Keynote Speakers
Ms Viviane Reding
European Commissioner, DG Information Society and Media
Belgium
The architect behind the European Commission's drive for an information society, Commissioner Reding has been a vocal champion for the use of ICT to improve healthcare for all. Commissioner Reding's political career spans four decades, starting in 1979, when she became a member of the Luxembourg Parliament, to the present day. She has held a number of senior positions in the Luxembourg government and the European Parliament and was European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Media from 1999 to 2004, when she assumed her current role.
Room A1
Tuesday, 4 November
10:00
Professor Nicholas Negroponte
Chairman Emeritus, MIT Media Lab
USA
One of the foremost futurists of our time, Professor Negroponte is highly sought after for his insight on how digital technology is defining our future. Author of the New York Times bestseller, Being Digital, Professor Negroponte was the driving force behind 'One Laptop per Child', a global project aimed at using connected computing to enable education in the most impoverished areas around the world.
Room A1
Wednesday, 5 November
14:30
Esko Aho
Former Prime Minister, Finland
President, SITRA, The Finnish Innovation Fund
Finland
Following his retirement from politics in 2003, Esko Aho has devoted his professional life to the promotion of innovation. As president of SITRA, the Finnish National Fund for Research and Development, Mr Aho continues to identify and support Finnish, cutting edge or world leading technology start-up companies. In 2004, he led a group of experts on a mission to reinforce the EU's research and innovation capability.
Room A1
Thursday, 6 November
12:00
