17th International Conference on the Management of Technology opens

The 17th International Conference on Management of Technology opened under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chancellor of The British University in Dubai.

The event is the annual meeting of the International Association for Management of Technology (IAMOT).

It is the first time that the Conference has been held in the Gulf region, and provides an important opportunity to analyse how technology can solve real-world business challenges for the region. Senior representatives from some of the most strategically-important industry sectors are attending the event, including CEOs and CIOs from construction, real estate, energy and public sector leaders.

"There is so much pioneering activity within the Middle East at the present time that it seemed an ideal opportunity to bring the International Conference to Dubai. Technology forms the backbone that makes many of the region's impressive projects possible, and - through its careful management - organisations in the region are achieving impressive results," said Professor Tarek Khalil, President of IAMOT.

One of the major themes of the conference will be sharing the 'lessons learned' by some of the Gulf's mega-projects, as part of the process of using technological advances to actively expand the wider 'knowledge economy' - a vision advocated by the UAE government.

A major presentation at the conference will focus upon Nakheel's ground-breaking Knowledge and Technology Centre, which was designed to manage the flow of technology and information within the Palm Jebel Ali project, one of the largest reclaimed islands in the world.

Marwan Al-Qamzi, Managing Director of the Palm Jebel Ali Project, Nakheel said: "In addition to being a unique construction and development project, the Palm has also required the introduction of pioneering new technology to support its construction. The lessons we have learned from implementing this technology has important implications for other major construction developments, whether on land or on water."

As well as construction, the Conference will be examining a number of major projects in the field of government, finance and engineering.

Organisations represented by speakers at the event include Nakheel, Australia's GMO, Aarhuis University of Denmark, Atkins, Siemens, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) and the Al Maktoum Foundation.

Research from the International Data Corporation (IDC) recently reported the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) is predicted to spend $40.5bn on new technology this year alone, with $9.1bn to be spent in the GCC. According to the report, the money is likely to be invested in new initiatives rather than updating existing systems.

Successfully managing the importation of this technology - and ensuring that it is used to improve efficiency and effectiveness - are critically important if this investment is to be used to its full potential.

"By sharing knowledge about the organisational issues surrounding the technology challenges of the region's mega-projects, we're ensuring that future projects will be better positioned to deploy IT to full effect,"

said Dr. Abdullah Alshamsi, University Vice-Chancellor, The British University in Dubai.

"This will have an important organisational and economic impact."

The conference will bring together academics and practitioners, from the fields of construction, finance, government and public sector, to strengthen ties between industries within the UAE and their international counterparts.

The 17th International Conference on Management of Technology, 'Creating and Managing a Knowledge Economy,' will take place from7 - 10 April, 2008, at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The event's main sponsors are the Al Maktoum Foundation and Atkins; Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) is participating as a Gold Sponsor. Additionally, DIAC's Executive Director Mr Ayoub Kazim, will focus on the vision of Higher Education in Dubai as seen by DIAC in his keynote speech.