October 19 - 21, 2003 · Hyatt Regency Reston · Reston, Virginia, U.S.A.

EVENT INFORMATION

Concept Summit Agenda Logistical Info Past Speakers Past Sponsors

Summit Concept

In his 1996 book Only the Paranoid Survive, Andrew Grove, co-founder and chairman of Intel, discusses strategic inflection points – places in time where a company can adapt to change and reach new heights, or fail to adapt and watch their business stagnate or decline.  After years of driving national economic growth, the technology sector hit a downward curve and the rest of the country followed.  The sector now appears to be at one such point – and poised for an upswing.  But the questions that remain are, “What is the next step up?” and “Are we secure enough to take that step?”

Networked Economy Summit: Building Faith in the Network will discuss these and other questions, aimed at strengthening network security in order to generate economic growth.  The summit is the fourth annual event hosted by The Tech Center, part of the George Mason University School of Law, with the objective of advancing the growth and development of the networked economy. Co-chaired by Congressman Tom Davis, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Don Evans, the summit program will take advantage of the greater Washington region’s unique position, featuring policymakers who are spearheading the federal government’s technology efforts as well as business leaders from the area and around the globe whose technology solutions are making the global digital economy a reality.

Broken down into four key focus areas – advancing technology, combating cyber-terrorism, educating and engaging consumers, and improving public/private organization – the timely summit will feature interactive discussions, lectures, and cross-sector networking events designed to bring together leaders from industry, government, and academia to identify the challenges surrounding leadership in these areas and to determine solutions to address them. 

Questions that may be discussed at the Summit include:

• How secure is the United States and our critical infrastructure?

• What is the real potential of information technology to rebound and generate growth – nationally and in Northern Virginia?

• How can we increase security on wired and wireless networks to decrease potential threats and increase productivity while maintaining rapid network growth?

• How can we strengthen domestic and international law to allocate liability and deter cyber crime?

• What is the most effective way to build partnerships among business leaders, universities and units of government?

• What is the role for the federal government in technology research and development?

• What future trends will have a direct impact on security?

• How will the 2004 elections impact the debate over securing our critical infrastructure?

More than 250 participants, representing senior-level business executives, government officials, national experts, academics, non-profit leaders and other interested parties will participate in the Summit.  The Tech Center will compile a report at the completion of the summit outlining participants’ views, suggestions and responses to the issues raised throughout the summit. This report will serve to encourage and facilitate future action towards economic growth and development in the region. In addition to the Summit, an exposition will be held simultaneously, highlighting technology products and services with security applications.