GPD Istanbul: Call for innovations & papers - Spearheading new innovations

GPD program in conjunction with the Eurasia Window, Glass and Door Exhibition puts a special emphasis on new innovations in the design, use and processing of glass.



- The GPD tradition has always been one of spreading information and technology through information sharing, says GPD Chairman Jorma Vitkala. This time we will create a new type of venue set-up around an Innovation Corner designated to promote effective exchange of recent technology.

The arrangement will provide opportunities for start-up companies as well as established firms topresent their latest innovations for both seminar and exhibition participants. The seminar and Innovation Corner are open to all trade fair visitors free-of-charge. 

We encourage all who are interested in participating in this innovation event or are willing to be a speaker to submit their abstract / proposals through our website. Funding in support of participation for start-up companies and research institutions may be available on request.

Novel concepts in Istanbul

The fourth GPD Istanbul Conference has been developed in many ways in comparison with previous events. The venue is new and so is the program timing.

The GPD seminar is now located in the Fair Area itself with the Innovation Corner attached to the event. The previous three GPD Istanbul seminars attracted some 200-300 participants each while the main exhibition drew over 60,000 visitors from 93 countries in 2017.



- We have noted the great interest for a regionally adapted GPD in Eurasia, Jorma Vitkala comments. We expect attendance in 2018 to at least match the past seminars which, added to the previous three participation numbers,  means that by 2018 a total of well over 1,000 regional specialists will have shared and contributed to our messages from the top of the glass world.

This enables us to produce a program that is well adapted to regional conditions and yet includes the state-of-the-art of the glass industry. Presentations of new trends, technologies and applications with simultaneous English/Turkish interpretation boost the efficiency of the event.

Participants can expect case studies ranging from architectural and structural design issues to information of the types of glass used and how the building envelope was made. Processing companies will benefit from the latest technologies of glass processing with special views on how to improve the quality and profitability of operations.



- I had the pleasure of participating as session chairman and speaker in a recent ICG International Commission on Glass Conference on location in Istanbul organized by Sisecam. On this occasion I provided a GPD 2017 world-wide summary of markets and trends and received a lot of valuable feedback to be considered for our upcoming Istanbul event in 2018.

The ICG event was attended by a large number of international speakers who enjoyed the exciting atmosphere and professional offering of this hub of Eurasian business.  I especially appreciated the genuine interest for innovation and development.

GPD – Glass Performance Days in a Nutshell

The GPD was first organized in 1992. Since then over 3,200 presentations have been shares at 16 Conferences in Finland and at regional venues. More than 14,600 glass professionals have attended these events, including 1,180 speakers. Over 10,000 pages of technical information have been published.