The Rotterdam Experiment
Rotterdam is the capital of innovation, resilience is in the city's DNA. When conditions are challenging, we excel and drive forwards. Difficult times call for future focused solutions. During the COVID-19 pandemic we explored, tested, and shared with the industry innovative solutions within and outside the sector in a series of hybrid collaboration experiments.
The COVID-19 crisis brought the event industry to an abrupt halt. The entire world went into an abrupt transformation and businesses were disrupted. Exploring and experimenting with new event formats, seeking creative solutions was required. But that wasn’t enough – we had to look further into global trends that involved technology, organizational structures, generational shifts, learning, values, and leadership.
The future suddenly uncertain, by experimenting, it was possible to educate and prepare ourselves, our businesses and organizations for the ‘new normal’. We did this the Rotterdam way - because Rotterdam truly holds innovative DNA, and the power of collaboration is one of the city's great values. By bringing those two aspects together, we were able to create an environment open for experimentation and sharing knowledge.
Learning and sharing
Like any good experiment, we collected real-time data and exchanged knowledge with each other. Experts from the events industry & beyond provided an interdisciplinary perspective of our findings, and together we built up cumulative knowledge needed to give shape the event of the future. Knowledge and insights gained through The Rotterdam Experiment was shared online.
The Rotterdam Experiment series
Each edition of The Rotterdam Experiment was a step toward the future of events, by the industry and for the industry. Each Rotterdam Experiment provided a new experience, taking place at or broadcasted from a different location, with expert speakers addressing progressive themes within the event industry.
Experiment #1 – Mixed reality, Let’s meet in VR
During the 1st Rotterdam Experiment we explored the exciting possibilities mixed reality offers the events industry in a living experiment connecting the virtual & live sphere to each other. We focused on some of the current challenges the events industry is facing: how to ensure effective learning, how to suppport effective engagement and networking and, ultimately, how to guarantee equity of experience between my virtual and live delegates? During Experiment #1 we explored Mixed Reality as an enabling technology (using Altspace VR) and various experts provided a multidisciplinary perspective on the impact of virtual events and weighed in on their use of enabling technologies. From this first Rotterdam Experiment we took away valuable and interesting learnings.
Experiment #2 – It’s all about Gamification!
Rotterdam Experiment #2, broadcasted live from Cruise Terminal Rotterdam, was about Gamification. Part of the required global societal shift we touched on in Experiment #1 is a shift from “me” to “we”. The events industry is well equipped to rise to this challenge as it is an international collective by nature, and collaborative by design. This Experiment explored the world of gaming and how gamification elements provide both a framework and a culture for collaboration, while also building communities which cross borders and languages. We tried to answer the question: Does the world of gaming offer valuable insights on how to be an effective collaborative collective, to build community and resilience for the events industry? Check the learnings!
Experiment #3 – Lessons learned from hosting Eurovision Song Contest 2021
The third edition of The Rotterdam Experiment took place online and live Ahoy Convention Center. During this edition, the Host City Partners who made this possible in a time when the events world stood still, shared their lessons in three table talks: 1) How scenario thinking and collaboration made the execution of Eurovision 2021 feasible and safe, 2) Legacy – lessons learned to achieve more for your future events, and 3) What is Rotterdam’s strategy towards hosting events? Check the learnings from this Experiment via the link below.
Aftermovies
Each edition of The Rotterdam Experiment was recorded and an aftermovie was made per experiment. Watch them via these links:
- Full recording Rotterdam Experiment #1- Mixed Reality
- Aftermovie Rotterdam Experiment #1
- Full recording Rotterdam Experiment #2 - Gamification
- Aftermovie Rotterdam Experiment #2
- Full recording Rotterdam Experiment #2 - Eurovision Songcontest
- Aftermovie Rotterdam Experiment #3 - Recap 1
- Aftermovie Rotterdam Experiment #3 - Recap 2
- Aftermovie Rotterdam Experiment #3 - Recap 3
Impressions from The Rotterdam Experiment series
Team Convention Bureau
Want to organise congress or a business event? Rotterdam Partners, our city's official Convention Bureau, is your starting point. We will share our broad expertise and network, dedicated guidance and up-to-date knowledge of Rotterdam. Get in touch with us:
