Saturday, May 21, 2005
The next generation knowledge tools
Communication from Mills Davis
Paul
TopQuadrant is seeking help to underwrite the 2005 Semantic Technologies for E-Government Conference to be held in late September or October here in the DC area. We are asking vendors and system integrators who wish to exhibit at the event to help underwrite the cost of the conference by signing-up early and making payment by June 30th.
Following on the success of the STC05 conference (350 people) in San Francisco, and the DARPA Semantic Web Applications for National Security (SWANS) event in DC (325 people) -- both were paid venues -- the decision has been made to put the Third-Annual Semantic Technology for E-Government Conference on a more commercial footing -- somewhat like the DARPA SWANS event. Transitioning the event to a paid format will allow the forum to grow, support more exhibits and group activities, and be sustainable from year to year.
STE.GOV conference attendance has doubled each of the previous years. The first conference took place at the White House Conference Center, which could only hold 150 people. The second year, we held the conference at the Mitre conference center, where attendance was limited to 300 people. Each year, we had to turn people away. Based on previous experience and strong response to comparable events this year, the expectation is that this conference will draw 300-375 attendees and 30+ vendor exhibits.
STE.GOV 2005 will be co-sponsored by the Federal CIO Council's Semantic Interoperability Community of Practice, and possibly the Canadian National Research Council and other organizations. It will be a strong program with special workshops, plenary sessions, breakouts, exhibits, and lots of opportunity to network. Because of government sponsorship, the event plan assumes low-cost to attendees and exhibitors. I've enclosed a set of specs for a 3-day conference and exhibit (see attached).
If you have questions or would like additional information about the event, please contact Mills Davis at TopQuadrant.
Thanks,
Mills Davis
PS -- Paul: naturally STE.GOV can provide a great venue for a community gathering to work on the project plans that are being discussed by your community.