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EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DIRECTORATE-GENERAL III
INDUSTRY
Information and Communications Office
Convergence: Creating the Future
EITC 97
European IT Conference & Exhibition
Brussels, 24-26 November, Congress Centre
Brussels, 7 November 1997
The convergence of broadcasting, telecommunications,
publishing and information technologies presents a challenge to established business
structures and practices, as well as to current ways of regulating and controlling media
content. The European IT Conference & Exhibition (EITC 97) provides 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 is one of the year's largest gatherings of international IT and
communications experts, with some 1500 attendees expected to throng the Brussels
Congress Centre.
The keynote speakers at this year's conference are Jorma Ollila, President and CEO of
Nokia Group; Nicholas Negroponte, the Director of MIT’s Media Lab; and Etienne
Davignon, Chair of Société Générale de Belgique and former EC Vice-President for
research and industry. An introductory speech will be made by Stefano Micossi, the
Director-General of DG III—Industry.
 Altered States: Debating the Future Control of New Media
Speakers selected by the International Institute of Communications will present a range of
perspectives on questions concerning the balance between market interests and
government regulation and control of the new media.
The panel is chaired by Robert R. Bruce, senior corporate partner in the London office of
Debevoise & Plimpton, whose practice focuses on international telecommunications law.
The panellists are: 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.
More: www.cordis.lu/esprit/src/altered.htm
/More
Check the EITC 97 website on www.cordis.lu/esprit/src/eitc97.htm
 European IT Prize 97: three winners
Jacques Santer, President of the European Commission, will present cheques for 200 000
ECU to each of the three winners of the 1997 European IT Prize competition in an
awards ceremony conducted by Christine Ockrent.
The three winners will be chosen from the following 25 finalists: Animation Science (F),
Applied Spectral Imaging (ISR), Beilstein Informationssyteme (D), Bull CP8 (F), Calluna
Technology (UK), CoWare (B), Cygron Research & Development (HU), Digital Vision DV
(S), Elan Informatique (F), Gemplus (F), Graphisoft (HU), Hyperwave Information
Management (D), Institute of Electronics and Computer Science (LV), INTELLART (CH),
Intracom (GR), IVEE & Department of Computing Science, Chalmers University of
Technology (S), LCI-SmartPen (NL), Metaphor Systems (N), Philips Magnetic Heads &
Modules (NL), PixTech (F), Plustech (SF), Recognita Corporation (HU), SIMONE Research
Group (CZ), Steinbeis Transferzentrum Medizinische Informatik (D), and Target Compiler
Technologies (B).
More: www.it-prize.org
 Focus on Convergence
Focusing on the theme of Convergence, over 180 invited speakers will address 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 cover 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.
More: www.cordis.lu/esprit/src/zygosis.htm
 Venture Capital
Technological convergence is triggering a reshaping of the ICT and media industries,
opening up many opportunities for innovators and investors. Access to Finance is 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 will take 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 will be
presenting their business cases and exhibiting their IT products to venture capitalists.
More: www.cordis.lu/esprit/src/invest97.htm
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 Practical Applications
In parallel with the conference, a Showcase Exhibition will vividly illustrate 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 is
open to non-delegates, and special provision is being made for visits by students from
secondary schools in the Benelux region. The 80 stands incorporate the demonstrations by
the European IT Prize finalists, and cover 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.
More: www.cordis.lu/esprit/src/exhib97.htm
 Technologies for the Information Society
The Information Society Technologies (IST) programme, one of the major components
of the Commission's proposal for the Fifth Framework Programme running from
1998-2002, will have 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.
More: www.cordis.lu/esprit/src/eitcist.htm
-EndsNotes for Editors
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. More: www.ispo.cec.be
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 improve the competitiveness of all
European industry.
More: www.cordis.lu/esprit/home.html
The European IT Prize is organised jointly by the Esprit programme and Euro-CASE
(European Council of Applied Sciences and Engineering). It aims to reward excellence in
converting innovative RTD results into marketable products. Three Grand Prize Winners
will receive 200 000 ECU, and 25 finalists will receive 5 000 ECU. More: www.it-prize.org
Note to TV editors: Cameras and editing facilities will be available at the Congress
Centre for stations wishing to cover the European IT Prize ceremony on 25 November.
This and other events on 25 November will be broadcast via satellite (soundtrack in five
languages) throughout Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. For details, see
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www.cordis.lu/esprit/src/eitc97tv.htm or contact Peter Panayotis Vekinis, fax + 32 (2)
296-92-29, e-mail [email protected]
Note to Web editors: Please link to www.cordis.lu/esprit/src/eitc97.htm (EITC 97 home
page) and to the webcast (on 25 November) via www.cordis.lu/esprit/src/eitc97wb.htm
For further information, please contact:
DG III Information and Communications Office
tel +32 (2) 296 65 49 - fax +32 (2) 299 19 26
Visit the PRESS ROOM on the World-Wide Web
www.cordis.lu/esprit/src/eitc97pr.htm
Annexes:
- EITC 97 at a glance: programme summary
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