News

1st European Front End of Innovation Conference

By: Heidi Bertels

As promisedÖ here is some state-of-the-art insight with regard to the first European Front End of Innovation Conference. This conference can be thought of as an extension of the very successful Front End of Innovation USA conference, organized by IIR and PDMA. Like the annual Boston conference, the European conference will be chaired by dr. Peter Koen. The 3-day all encompassing event will take place January 22 ñ 24, 2007 in Munich, Germany and will include two half day workshops, a special interest forum, and two main conference days with a special post-conference academic roundtable on January 25, 2007.

To get an idea of the speaker list, here are some confirmed speakersÖ

• Eric von Hippel, Professor of Innovation Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, author of Democratizing Innovation
• Isabel Aguilera, CEO Spain and Portugal, Google
• Henry Chesbrough, author of OPEN Innovation
• Stig-Arne Blom, President and CEO, IRO
• Prof. Dr. Michael Droescher, Senior Vice President Corporate Innovation Management, Degussa
• Alain Bucaille, Senior Vice President, Research and Innovation, AREVA Group
• Mr. Per Hjuler, VP Product & Marketing Development, Lego
• Renzo Rizzo, Pasta Meal R&D Global Director, Barilla
• Eike Bˆhm, Vice President R&D (Truck Division), DaimlerChrysler
• Jacqui Carnelley, International Director: Innovation & Development Brands, SABMiller Brewers
• Dr. Brigitte Hellhammer, Manager Concept Research, R&D Europe, Ethicon
• John Thesmer, Vice President, R&D, Ostomy, Care Division, Coloplast
• Dr. Guido Petit, Director of the Alcatel Technical Academy, Alcatel
• Paul Verhaert, Founder and Chairman of Verhaert Group, Verhaert Group
• Alastair Atkinson, Global Product Director, Optos plc
• Paul-JoÎl Derian, Group VP, Research and Development, Rhodia
• Alan Payne, Operations Manager & Photographic Projects Manager, Kodak European Research Cambridge
• ...

We look very much forward to listen to this healthy mix of innovation guru's and get into conversations with the attendees. More information will follow soonÖ See you in Munich in January!

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