FDIC International postpones its event until August 2021, however, it opens up virtual opportunities to the industry to help showcase innovation throughout the Coronavirus
As a result of both the State of Indiana’s government direction, general public health advisories and many industry travel restrictions in response to the ongoing impact of the COVID 19 pandemic the upcoming FDIC International, scheduled to take place on April 19-24, 2021 at the Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium will now take place August 19-24, 2021.
“This was a difficult decision but the safety and wellbeing of our attendees, exhibitors, partners and staff remain the most important priority for us. We have put thoughtful consideration into our next steps, including open and honest discussions with our partners, exhibitors and the firefighter community. With the rollout of the new vaccines there is more confidence that it will be safer to come together in August.” said Eric Schlett, Senior Vice President, Clarion Fire & Rescue.
FDIC International’s 2021 schedule will include:
- Hands-on Training (H.O.T.) Evolutions & Pre-Conference Workshops: Thursday, August 19 and Friday, August 20.
- Conference Classroom Sessions: Saturday, August 21 – Monday, August 23
- Exhibition Halls and Outdoor Demonstration Areas: Sunday, August 22 – Tuesday, August 24.
In response to rising demand from the fire community to continue to learn and source solutions for ongoing needs FDIC International has launched two year-round virtual platforms.
FDIC Product Network a year round virtual product showcase & innovation hub. Dedicated to delivering innovative products and services and meaningful connections through live demos and categorised product listings. FDIC Product Network, beginning December 8th, was developed for the fire community based on industry demand to provide decision makers with a single year round resource for sourcing and building connections within the FDIC community virtually.
FDIC Product Network will use its entire cadre of marketing vehicles, coupled with exhibitor product content to provide buyers an interactive look at what’s new, next and innovative to fulfill their departments sourcing requirements. Access is complimentary for attendees and will include:
- Live monthly video product demos where you can view and interact with exhibitor’s products & services and ask real-time questions to presenters
- Access to on-demand video product demons following live events
- Easy-to-use searches and personalised recommendations based on user profiles and search behavior
- Exhibitor showrooms featuring information about the brand and latest products & services complete with a company chat feature to ask question or receive more information
- Personal calendars to request and accept one-on-one meeting requests with exhibitors
“While the FDIC Product Network does not replace the experience of connecting face-to-face at our live events, it allows the FDIC community to still see each other and continue to connect to drive business forward year round in a safe, virtual environment. We believe the platform will be a powerful sourcing and lead generation tool, providing critical connections between exhibitors and attendees that ultimately keep our communities safe,” says Eric Schlett, Senior Vice President, Clarion Events Inc., Fire & Rescue Group.
While the FDIC Product Network will be open year-round, each month will feature two or three days of live events organised around a specific product category theme. The schedule kicks off on December 8 with SCBA & Breathing Air. Additional themes throughout 2021 will include: PPE, Apparatus &Specialty Vehicles, Apparatus Accessories & Components, Innovations, Wildland & Urban Interface, FDIC in Review, Education & Training Services and Systems, EMS, Stations, Training Buildings and Station Equipment & Supplies, Extraction, Special Ops & Rescue, Communications, Software, Accountability & Compliance Systems.
“As we continue to navigate through not being able to see everyone face-to-face, we are excited for this new opportunity to launch a platform that can change how our industry does business moving forward,” Schlett continued, “our team is committed to continuing to provide solutions that bring the industry together.”
In addition, The Fire Academy is an all new interactive training platform, allowing firefighters and industry professionals to expand their knowledge and learn from top instructors year-round. Access includes 250+ on-demand courses in additional to 50 NEW courses releases throughout the year. The Fire Academy will launch on January 14, 2021, learn more at www.fdic.com/the-fire-academy.
The FDIC International team will continue to be in touch with all exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to answer any questions. There will be further communication to these groups over the coming days and weeks as we aim to facilitate a smooth transition and prepare for the next edition of FDIC International, August 19-24,2021 at the Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Additional information and frequently asked questions can be found on the FDIC website.
Despite the postponement of such an anticipated event, International Fire Buyer are excited to not only hopefully attend the event in August, and catch up with the industry face-to-face, but also publicise and attend the virtual events. In a time where innovation is still needed in the industry, aside from the difficulties, it is virtual events which can keep us all together, keep us informed and continue to keep innovation at the forefront of the industry.
