ISTEC HELPS ORGANIZE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT

May 7, 2003

ISTEC HELPS ORGANIZE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT

An international summit will bring together companies, investors, laboratories and universities to explore partnership opportunities and prospects for international business development in research and development on Wednesday and Thursday, May 28-29 at the Sheraton Old Town in Albuquerque.

The Annual Iberoamerican Research and Development Summit (AIRDS) is co-organized by the Iberoamerican Science & Technology Consortium (ISTEC) at the University of New Mexico.

The summit will focus on advanced manufacturing and small technology - microsystems, nanotechnology, and micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology development and deployment. It will also explore business and research opportunities in the Americas, Portugal and Spain.

Summit speakers include Iberoamerican ministers of science and technology, top government officials, including Dr. Bruce Melhman, assistant secretary, Office of Technology Policy, U.S. Department of Commerce; and industry leaders, including Job Elders, president of C2V, and Arturo Ayon, senior program manager for MEMS at Sony, Inc.

The conference will consist of six general sessions and 12 break-out sessions. Each session will have specific topics of interest to participants.

Jorge García, program manager at ISTEC, said the conference is expected attract more than 250 participants.

"New Mexico is the perfect location to host the summit," García said, adding, that the proximity of Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories, UNM and other research facilities throughout the region makes it the perfect place to serve as a technological hub and gateway for technology.

"All participants have a desire to participate in cutting edge research and development," he said. "The summit is a great opportunity to bring together some of the top international scholars and technology industries currently participating in the development of nanotechnology and MEMS."

For registration information go to http://www.irdsummit.org.

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