ will be discussed by Patrick Brinker (Head of Real Estate Investment Management at ABN AMRO Bank Frankfurt Branch), Andreas Graf-Matzner (VP and Country Manager at CloudHQ) and David Pecher (Head of Infrastructure Equity Transactions at MEAG). Moderator will be Peter Pohlschroeder (Vice Chairman of the German Datacenter Association). Find the full conference program for all the three days of the new forum InfrastructureNow here: https://lnkd.in/eAB3ErF3

Investors traditionally focused on real estate are increasingly turning their attention to infrastructure. Infrastructure that needs to be built, expanded and modernised. Meeting this growing demand will require private capital to work alongside public investment. EXPO REAL is evolving with this changing investment landscape. For the first time, it brings real estate, investment and infrastructure together under one roof – as the International Trade Fair for Real Estate, Investment and Infrastructure. This is where capital meets opportunity: bringing together those who need to build, expand and modernise infrastructure with those ready to invest in its future. This shift raises a host of new questions: What role will infrastructure play in strategic asset allocation? Where do real estate and infrastructure complement each other? How to finance its growing infrastructure needs? And how can private capital help close Europe’s infrastructure gap? Let’s walk the talk together with #InfrastructureNow at EXPO REAL (Messe München) 2026. Join our panel discussions at the InfrastructureNow Forum in hall A3: 👉 Monday, 9.30 am: Keynote „Capital doesn’t think in terms of asset classes: Why do we?“ by Peter Brodehser (German Association for Alternative Investments) followed by the panel discussion “From Real Estate to Infrastructure: Why Infrastructure Investments Are Gaining Importance”, with, among others, Michael Henn (Commerz Real), Philip Rauh (Swiss Life Asset Managers), and Martin Neubert (Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners), moderated by André Zücker (KGAL). 👉 Monday, 11 am: Panel “Strategic Asset Allocation: What Roles Will Infrastructure and Real Estate Play in the Future?” with Peter Herrmannsberger (Philips Pensionskasse), Uwe Fleischhauer (YIELCO Investments), Alexandra Bernstorff (Luxcara), and Andreas Wolf (KZVK), moderated by Sonja Knorr (Scope Fund Analysis GmbH). And this is only the beginning. Over the three days of EXPO REAL we will dive deeper into the infrastructure themes shaping Europe’s future – from energy and digital infrastructure and data centers to defence, financing, private capital, mobility and infrastructure in growing cities. Find the full conference program here: https://lnkd.in/dDKrKN3s Want to be part of the conversation? You’re most welcome. EXPO REAL in Munich from Monday, 5 October to Wednesday, 7 October.

Where are investors looking when certainty is in short supply? Geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and changing capital markets are making investment decisions more complex. At the same time, investors still need to make them. So where does Europe stand? What needs to change in Germany? How do geopolitical risks affect investment decisions? And what can we expect from the real estate and capital markets beyond 2026? These are some of the key questions shaping this year’s Investment Forum at EXPO REAL (Messe München). On Monday, 5 October, we start with a question from outside Europe: What do international investors see when they look at our markets today? The opening panel, “International Perspectives on Europe,” will explore where investors see commitment, where they remain cautious – and where opportunities still exist. The discussion will be followed by Moritz Schularick, President of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, who will take a closer look at global economic developments, Germany’s position and the reforms needed to strengthen its competitiveness. On Tuesday, MSC Chairman Wolfgang Ischinger will shift the focus to geopolitics. As geopolitical risk increasingly becomes part of the investment landscape, his keynote will explore how Germany can navigate between global centres of power while remaining an attractive destination for investors. In addition, panel discussions inter alia about investment trends, resilient portfolios and financing are on offer. Among many others, Sabine Barthauer, Gero Bergmann FRICS, Prof. Dr. Marcus Cieleback, Karim Esch, Sebastiano Ferrante; Barkha Mehmedagic, Boris Schran and Nathalie Winkelmann will be on stage. On Wednesday, the focus shifts to what comes next. Prof. em. Dr. oec. Dr. h.c. Hanspeter Gondring FRICS will examine the real estate market in 2026 and beyond, Dr. Gertrud Rosa Traud will offer an economic and capital markets outlook followed by a discussion with her, Guenther Artner and Victor Stoltenburg. The Investment Forum is about more than understanding where we stand today. It is about identifying the forces that could shape investment decisions in the years ahead. Explore the complete and continuously updated Investment Forum programme here: https://lnkd.in/eVj5MV79 I’m looking forward to the exchange, perspectives, and conversations at EXPO REAL from 5–7 October in Munich. Be part of it.

Great connections are no coincidence. They're prepared. And the EXPO REAL Network gives you the head start. The EXPO REAL Network is your platform to connect with decision-makers and experts long before October. Free for all registered ticket holders. Available on the website and in the EXPO REAL App. It's the easy way to make your time on-site count. And this year, it comes with a new feature: 🆕 Network Lounge in Hall B3: Reserve a 30-minute table slot via the Network and meet your contacts over drinks and snacks, all in the perfect setting for real conversations. On top of that, you'll find all the features you already value: intelligent matchmaking that suggests the right contacts, the option to search for specific keywords, names or companies, a calendar tool for appointments - and your personal dashboard to keep track of all your activities! The numbers from 2025 speak for themselves: over 28,600 chat messages, more than 18,200 new contacts and 1,405 meetings arranged. 👉 Log in with your ticket credentials and start building your EXPO REAL 2026 network today. #EXPOREAL #EXPOREAL2026 #realestate #property #networking

EXPO REAL 2026 is bringing fresh momentum to the fair experience. Whether you're looking for emerging investment opportunities, innovative technologies or valuable business connections, this year's additions are designed to help you discover what's next. So, what's new in 2026? 👉 InfrastructureNow: A brand-new focus area dedicated to investable infrastructure, covering Energy, Digital, Social and Defense Infrastructure through a dedicated exhibition and conference programme. 💡 Transform & Beyond: Bigger than ever, showcasing innovative solutions in AI, Smart Buildings, Decarbonization, and Digitalization. 🤝 Enhanced Networking: Connect more efficiently with the new Network Lounge in Hall B3, bookable meeting slots and additional meeting points via the EXPO REAL Network. With the industry's leading players, innovative solutions and new investment opportunities all in one place, EXPO REAL is where the real estate world comes together. 🔗See you in Munich? https://lnkd.in/dpQnD9xD #EXPOREAL #TransformAndBeyond #realestate #property #infrastructure