CeBIT Australia, Australasia’s leading ICT event, will be at Darling Harbour in May with its most diverse exhibitor line-up yet combined with an exciting parallel conference program. CeBIT Australia is the largest business technology trade event in the region which in 2007 attracted 730+ local and international exhibitors and more than 33,000 pre-qualified business visitors. From May 20-22 at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, the show will feature leading industry trends, new business solutions and product innovations. The exhibition is divided into distinct sector niches a strategy designed to add more value to exhibitors and buyers. CeBIT has essentially become a collection of sector-specific shows held under a single roof.
Chief executives, industry leaders, IT professionals, software developers and business line managers, both local and international, will participate in the CeBIT’s range of forums, dinners, exhibitions, conferences and keynote discussions.
With six specialist conferences covering business technology issues like e-Marketing, VoIP and IP Comms, Transaction 2.0 and Open Source software, CeBIT Australia boasts more than 150 high profile local and international expert speakers.
New in 2008, CeBIT Australia features AusInnovate, a one-day innovation conference sponsored by the nation’s premier R&D institutions; NICTA, CSIRO ICT Centre and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO). The event is focused on the commercialisation of Australian development skills.
Hosted by political commentator and Radio National Breakfast presenter Fran Kelly, AusInnovate includes keynote presentations from Industry and Innovation Minister Kim Carr and Broadband Communications and Digital Economy Minister Stephen Conroy. International speakers include: Jason Calcanis from Sequoia Capital and Dr Vembu, the Founder of Zoho who’ll be speaking at our AusInnovate Forum.
The influential e-Government Forum returns to CeBIT Australia in 2008, again presented by the Australian Government Information Management Office and themed: Government Technology in a Connected World - making it the most important Government services event in the region.
The program includes an opening address from their Minister, Hon. Lindsay Tanner – Minister of Finance and Deregulation, the Chief Information Officer, Ms. Ann Steward and Mr. Jose Alonso the eGovernment Lead from W3C.
Austrade has worked more closely than ever with Hannover Fairs Australia to bolster the international scope of the show and collaborate on activities such as the Export Alley, social events, seminars and the International Business Lounge. International delegations are expected from over 20 countries and will include Austrade business development managers and their accompanying customers from Mexico, Brazil, China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, PNG and New Zealand who are seeking to source innovative Australian ICT technologies and solutions that might suit foreign markets.
“The visiting BDMs are one of our greatest contributions to CeBIT,” said Peter Harrison, Austrade’s National Manager for ICT and Group Projects. “These individuals are tuned in to a broad range of specific export opportunities in international markets and are familiar with the needs and challenges that exporters may be exposed to. The perspectives and introductions they can provide add another important dimension to the potential benefits of the show.”
Austrade’s Export Alley will again be at CeBIT to provide a low cost exhibit option for smaller ICT companies interested in expanding overseas. Whether organisations are looking to make a name for themselves, promote a product or service, seek resellers or simply capitalise on a top-end, high-potential international business audience – Export Alley will be the most effective Australian platform of the year.
The Austrade International Business Lounge will host a range of international business activities, including briefings on Australian ICT capability for international delegates, networking functions and individual business meetings for overseas visitors and exporters. The Export Alley theatre adjacent to the exhibition area will provide three days of ongoing seminars covering global updates on technology trends and opportunities, market entry strategies, foreign government incentive programs and financing options available to assist exporters.
As the leading IT event on the Australian business calendar, CeBIT enjoys the support of many important bodies such as the Committee for Marketing ICT Australia (CoMICTA). The committee consists of representatives from federal government departments, state governments and industry associations. Through combining the interests and networks of member organisations CoMICTA is able to facilitate the ongoing health and vitality of the show.
As CeBIT continues to grow, doubling in size since its first event in 2002, so too has Austrade’s involvement with the show. By bringing in market experts and overseas buyers it provides Australian companies with first hand access to overseas opportunities and market knowledge. Export Alley enables smaller innovative companies, interested in export, a low cost option to exhibit and meet first hand with Austrade’s market specialists. Additionally Austrade offers the ongoing support exporters and potential exporters need after the show ends through its knowledge and global network which is critical to many of these innovative companies as they prepare to take their products and services overseas.
Spaces are still open to participate in Export Alley, as well as attend and exhibit at CeBIT. To receive further information about Export Alley please email Export-ICT@austrade.gov.au. Visit the associated sites for more information about CeBIT Australia 2008 and Austrade’s support for ICT exporters.
See you at CeBIT Australia 2008! Darling Harbour Sydney 20–22 May
CeBIT - www.cebit.com.au
Export Alley Australia - www.exportalley.com.au
---April 2008