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Brand and Event News
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Chris Pereira - IFA 2026 Keynote
iMpact Founder and CEO Chris Pereira was invited by IFA to deliver a keynote, 'Marketing in a New Era: Signals from China, Opportunities for Europe' as part of the official events program in Expert Talks (Hall 26c). Chris discussed what China's rapidly evolving business landscape can teach European companies about marketing, innovation and global growth. His central argument was that technology alone is no longer a lasting competitive advantage. While innovation and features can be copied, trust can only be built through relationships, local presence and consistent responsiveness. Drawing on more than 20 years in China, Chris explored how Chinese brands are moving beyond product and price to build credibility overseas, why European brands can no longer rely on country-of-origin reputation in China, and how AI is shifting from selling point to infrastructure. As he put it, China has innovation and speed but needs trust, while Europe has trust and precision but needs innovation and speed.
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iMpact Founder and CEO Chris Pereira was invited by IFA to deliver a keynote, 'Marketing in a New Era: Signals from China, Opportunities for Europe' as part of the official events program in Expert Talks (Hall 26c). Chris discussed what China's rapidly evolving business landscape can teach European companies about marketing, innovation and global growth. His central argument was that technology alone is no longer a lasting competitive advantage. While innovation and features can be copied, trust can only be built through relationships, local presence and consistent responsiveness. Drawing on more than 20 years in China, Chris explored how Chinese brands are moving beyond product and price to build credibility overseas, why European brands can no longer rely on country-of-origin reputation in China, and how AI is shifting from selling point to infrastructure. As he put it, China has innovation and speed but needs trust, while Europe has trust and precision but needs innovation and speed.
Read more: Chris Pereira - IFA 2026 Keynote -

For the FAVS × GCSx Executive Forum at IFA 2026, held onsite at IFA within the prestigious IFA Next Lab Lounge (Hall 25) we brought together senior leaders from AI wearables, e-commerce, academia, sustainability and standards to discuss how to build intelligent products people can trust, and scale them responsibly. Officially opened by IFA CEO Leif Lindner, the forum featured keynotes on consumer AI, green supply chains and emerging industry standards, with presentations by Rokid and Highpower Technology, followed by an executive roundtable on user trust, AI personalisation, privacy and sustainable hardware.
Read more: FAVS x GCSx Executive Forum @IFA 2026 -

At GCS @IFA 2026, we hosted our biggest Berlin event yet, bringing global technology brands and international media together in the Waldorf Hotel just ahead of the official IFA opening. The afternoon included an exciting programme of two-minute Fast Pitches, a simultaneous product unveil, hands-on demos and our media-voted Best of GCS Awards. More than 60 brands and over 100 international technology and business media joined, spanning AI, robotics, smart wearables, consumer electronics and next-generation hardware, making the event a key moment for brands looking to get their innovations in front of global media before IFA opened to the public.
Read more: GCS @IFA 2026 -

For GCSx @ NYC 2026, in partnership with TECH WEEK by a16z, we hosted an exclusive media event bringing together founders, investors, operators, and media to discuss where tech is heading across the US and Asia, with support from several co-hosts and an AI summary partner, and a spot on the official NYC Tech Week calendar. More than 150 attendees and 14 participating brands joined, spanning AI copilots, wearables, robotics, and smart consumer tech, making the event a key moment for companies expanding from Asia into the US market.
Read more: GCSx @NYC 2026 -

For our GCSx debut in the UK, we collaborated with the UK National Committee on China (UKNCC) and London Business School to host a fringe event alongside London Tech Week. The event brought together a panel of expert guests to explore one of the defining challenges facing global brands today: building trust in the age of AI and shifting geopolitics. More than 100 business, tech, and media professionals attended the panel discussion followed by a networking session that continued late into the evening. The energy of the room highlighted strong demand in London for this kind of forum, and marked a key moment for London's role as a global launchpad for technology companies as well as for Global Connect Show's growing presence in Europe.
Read more: GCSx @ London 2026 -

In early June, we welcomed 26 journalists from around the world the GCS China Innovation Tour, taking them behind the scenes of the companies and incubators representing the next wave in consumer tech innovation. Our most ambitious programme yet, the tour brought media to four cities in a single week — offering everything from startup incubator visits and early product demos to private CEO briefings and behind-the-scenes access to how robotics and green energy technologies move from development to deployment. The tour put media in direct contact with the people and processes shaping consumer tech, making it a key moment for understanding how ideas move from prototype to global scale within China's tech ecosystem.
Read more: Global Connect Show China Innovation Tour 2026 -

For the 2026 edition of GCS @ CES, in partnership with USA Today, we hosted an exclusive media event at Mike Tyson’s infamous Tiger Mansion in Las Vegas. The event brought together leading international and tech media, creating a high-end, results-driven platform that connected participating brands with premium global media resources and exposure opportunities. More than 80 international mainstream and technology media outlets and nearly 30 Chinese brands attended, making the event a key moment during CES for Chinese companies to communicate internationally and expand their global influence.
Read more: Global Connect Show @ CES 2026 -

Global Connect Media Day @IFA 2025 positioned Chinese innovators at the centre of one of IFA’s key official media events, giving brands a high-visibility platform to meet top journalists and showcase their latest breakthroughs. Held inside the IFA exhibition venue, the event brought together nearly 20 innovation-driven brands and over 60 major media outlets from Europe and North America. Brands presented flagship products through hands-on demos, while judges from leading media organisations conducted on-site evaluations. IFA CEO Leif Lindner opened the event and met each exhibiting team. As Leif Lindner noted, China’s leadership in consumer electronics, home appliances, AI and sustainability was reflected throughout IFA, and Global Connect Show served as a key platform bringing that innovation to global audiences.
Read more: Global Connect Show @ IFA 2025
2026 – 2027
GCS Global
Event Map
Hover or tap a city or a month to see dates
- MarBeijing
- AprShenzhen
- JunShenzhenLondonNew York
- JulShenzhen
- AugNingboZhengzhou
- SepIFA (Berlin)
- OctSan FranciscoHong Kong
- NovZhongshanShenzhenShanghaiBeijingHangzhou
- DecDubai
- JanCES (Las Vegas)
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