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The 3rd International Conference on Technology Policy and Innovation (Austin ‘99) was held August 30 through September 2, 1999 at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin. A total of 325 representatives from 34 nations attended the three-day conference. Austin ‘99 brought together leading researchers and practitioners from academia, business, and government from around the world to present and discuss current and future uses for science and technology in regional economic development and shared prosperity.

Traditionally, this annual international conference is held in an emerging, developing, or developed technology region. The 1st International Conference on Technology Policy and Innovation was held in Macau, China in the summer of 1997; the 2nd International Conference on Technology Policy and Innovation was held in Lisbon, Portugal in the summer of 1998. The theme of this year’s conference was “Global Knowledge Partnerships: Creating Value for the 21st Century.”

Participants presented and discussed their current research activities related to science and technology. The conference encouraged multi-disciplinary perspectives to help provide state-of-the-art knowledge to decision-makers, including informed and effective education, business and government policies, and strategies for the global knowledge economy.

Speakers included representatives of The World Bank, NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Harvard Business School, The University of Texas at Austin, MIT, China Torch Program, Shanghai High Tech Park, Russia’s Institute of Economy in Transition, National Research Council, Italy, Bechtel International Corporation, and The European Commission. Featured speakers included Dr. Larry Faulkner, President, The University of Texas at Austin; Dr. Rafael Rangel, President, Instituto Tecnólogico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITSEM), Monterrey, Mexico; Mr. Thomas J. Meredith, Senior Vice President, Dell Computer Corporation; the Honorable Kirk Watson, Mayor of Austin; Mr. Bill Spencer, Chairman of the Board, Sematech; Dr. George Kozmetsky, Chairman, IC² Institute Advisory Board; Admiral Bobby Inman; and Mr. Terry Heng, Corporate Vice President and General Manager, Global Software Division, Motorola.

Conference sponsors included colleges and schools of The University of Texas at Austin, 3M Austin Center, Motorola, MCC, Radian, Japan External Trade Organization, Vinson & Elkins, Gray Carey Ware & Freidenrich, Triton Venture Management, and the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to the conference materials and journal publications, Austin ‘99 related information will be made accessible through the conference website. The site will facilitate the continued dissemination of science and technology information and, in so doing, become an ongoing resource for the discussion and further exploration of wealth and job creation strategies for emerging and developing as well as developed regions worldwide.