Networking @ IST 2003

Networking Sessions complement the conference and exhibition and contribute to one of the prime objectives of the European Commission in the area of Research and Development - to encourage forward thinking collaborative initiatives that support the development of the European Research Area. 

For more details, see What is Networking, below, or view This is a Networking Event, a short film.

Latest News

September 24: The Networking Programme is Published, featuring 52 networking sessions. Delegates can now indicate their interest and suggest contributions to these sessions:

• View the Networking Programme: updated daily;
• Download the Networking Guide (pdf): This Guide covers all approved networking session proposed before September 17. Any approved sessions which were proposed between September 17 and 19 therefore do not appear in this Guide - they can be found on the Networking Programme page and will appear in an addendum to the Guide, available at the Event.

A message to all coordinators of Confirmed Networking Sessions:

You need to decide on the format of your session (presentations, round-table discussion, etc.) and to coordinate with the other participants. It is recommended that you contact (by email via the Networking web site) the people who showed interest in the session you have proposed.  

What is Networking?

Introduction

One of the main objectives of every IST Event is to assist European companies and researchers to forge multidisciplinary and multinational research teams across Europe. These teams are essential to building the European Research Area in the Information Society sector. 

Networking is meant to create a layer of interaction that allows participants to identify each other via the web site and meet each other at the Event. Networking sessions bring together people who are interested in a specific topic in order to discuss project ideas, research activities and business partnerships. They are less formal discussion groups than the official conference workshops, encouraging active participation and lateral thinking: a plethora of ideas from multiple sources around common topics.

Expected outcomes of Networking sessions:

• Focused dialogue on a concrete subject
• Personal contacts that support ERA objectives
• Ongoing discussions via web interfaces
• Scheduling of consortia building meetings
• Exploratory workshops

The Networking Selection Process

Networking at IST 2003 is almost entirely 'bottom-up' - a Call for Networking Ideas ran from June, when the preliminary conference programme and first details of the exhibition were published, until September 19, by which time ?? sessions were approved. 

Proposals were welcomed in all scientific and technological subjects directly related to the IST priority of FP6, while those with a SME focus were encouraged to help SMEs network among themselves and with large companies and research institutions - see the SME Topic;

A similar process to that used for the IST 2002 event was adopted:

• A “Call for Ideas” especially targeted to Networking activities, with proposals submitted via the interactive web site. The person submitting a new Networking proposal automatically becomes the coordinator of the session if the proposal is eventually approved;
• The proposals are validated by the Organising Committee and published on-line.  
• Site users can see all the Networking proposals that have been submitted so far. They can show interest for a given proposal in three ways: submit a contribution (active participation), attend without contribution (passive participation) and give comments on the web site without attending the session.
• All comments and suggestions are published on-line after being validated by the Organising Committee. In this way the proposal is developed further and the Organising Committee will be able to assess the level of interest in the proposal.
• The successful proposals are then 'confirmed' and assigned a room and time, so that they appear in the networking programme. 

At the Event

Timing and location : Networking sessions take place on Friday October 3 and Saturday October 4. They last 90 minutes each. In the exhibition area there is a Networking zone with two large rooms (each with a capacity to accommodate 180 people) and six medium-sized rooms (each with a capacity to accommodate 50 people). The exact location of all Networking rooms is indicated in the global map of the event. All Networking spaces include a supporting infrastructure.

A networking information and help-desk in the networking area will be at your disposal during the Event. Our personnel will provide you with the latest details regarding networking sessions and will help all the interested contributors to find their way.

IST 2003 Networking Committee