Ideas start budding in the springtime and they blossom in the summer

How would it be if we combined our iMinds conference with another existing European conference so that we can generate some cross-fertilisation between the local and the European level?

A great idea, I can hear you thinking. And that’s what we thought too. So we started our looking around among different organisations and events to see who might be interested in this type of exchange.  And because Flemish people are rather modest, we decided to approach as many people as possible to make sure that we would find one partner to take the plunge with us.

One step further (and beyond)

And then came another idea: why not postpone our iMinds to the autumn of 2010 and include the combination of conferences we were looking for in the official events of the Belgian presidency? This decision proved to be the catalyst for all the discussions we are currently holding.

A few months later we had not just one, but seven European organisations that were ready to embark on a partnership with IBBT. There were so many of them that we were unable to fit everyone under one roof and within one week.

Partners and activities

In October, therefore, we will be hosting the ITEA/Artemisia co-summit in Ghent (preceded by a Flemish Nocturne); in December the Future Internet Conference Week will take place with partners such as the Future Internet Assembly (FIA), Future Internet Research & Experimentation (FIRE), the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), ServiceWave, CORVE and IPv6.

The common denominator seems to be the interest in the Internet of the Future and how this will change our world and our business models.

These are all fabulous developments, but above all an enormous challenge for our central staff. Because, as I might have already mentioned to you, the total organisation of this conference week, including fund raising, is being handled by IBBT. 

Racing and dashing

We are no strangers, fortunately, to organising events, even though we are less used to lobbying between organisations that are often located in the same building, but that have no idea what the other does, but perseverance gets you there in the end. Financing a conference week of this size was, on the other hand, a completely new experience for us. So, we headed out on the road again to find creative ways of generating (quite a lot of) cash.

A quick final sprint before the summer ensured that all the suppliers will be ready to get the International Congress Centre (ICC) in Ghent ready for an exciting and unique event – a networking event of the highest level.

Joint forces

The participating organisations will be able – in many cases for the first time – to offer each other a helping hand. Conference dinners will also be organised. FIA, FIRE and ServiceWave will be joining forces in a “joint call for demonstrations”, which will be a first. A logistics hell, but nothing that we can’t handle.

The list of sponsors is also gradually growing and leading to a host of new peripheral initiatives and activities to the conference itself that can only serve to enhance the cross-fertilisation. All we have to do now is reach all those people who will not want to miss this occasion. We will be ready. And, you will be in on this with us, won’t you?