EITC 97 - 'Convergence: creating the future' (European IT Conference and Exhibition, 24-26 November 1997, Brussels Congress Centre)
EITC 97 "Convergence: creating the future" (European IT Conference and Exhibition, 24-26 November 1997, Brussels Congress Centre)
Conference and exhibitionIn Brussels in November last,the convergence of broadcasting, telecommunications, publishing and information technologies presented a challenge to established business structures and practices, as well as to current ways of regulating and controlling media content. The European IT Conference and Exhibition (EITC 97) provided an opportunity to gain a better understanding of likely developments and of the issues involved. Organised by Esprit, the European Union's information technology programme, the three-day event was one of the year's largest gatherings of international IT and communications experts, with some 1,500 attendees gathered in the Brussels Congress Centre.
The keynote speakers at this year's conference were Jorma Ollila, president and CEO of Nokia Group; Nicholas Negroponte, the director of MIT's Media Lab; and Etienne Davignon, chair of SociétéGénérale de Belgique and former EC vice-president for research and industry. An introductory speech was made by Stefano Micossi, the director-general of DG III Industry.
Altered states: debating the future control of new mediaSpeakers selected by the International Institute of Communications presented a range of perspectives on questions concerning the balance between market interests and government regulation and control of the new media. The panel was chaired by Robert R. Bruce, senior corporate partner in the London office of Debevoise & Plimpton, whose practice focuses on international telecommunications law. The panellists: Robin Bomer, director, regulatory affairs, MFS Communications; Anja Bundschuh,European affairs, Association of Private Broadcasters and Telecommunications Operators (VRPT); Martin Cave, professor of Economics and vice-principal, Brunel University; John Frank, director, European law & corporate affairs,Microsoft Europe; David Levy, director, European affairs, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC); Philippe-Olivier Rousseau, commissioner, Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA); Fabrizio Savi, head, regulatory affairs, Telecom Italia;and Henrikas Yushkiavitshus, assistant director-general for Communications,Information & Informatics, UNESCO.
European IT Prize 97: three winnersThe president of the EU presented awards to the three winners of the European IT Prize. Details are given in the "Contemporary systems and cybernetics" section of this issue.
Focus on convergenceFocusing on the theme of convergence, over 180 invited speakers addressed not only the underpinning technologies involved and the changes looming in the way we work, play, trade,learn and socialise, but also issues such as multilingualism, content control and intellectual property rights. Hot topics covered include intelligent agents,push technologies, satellite delivery, learning technologies, electronic commerce, cybercommunities, software internationalisation, content labelling and IPR management. Workshops on the third day of the event covered the likely evolution of the World Wide Web and of the Internet; knowledge management; IT for mobility; interactive electronic publishing; electronic imaging and the visual arts; demining technologies; space technologies; formal methods; and information society developments in Central and Eastern Europe, the new independent states of the former Soviet Union, and the Mediterranean region.
Venture capitalTechnological convergence is triggering a reshaping of the ICT and media industries, opening up many opportunities for innovators and investors. Access to Finance was a session for those looking for advice on getting an injection of venture capital, securing seed-money, or attracting equity stakeholders. Representative investment bankers, technology brokers, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs took part in a series of case-study workshops, tutorials and panel-discussions oriented towards high-growth, high-tech companies. In the Investment Forum, hand-picked companies seeking investment or equity finance presented their business cases and exhibited their IT-related products to venture capitalists.
Practical applicationsIn parallel with the conference,a Showcase Exhibition vividly illustrated the leading-edge technologies and products stemming from work in Esprit and the many take-up and technology transfer measures fostered by the programme. The exhibition was open to non-delegates, and special provision made for visits by students from secondary schools in the Benelux region. The 80 stands incorporated the demonstrations by the European IT Prize finalists, and covered topics including medical and mobile applications; new interfaces; simulation in engineering; Internet security;geographic information systems; education and culture; quality management;management and control systems; 3D vision; speech and sound systems; and entertainment and broadcasting applications.
Technologies for the information societyThe Information Society Technologies (IST) programme, one of the major components of the Commission's proposal for the Fifth Framework Programme running from 1998-2002, had its first public presentation on the third day of EITC 97. The IST programme brings together and extends the current ACTS, Esprit and Telematics Applications programmes to provide a single and integrated programme that reflects the convergence of information processing, communications and media, and responds to the need to integrate R&D and take-up actions.
Parallel seminars and workshopsThese included:
The Web & the Knowledge Society: Year 2000 Trends.
Knowledge Management & the Learning Organisation.
IT for Mobility: the Flexible Professional & Ubiquitous Information.
The Great Internet Shake-Out.
Electronic Commerce Roadshow.
Tomorrow's Multimedia Content Today.
Electronic Imaging & the Visual Arts: EVA 97 Brussels.
Landmines: Humanitarian Demining.
Space Technologies.
Formal Methods.
The Information Society in the EU's Neighbours.
Esprit is the European Union's information technologies RTD programme. Its mission is to support an integrated programme of industrial R&D and technology transfer in information technologies, with the aim of helping to improve the competitiveness of all European industry. Further information: http://www.cordis.lu/esprit/home.html The Information Society is the name given to the European Union's response to the revolution in society triggered by the recent rapid developments in information and communications technologies. See also http://www.ispo.cec.be
D.M. Hutton
