In close collaboration with Danish Industry and Creative Denmark, imm cologne 2025 will showcase a partner country for the first time. As a pioneer of modern, functional, minimalist and sustainable furniture design, Denmark will be represented in Cologne in a variety of ways. This collaboration confirms imm cologne’s position as an international platform for innovative furnishing solutions and strengthens its reputation as one of the industry’s leading trade fairs.
Denmark – a design nation with a strong heritage and future
In truth, the choice of imm cologne’s first partner country could not be more perfect. Denmark was one of the first countries to combine industrial manufacturing with a timeless, functional style, and it has produced countless design classics, particularly during the mid-century period. Today, Danish design is also synonymous with sustainability and the circular economy. “We are delighted to have gained the support of Danish Industry, Creative Denmark and numerous Danish companies for our new concept,” says Matthias Pollmann, Vice President Trade Fair Management at Koelnmesse. “We expect great things from this collaboration. We will experience how Danish design is developing today, and we will continue to drive forward our process of internationalisation, which is a great advantage of imm cologne and makes the Interior Business Event increasingly attractive for German companies as well. The furniture world meets in Cologne – that is our express goal.”
Wide-ranging programme at imm cologne 2025
In addition to the showcase of Danish companies and leading figures from the creative industry, there will be pavilions dedicated to the theme of “Design nation Denmark.” Following the well-known Circle concept, they will illustrate the approaches Germany’s northern neighbours are taking to solve global challenges and how they are leading Danish design into the future. All of this will be set against the backdrop of a programme that will run throughout the trade fair. With collaborations between German and Danish designers, the opportunity for up-and-coming creative talent to exhibit their work and a host of other events, Denmark will be ever- present at imm cologne 2025.
imm cologne 2025: global platform for innovation and growth
Forging new paths and creating opportunities are imm cologne’s goals for the 2025 edition of the trade fair. New formats and participation options, combined with a country partnership with Denmark, will position the trade fair as the central sourcing platform for the European market. Together with manufacturers, retailers and sector associations, the aim is to build strong networks and a platform for innovative ideas. This will equip the sector to tackle the current challenges and enable the German furniture industry to showcase its offerings in Cologne as befits its position as one of the top three interior design markets in the world.
Innovative, international and forward-looking – this is how imm cologne 2025 will be presented under the banner of its central theme, Connecting Communities. The event will emphasize the importance of the European and the German furniture markets for global companies. Germany remains the most important European nation for the furniture industry. With the volume of trade generated in the sector amounting to 30 billion euros, it is the largest sales market in Europe. Despite their current price sensitivity, German consumers are also European leaders in spending on furniture purchases. These figures demonstrate the importance of the German interior design market, which is also reflected in the registrations for imm cologne 2025: International exhibitors will continue to be strongly represented at the Interior Business Event, with their numbers expected to be similar to or even higher than in previous years. This is a clear indicator that the German market remains highly attractive for many companies across the globe.
German furniture market has enormous potential
The German industry should use this potential to tackle the current challenges and set itself up for a successful future. Matthias Pollmann, the vice president trade fair management at Koelnmesse who oversees imm cologne, emphasises the event’s relevance as an engine for the furniture industry: “We need strong networks and innovative ideas. And that is exactly what imm cologne offers – a platform for fresh ideas and business opportunities that will give the industry the momentum to move forward.” For such an event, Cologne is the ideal place for international
networking – and not just geographically. In addition to the city’s central location, the team at Koelnmesse has hosted numerous international formats, including ORGATEC in October, and demonstrated how successful trade fairs operate and how they can bring markets, people and businesses together.
New momentum for a strong event platform
To stage a dynamic showcase at imm cologne and further strengthen the trade fair as a platform for fresh ideas and business opportunities, Matthias Pollmann’s team has made some adjustments to the event format. The new concept is even more flexible and geared towards companies’ individual needs while always keeping their shared goals in view. Country partnerships are being introduced to intensify international networking. By selecting Denmark as the trade fair’s partner for 2025, the organisers have chosen a country that is synonymous with quality and innovation in design. Flexible new formats will enable companies to maintain their visibility and market presence even if they decide to participate at short notice and want to minimise their expenditure. In addition, imm cologne 2025’s central theme, Connecting Communities, and the related content and event formats will create forums for sparking inspiration and nurturing fresh ideas.
“Face-to-face contact is essential.”
The importance of trade fairs should not be underestimated, especially in difficult times, as Jan Kurth, chief executive officer of the Association of the German Furniture Industry (VDM), emphasised at the press conference in Copenhagen where Koelnmesse presented its new approaches. “We see face-to-face contact at trade fairs as essential. imm cologne in particular is vital to the industry, especially to the continued expansion of the export business. For foreign manufacturers, imm cologne provides crucial access to the German market.” These are aspects that Matthias Pollmann’s team plans to develop further: “In 2025, we will provide crucial impetus and further expand imm cologne as an engine for the entire industry. To forge a successful future, transformation is required. That applies not just to the trade fair, but to all market actors. And to shape this transformation successfully, collaboration, commitment and the courage to change are essential – and imm cologne is the perfect format for building the strong networks that are needed for this.”
