National Press Club Site For Conference On Technology Sector's Rebound And Economic Recovery

9/12/2002

From: Brian Barton of the Smeal College of Business, 814-863-1304 or bbarton@psu.edu, or Nirmal Pal of the eBRC, 814-865-5670 or nirmalpal@psu.edu, or Richard Taylor of the IIP, 814-863-1482 or rdt4@psu.edu

News Advisory:

The National Press Club in Washington, D.C., will be the site for the Accelerating Global Commerce Through Technology and Policy Conference, which is co-sponsored by two Penn State research centers. The conference addresses the technology sector's rebound and economic recovery, and keynote speeches are scheduled from Thomas Leary, Commissioner, Federal Trade Commission; Irving Wladawsky-Berger, Vice President, IBM; Elliot Maxwell, Director of Internet Programs, Aspen Institute; and Mark Forman, Associate Director of Information Technology and E-government, The Office of Management and Budget.

The conference will be held in the National Press Club Ballroom from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., September 20, 2002. The Penn State Smeal College of Business' eBusiness Research Center and the Penn State Institute for Information Policy are presenting it. The conference features speakers from business, government, and higher education who are gathering to address the global economic recovery and its close ties to information technology and policy.

"Technology is a key driver in economic productivity, but growth in the technology sector has stalled. This conference addresses the technology rebound and economic recovery by focusing on key growth drivers, including industry restructuring, policy changes, security and privacy issues, and reducing barriers that will encourage investments in technology," explains Nirmal Pal, executive director of the eBusiness Research Center in the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

The conference format provides opportunities for attendees to interact with representatives from academia, government and industry, and to participate in two panel discussions featuring key thought leaders.

"The conference is an ideal occasion for decision-makers and executives from the private and public sectors to gain valuable insights into accelerating global commerce," says Richard Taylor, co-director of the Institute for Information Policy.

The fee for the conference is $395 per person. For more information, contact the eBRC at 814-863-7575 or go online to register at http://www.ebrc.psu.edu/events/dcConf/registration.html.

NOTE TO PRESS: Conference fee does not apply to accredited press, who are asked to RSVP to the Smeal College Media Relation's Office by 9/18. Interviews can be scheduled in advance.

------ For assistance, contact Brian Barton of the Smeal College Media Relations' Office at 814-863-1304 or bbarton@psu.edu. Nirmal Pal of the eBRC can be reached via e-mail at nirmalpal@psu.edu or 814-865-5670. Richard Taylor of the IIP can be contacted via e-mail at rdt4@psu.edu or by phone at 814-863-1482.