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46 I I meetings _ IDS 2011 roots2_2011 As a result, the atmosphere at the fair was extremely positive.Inmyopinion,itwasthebestIDSever.” Jürgen Schwichtenberg, President of the Associa- tion of German Dental Technicians’ Guilds (VDZI), an IDS partner, was also very pleased with the trade fair. “Fromthepointofviewofthedentaltechniciantrade, the IDS 2011 once again proved the dental sector’s innovative power. Considering the variety of products on display in Cologne and the rapid development of new, particularly digital technologies, it will be even moreimportantinthefuturefordentaltechniciansto actively supplement these new technologies and so- lutions with their expert knowledge and to put these intopracticeintheirlaboratoriesinordertoensurean all-round high-quality treatment. Our partners in the dentalindustryingeneralanddentistsinparticularwill beabletocontinuetorelyontheseimportantservices.” OnepartnershipthatwasstartedatIDSisbecom- ing an important political aspect of the profession: collaboration between the VDZI and the European Association for Dental Technology. The aim of the collaboration is to combine dental technology ex- pertise and provide further training of the highest standard in both theory and practice so that practi- tioners can learn about the latest state-of-the-art dental technology. _Speakers’ Corner well visited Many IDS visitors took advantage of the Spea- kers’ Corner feature to gather information on the latestdevelopmentsinscienceandresearch.Around 80exhibitorspresentedtheirnewproductsandtech- nologies. The presentation topics included implant systems, digitisation, dental aesthetics, laser tech- nology, dental anaesthesia and the benefits of mod- ern stress management for dentists. Dr Peter Engel, President of the German Dental Association(GFDI),oneoftheIDSorganisers,ishappy with the positive outcome of the trade fair: “Even more visitors and exhibitors than in previous years can mean only one thing: The profession is progres- sive and medium-sized German businesses are fos- tering innovation—and they’re attracting enormous interest internationally.” At the exhibition, the GFDI held a coordinating conference for aid organisations, at which over 40 participants presented aid projects seeking to improve the dental health of the world’s poor. The projects were developed by dentists and dental students who work in impoverished regions all over the world. Some of them also work in Germany. They provide dental services to a range of disadvantaged patients, including orphans, homeless people, dis- abled patients, drug addicts and inhabitants of re- mote areas, who would not receive treatment other- wise.Todothiswork,dentistsandstudentsoftenhave to overcome enormous challenges. The coordinating conferenceofferedparticipantsaspecialopportunity tosharetheirexperiencesinorganisingaidefforts. In collaboration with the VDZI, the GFDI will also organise the 35th IDS, which will take place from 12 to 16 March 2013._