Privacy Policy

The purpose of this privacy policy is to inform visitors to our website and our customers / persons interested about how personal data (data) is processed.

I. Who is responsible for processing the data and who can I contact?

Responsible body for the processing of data on this website:

Solar Promotion International GmbH, Kiehnlestraße 16, 75172 Pforzheim

Tel.: +49 7231 58598-0
Email: info(at)solarpromotion.com

If you have any questions about data protection, please contact our data protection officer:

VdE Service GmbH
Mr. Markus Kluge
Eduard-Pfeiffer-Straße 48
70192 Stuttgart

Tel.: +49 (0)711 22 333-44
Email: datenschutzbeauftragter(at)solarpromotion.com

II. What data do we process?

1. Data transfer via the internet

When you visit this website, we will process your IP address, the date and time of your visit, information about the browser used including language settings and operating system, the address of the website from which you came to our website (referrer URL) as well as information about the files you accessed. Your browser automatically transfers this data to your internet provider, and your internet provider transfers it to us.

Why do we process this data?

We process this data so that you can load our website, to allow us to check and, if necessary, restore system security and stability, as well as for the purpose of obtaining statistics (see below). We are not able to assign this data to a particular person. The legal basis for this processing operation is Article 6 para 1(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We have a legitimate interest in ensuring that our website is properly displayed on your screen, and in being able to identify and rectify the cause of any faults.

How long is this data stored for? Do I have to provide this data?

The data is stored in log files and automatically anonymized after 7 days.
There is neither a legal nor a contractual obligation for you to provide this data, nor is it required in order to conclude a contract with us. However, for technical reasons it would not be possible to visit our website without these data being processed.

2. Storage of cookies

We use cookies on our website. Cookies are small files that contain an ID number. Cookies are stored on your computer or mobile device when you access our website. When you access our website again, the ID number allows your computer or mobile end device to be recognized.

Why are cookies used?

Thanks to session cookies, you do not have to re-submit data on our website, even if you have visited other websites in the meantime. The purpose of these session cookies is to make using our website easier. Session cookies are used solely to improve user-friendliness. We also employ persistent cookies in order to collect statistical data on the use of our website, and to evaluate this for the purposes of optimizing our services (see II.3.). In particular, the cookies listed below are used for the following purposes:

• Exhibitor list filter settings – improving user-friendliness
• Conference filter settings – improving user-friendliness
• PDF downloads – improving user-friendliness
• Cockpit login – handling the login process
• Google Analytics opt-out – stored in the event of objection

The legal basis is Article 6 para 1(f) GDPR. We have an interest in enabling the user-friendly use of our website and in optimizing our website.

How long is this data stored for?

Session cookies will be erased after you close your browser. Our persistent cookies are retained for the following duration:

• Filter settings for the exhibitor list: 60 days
• Filter settings for the Conference: 60 days
• PDF downloads: 30 days
• Cockpit login: expires after one hour of inactivity, or on closing the browser
• Google Analytics opt-out: no expiration date

Do I have to provide this data?

You can visit our website without cookies. There is no obligation to use cookies. Most internet browsers accept cookies automatically. You can set your browser so that it does not accept cookies. You have to change the settings on each browser and each end device that you use separately.

3. Web analysis using Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics, an analytics tool provided by Google LLC (Google). This tool creates pseudonymous usage profiles for visitors to our website. Google uses persistent cookies (see II. 2.). The information generated by the cookie about your use of our website is processed by Google in the USA. This information is the data described under II. 1. above. Google also processes the search term you used to find our website via a search engine. We use Google Analytics with enabled IP anonymization. Google will shorten your IP address within the European Union and the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases is the full IP address transferred to the USA before being anonymized. For more information on Google Analytics, please visit the following Google website: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=en

Why do we process this data?

This data is processed for the purpose of market research and to tailor the design of our website to meet user requirements. Google processes this data on our behalf in order to evaluate the use of our website and to compile reports on activities on our website.

The legal basis is Article 6 para 1(f) GDPR and, if you have given your consent, also Article 6 para 1(a) GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in adapting our website to the needs of visitors based on the statistics provided by Google, and in using these statistics for internal market research purposes.

How long is this data stored for? Do I have to provide this data?

The data will be held for 14 months.

There is no obligation for you to provide this data, nor is it necessary for the conclusion of a contract with us. You can prevent cookies from being stored and Google Analytics from being used by changing your browser settings (see II.2.). Furthermore, you can prevent the processing of data generated by the cookie by downloading and installing the plug-in available from the following link:http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en. Alternatively, or if using a browser on a mobile device, click on the following link:

If you do this, an opt-out cookie will be set in the browser you are using, which will apply to our website. If you delete the cookies in this browser, you will need to click on this link again. If you use several end devices or browsers, you will need to click on this link from each end device and in each browser.

4. Contact form

We process the data you have provided in our contact form or sent to us by email in order to be able to process and answer your query.

Why do we process this data?

Under Article 6 para 1(a) GDPR, we are allowed to process data that you enter into our contact form provided you have given your consent to such processing by clicking the “submit” button. If you enter any sensitive information containing special categories of data (e.g. racial or ethnic origin, political opinion, religion or beliefs, trade union membership, genetic or health status or sexual orientation) into the “message” field, you are giving your consent for this data to be processed. If you transmit this data to us by email, the legal basis is Article 6 para 1(f) GDPR. If you are also our customer, Article 6 para 1(b) GDPR also applies as a legal basis.

