Started in 1992 as an annual congress show to bridge the years between the triennial EuroShop exhibition meanwhile EuroCIS is an annual hot spot for the European retail technology. During the EuroShop years as a special segment and in the two years in-between as a well-respected stand-alone exhibition in the caliber of market-leader!

EuroCIS covered in 2018 a floor-space of 14.400 square meters net, occupied by 468 exhibitors. It attracted 12.000 visitors. "Also in 2019 we expect many international visitors - combining the fair events in Düsseldorf with store visits of the European Retail Academy in the North Rhine Westfalia region" (see also LINK) Prof.Dr.B.Hallier stated.
 

In Zagreb/Croatia a World Congress of Entrepreneurs was organized jointly by business, universities and local, regional and national governments mainly from the area of former Yugoslavia plus Austria and Germany. It was a call to encourage the civil society to participate in a social market economy and the spirit of entrepreneurship. The backstage organization will monitor and support the activities gathered in the Horizon 2020 Initiative of the European Union.

To underline the importance a monument was established to remind of the Zagreb-Declaration (read here), which will be followed by a 2019 Congress in the city of Skopje/Macedonia.
 

"The CZ Retail Summit is the biggest conference-player of its kind within Central Eastern Europe and a Lighthouse for the transformation from Socialism towards Market Economy" Prof.Dr.B Hallier - who had been awarded by the VSE University Prague in 2011 (YouTube) - stated in an interview. The Summit was started with joint three colums: Retail Association, VSE University and Government.

In 2006 the European Retail Academy decided to honor each year one outstanding personality, who beside his/her work as a researcher contributes also by building bridges between theory and applied sciences or via social or cross-border activities.

For 2019 ERA President Prof.Dr.Hallier appointed Prof.Dr.Raekwon Chung/ Nobel Peace Laureate 2007 from Korea. "The nomination of Prof.Chung is a support for a Global House of Harmony based on the integration of Economics, Ecology and Ethics" Hallier stated (Hall of Fame).
 

In China in 2014 the Zhongguancun Industry and Information Research Institute of Two-Dimensional Code Technology (ZIIOT) was founded in Beijing and recognized in 2018 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the Advancing Identification Matters (AIM GLOBAL). An Unified Two-Dimensional Code Registration Management Center (UTC Global) was established in Beijing/China where currently UTC China, UTC Korea, UTC India and UTC Canada are coordinating their global activities.

Dr.Chao Zhang, President of ZIIOT, and Prof.Dr.Bernd Hallier signed a MOU for cooperation. Prof.Dr. Hallier appointed Dr.Chao Zhang to be a member in the ERA Board of Trustees. ZIIOT will be the Chinese Umbrella Organization for the Thematic University Network (Food).