Welcome Message from the CEO

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

On behalf of the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT 2012) and in collaboration with the WITSA, and following on the success of WCIT 2010 in Amsterdam, I am pleased to announce that the 18th WCIT will be held in Montreal, Canada from October 22 to 24, 2012. I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to join us for that event.

We are living in an age of exciting digital revolution, where the Internet and innovative ICT applications are transforming every field of human endeavour, producing dramatic results and even greater promise. In fact, there is mounting evidence that the explosion of IT-enabled innovation can facilitate prosperity and social development for everyone. However, despite the great advances that we have seen and the promise of more to come, there is a lot of work to be done in order to fulfill the promise of the digital age.

The objective of the three-day WCIT 2012, which will unfold under the theme of "ONE Vision for a Global Digital Society", is to create a Global Digital Society Action Plan that will establish principles aimed at maximizing the potential that digital technologies can unlock across diverse sectors and institutions. We realize that, in order for WCIT 2012 to achieve legitimacy, the process for creating the Plan must be open and inclusive. Therefore, prior to the Congress, WCIT 2012 will host a global digital brainstorming session involving thousands of stakeholders, including ICT senior executives, large technology users, representatives from academia, governments, and NGOs, policymakers, business leaders, and young citizens from around the world.

In short, WCIT 2012 Montreal is proposing an ambitious and unique program based around major themes involving digital society and opportunities, and will feature an exciting line-up of keynote speakers and intense breakout sessions, where lively and interactive debates will take place among the delegates. The Congress will be held in an exceptional venue, the Palais des Congrès de Montréal, which is strategically located in the heart of downtown Montreal.

On top of the exciting program, you will also have an opportunity to discover Montreal during a beautiful time of year, because October is the most colourful month of all. In addition, the renowned duality of Montreal’s old-European charm combined with its North American character should contribute to creating an unforgettable event.

I sincerely hope that you will join us in making this Congress a success, and I look forward to welcoming you to Montreal in October 2012.

Francois Morin
CEO
WCIT 2012 Montreal