How long is the data stored for? Do I have to provide this data?

The data will be erased no later than 3 months after we receive your query, unless we are entitled or obliged to store the data for a longer period under statutory provisions in conjunction with Article 6 para. 1 (c) GDPR. If you are also our customer, the retention periods under II. 4. apply.

There is no obligation for you to provide this data, nor is it necessary for the conclusion of a contract with us. Use of the contact form requires an email address to be entered, however, because otherwise we will not be able to respond. If you enter any additional data, you do so on a voluntary basis.

5. Marketing via postmail

To inform potential and recent customers of our exhibitions and conferences about The smarter E AWARD, Intersolar AWARD, ees AWARD, we send marketing material via mail, including to people who have not yet had any contact with us. 
To do so, we process the following data: first name, surname, address

We also use data from publicly accessible sources.

The legal basis is Article 6 para 1(f) GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in sending out direct marketing. This overrides the interest of data subjects in the protection of their data, as the data is publicly available and therefore not subject to high standards of protection.

You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time if you do not wish to receive information about our services (see V.).

Your data will then no longer be used to send you marketing material.

III. What is the source of my data?

Generally speaking, we obtain your data from you. In some cases, data may originate from one of the following sources:

• Publicly available commercial registers or registers of associations (company name, addresses)
• Credit reference agencies (names and addresses) and address brokers (addresses), if we are unable to reach you at your address.
• Facebook Inc., 4 Grand Canal Square, Dublin 2, Ireland, based on your consent given when registering using your Facebook account (Facebook user name, first name, last name, email address, profile picture, gender, link to your Facebook profile, time zone, language settings)
• LinkedIn Corp., 2029 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA based on your consent given when registering using your LinkedIn account (first name, last name, email address, profile picture, link to your LinkedIn profile, header of your LinkedIn profile, city of residence, place of residence, information given under “Skills & Endorsements”, “industry”, summary, number of contacts, most recently shared article)

IV. Will my data be transferred to third parties?

We transfer some of the above-mentioned data to the following data processors for the following purposes:

• Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View, CA 94043, USA (Google Analytics)
• Freiburg Management und Marketing International GmbH, Rathausgasse 33, 79098 Freiburg im Breisgau
• where necessary, other data processors operating in the fields of sales, hosting, IT services, personnel services, printing services and the destruction of data carriers

Data processors will only process data under our instruction; they will not do so for their own purposes.

In certain cases, some of your data may be transferred to the following recipients for the purposes described below, either if you have given your consent to this (Article 6 para 1(a) GDPR, if we have a legal obligation to do so (Article 6 para. 1 (c) GDPR, or if it is necessary in order to safeguard our legitimate interests (Article 6 para 1(f) GDPR):

• Solar Promotion GmbH, Kiehnlestr. 16, 75172 Pforzheim (postal and email advertising, provided you have given your consent and / or pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 f) GDPR for internal administrative purposes and for internal communication within the Solar Promotion Group
• Postal and telecommunications companies (dispatch and communication)
• Prosecuting authorities, courts for the assertion or defense of legal claims, auditors, lawyers or tax consultants, insurance companies for processing claims

Where the processors or other recipients are located outside the EU or the European Economic Area, an adequate level of data protection shall be established by concluding standard contractual clauses adopted by the European Commission with the respective contractual partner.

V. What rights do I have with respect to my data?

Under the provisions of Article 15 GDPR, you have the right to request information on whether we process your personal data and on which data we process. You have the right to request the rectification and completion of incomplete personal data pursuant to Article 16 GDPR. Under the provisions of Article 17 GDPR, you have the right to have your data deleted, or under the provisions of Article 18 GDPR, to have it made unavailable. Pursuant to Article 21 GDPR, you have the right to receive any data transmitted to us on the basis of consent or a contract, provided that the data is processed by automated means. If you wish, and if this is technically possible, we will transfer this data to a third party. In certain circumstances, your rights may be limited, or excluded, by law.

If we process data to safeguard our own interests exclusively on the basis of Article 6 para 1(f) GDPR, you have the right to object to your data being processed for reasons arising from your particular situation. Should you object, we will no longer process the data concerned unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing thereof, grounds which override your interests, rights and freedoms, or unless such processing serves for the enforcement of legal claims.

Furthermore, you may withdraw your consent to the use of your data for advertising purposes at any time without incurring any costs other than the cost of transmitting the notification at the basic rate. You have the right to object to being sent advertising emails at any time free of charge, for example by clicking on the unsubscribe button at the end of such an email. You also have the option to object by writing an email to unsubscribe(at)thesmartere.com.

If you have given your consent to data processing, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. Withdrawing your consent will not affect the legality of processing until such withdrawal is received. You can object by writing an email to unsubscribe(at)thesmartere.com. Once your objection has been received, your data will no longer be processed. This shall not apply if we have the legal right or obligation to do so.

You have the right to lodge complaints in connection with data protection to a data protection authority, in particular to Landesbeauftragter für Datenschutz und Informationsfreiheit, Königstraße 10a, D-70173 Stuttgart.

Date: December 2019