IFA Launches Innovation Awards to Set the Stage for a New Century of Technology Breakthroughs

IFA Berlin, the world’s largest consumer and home electronics trade show, marked a pivotal step on June 24th with the launch of its first-ever IFA Innovation Awards, a new program that aims to recognize excellence in product design, engineering, and market impact across the consumer tech landscape. These awards will debut at IFA 2025, taking place in Berlin from September 5 to 9, and will spotlight standout innovations from among the show’s 1,800+ exhibitors.

The initiative, announced on June 24, 2025, is the latest move by IFA Management GmbH to enhance the event’s global positioning as a platform for the most significant and forward-looking developments in technology. The awards are intended to help retailers, media, and consumers identify “the Best of IFA” by shining a light on cutting-edge advancements in areas like artificial intelligence, mobility, connected health, sustainability, and accessibility.

“The IFA Innovation Awards will recognize the Best of IFA, rewarding the incredible progress being made in home and consumer technology,” said James McGough, Managing Director at Clarion Events, one of IFA’s joint organizers. “By highlighting best-in-class products… IFA will help retailers, buyers, consumers, press, and media identify the brands that are truly shaping how we live, work, and play.”

Entries will be reviewed by an independent jury of global experts, including tech journalists, product designers, and industry leaders. I am very excited to be one of the judges of the IFA Innovation Awards! The goal is not only to award excellence but also to provide a transparent process for identifying meaningful products and design innovations launched at the event. Companies need to apply before August 16th.

Beyond the Awards, Celebrating a Century of Innovation Showcases at IFA

The introduction of the Innovation Awards follows the success of IFA 2024, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the trade show. That centennial edition drew over 215,000 attendees from 138 countries, including more than 133,000 trade professionals, reaffirming IFA’s role as a vital meeting point for the global consumer electronics and appliance industries.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz officially opened the 100th edition, underscoring IFA’s national and international importance. The show featured significant developments in smart homes, AI-driven appliances, health and wellness technology, and sustainable innovation. From foldable displays to next-generation sound systems and energy-efficient home solutions, the technology on display reflected both the heritage and future of the event.

We have been reporting from the IFA show floor in Berlin for the past 12 years, providing real-time coverage and hands-on insights into the most exciting announcements. Our IFA 2024 highlights and Ubergizmo’s Best of IFA 2024 Awards captured some of the key innovations showcased during the centennial edition of the show.

Now, with the 101st edition of IFA on the horizon, the IFA Innovation Awards offer a new mechanism to formally recognize groundbreaking ideas and products that will shape the future of consumer technology.

This new direction also reflects a strategic shift under the leadership of Leif Lindner, who became CEO of IFA Management GmbH in mid-2024. I interviewed him in August 2024, a few weeks before IFA 2024. At the time, he spoke candidly about his priorities for the show’s evolution and its relevance in a fast-changing global tech environment.

Lindner brought decades of experience from senior roles at Samsung and Sony, and he had a deep understanding of IFA from both the exhibitor and organizational perspectives.

As part of the IFA 100 program, the event also underwent a rebranding effort aimed at clarifying its identity and renewing its appeal to both business audiences and the broader public. In our interview, Leif Lindner emphasized that this was not just a visual refresh but a strategic move to reposition IFA as a year-round platform focused on innovation, insight, and international relevance. The updated brand identity aimed to better reflect IFA’s dual focus on industry and lifestyle, and to prepare the show for its next phase of growth.

He emphasized that innovation at IFA isn’t just about product announcements—it’s about storytelling, inspiration, and global impact.

“This is not about making IFA bigger. It’s about making it more relevant,” said Lindner “We want to sharpen the positioning of IFA as the place where business gets done, where the most exciting product launches happen, and where the industry gets inspired.”

The IFA Innovation Awards embody that mission, providing a curated framework to identify and celebrate innovative products and companies showcased at the show.

As IFA 2025 prepares to open its doors for the 101st time, the newly launched Innovation Awards signal a renewed commitment to shaping the future of technology, not just as a platform for product debuts, but as a global forum for excellence, creativity, and vision.

Ubergizmo will return to Berlin this September to provide comprehensive coverage of the Innovation Award finalists and winners, as well as all the key announcements. Stay tuned.

Filed in Announcements >Events. Read more about Awards, Editorpick, IFA, IFA 2023 and IFA 2024.