Speakers discuss experience design, interaction and technology in business events.
The 2026 Asian MICE Forum in Taipei cut its estimated emissions by about 38% through changes to materials, travel and catering, according to its organisers.
The measures were estimated to avoid about 414 kgCO₂e and included reducing single-use items, increasing reusable materials, shortening travel distances and adjusting catering arrangements.
The forum, which took place on 1 October, also considered a broader question for the business events industry: what in-person gatherings can provide when information and presentations are increasingly available online.
Architect Ole Scheeren, principal of Büro Ole Scheeren, said the design of physical spaces could shape interaction; while representatives of C2 Montréal and South by Southwest discussed how organisers use participation, sensory elements and technology to distinguish live events from digital content.
Other speakers argued that face-to-face settings remain useful for building trust and professional connections, while acknowledging that artificial intelligence and digital platforms are changing how event content is produced and distributed.
The forum was organised by the International Trade Administration under Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, and implemented by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council.
Organisers said the annual event has drawn more than 8,000 MICE professionals since it began in 2006.