[WSIS CS-Plenary] UNESCO International Conference and Exhibition on Knowledge Parks

[Sylvia Caras]

On behalf of Mr Abdul Waheed Khan, Assistant Director-General for 
Communication and Information at UNESCO, it is my pleasure to inform 
you that we are organizing an "International Conference and 
Exhibition on Knowledge Parks" that will take place in Doha, Qatar on 
March 29-31, 2008.

The conference is jointly organized with the "Qatar Foundation" in 
close cooperation with "Bibliotheca Alexandrina", "Global Knowledge 
Partnership"  and "Oman's Knowledge Oasis". The conference is aimed 
at bringing together:
    * Policy makers
    * Experts in the fields of knowledge management and 
innovation\technology parks
    * Representatives of the private sector and donor organizations 
including development banks

to share views and experiences and to map such experiences for the 
benefit of developing countries.

One of UNESCO's main initiatives, as a follow-up to the WSIS process, 
is to operationalize its concept of knowledge societies.  The conference will:
    * Raise awareness on how the ICT-based knowledge park experience 
could help in accelerating development;
    * Review best practices in establishing and managing "ICT-based 
knowledge parks" in developed countries, with a special interest in 
leveraging their potential for developing countries;
    * Generate partnerships between governments, civil society and 
the private sector for establishing a strategy to leverage modern 
ICTs and the knowledge park experience.

The event will serve as a platform to forge concrete partnerships for 
the establishment of knowledge parks/incubators around the world.

The 
"<http://www.unesco-ci.org/newsletter/lt/t_go.php?i=1049&e=MTIzNDk2&l=-http--portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID--E-24168--A-URL_DO--E-DO_TOPIC--A-URL_SECTION--E-201.html>concept 
paper" and a 
"<http://www.unesco-ci.org/newsletter/lt/t_go.php?i=1049&e=MTIzNDk2&l=-http--portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID--E-25517--A-URL_DO--E-DO_TOPIC--A-URL_SECTION--E-201.html>brochure" 
elaborate the background, objectives and focus areas of the event 
besides answering some key questions about this event.

It is important to note that registration for this conference is free 
of charge and that UNESCO, in collaboration with Qatar's Foundation, 
will offer preferential lodging rates to all participants.

Please visit the Conference website at:

<http://www.unesco-ci.org/newsletter/lt/t_go.php?i=1049&e=MTIzNDk2&l=-http--www.unesco.org/en/knowledgeparkconference/>http://www.unesco.org/en/knowledgeparkconference/ 


to learn more about this event and to register for participation. The 
website will be updated regularly and will very shortly give access 
to the conference agenda, exhibitors and other related information.

For further information, please contact Mr Tarek Shawki, UNESCO, 
Communication and Information Sector ( tel +33.1.45.68.42.82; 
<mailto:t.shawki at unesco.org>t.shawki at unesco.org ).

Miriam Nisbet
Director
Information Society Division
Communication and Information Sector
UNESCO

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/pipermail/plenary/attachments/20071125/69e24548/attachment.html