FYI. Regards, Yann

-------- Message original -------- Sujet: UNESCO International Conference and Exhibition on Knowledge Parks Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2007 18:21:40 -0500 De: UNESCO's Communication and Information Sector <ci (at) unesco.org>

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:

1. Raise /awareness/ on how the ICT-based knowledge park experience could help in accelerating development; 2. /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; 3. /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 “*concept paper* http://www.unesco-ci.org/newsletter/lt/t_go.php?i=1049&e=MTI0MTA0&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” and a "_*brochure* http://www.unesco-ci.org/newsletter/lt/t_go.php?i=1049&e=MTI0MTA0&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_" 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.org/en/knowledgeparkconference/ http://www.unesco-ci.org/newsletter/lt/t_go.php?i=1049&e=MTI0MTA0&l=-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; t.shawki@unesco.org mailto:t.shawki@unesco.org ).

*Miriam Nisbet* Director Information Society Division Communication and Information Sector UNESCO