Sponsored by Pera, the East Midlands based international innovation company.

To celebrate this second region-wide iFestival East Midlands Innovation is delighted to announce two high profile and dynamic events to be held on Thursday 17th April at Leicester City Football Club, Walkers Stadium, Filbert Way, Leicester, LE2 7FL, both kindly supported by Pera, the East Midlands based international innovation company.

1.) 2008 iFestival Innovation Expo (11am to 3.30pm)

The 2008 iFestival Innovation Expo will be the East Midlands largest innovation exhibition.  The event will be an exciting opportunity for businesses to showcase their organisation, to meet other regional organisations and exchange know-how and technology, to promote trading and continue to contribute to developing innovation throughout the region.

The Innovation Expo will feature an exhibition arena of around 40 regional and national businesses and organisations, combined with a programme of seminars and interactive workshops to provide a platform for companies and individuals to generate and develop new ways of thinking and to discover mutually beneficial ways of working together in partnership.

Exhibiting at the Innovation Expo for all 2008 iFestival Partners is complimentary and provided by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) funding.

Attending the Expo and speaker programme is FREE with no booking required and confirmed speakers and workshops include:

• 11.45 – 12.30 - Tim Miller - Managing Director, EMNET
  Topic: The Development of Digital Business Ecosystems
  
  
• 13.30 – 14.00 - Patricia Geraghty - Partner, Central England Business Angels
  Topic: Raising Finance
  
  
• 14.00 – 14.30 - Professor Colin Coulson-Thomas - author of ‘Winning Companies; Winning People’ and Professor of Direction and Leadership at the University of Lincoln.
  Topic: Winning New Business
  
  
• 14.30 – 15.00 - Ian Sterritt - Principal Advocate, Kirkdale Customer Advocates
  Topic: Predicting Innovation
  

2.)  2008 iFestival Gala Dinner (6.45pm to 11.00pm)

The 2008 iFestival Gala Dinner will host representatives from leading businesses, organisations and iFestival Partners across the East Midlands.  Combining ex-Dragon's Den investor and Yo! Sushi entrepreneur, Simon Woodroffe, OBE as the key note speaker with a four course dinner, the event will be an inspiring finale to this year’s iFestival.

The 2008 iFestival Gala Dinner will recognise the 2008 iFestival Event Partners and will provide a fantastic opportunity in which partner organisations can network and discuss future opportunities.  All 2008 iFestival Partners will receive two complimentary guest places which have been provided by emda funding.

Location
Walkers Stadium, Leicester.

Audience
This is an open FREE event with everyone welcome.

Further Information
For further information or guidance on either event please contact Louise Holland or Michelle Lobo at Holland Alexander on 0116 261 6867 or

e-mail: michelle@hollandalexander.com.