S-TEAM is committed to running a substantial mid-project conference by M18 (October 2010). This is not very far away in conference-management terms so we have to start thinking now about where and when it should be. Our colleagues at DG Research have previously indicated that it would be advantageous to hold a combined event with the proposed European Central Information Provider (tender specification here). Their event would have to be in Brussels and would be around the same time as ours if all goes to plan. However, we have been in touch with DG and they consider that it would probably be sensible to start planning now!
We therefore need to consider how the conference would work if it were to be a standalone event. We have signalled in STAN that it will be a policy conference rather than a practitioner event. This will require us to issue invitations at least nine months in advance in order to get meaningful participation from the policy community. We also need time to identify who the members of this poilcy community might be.
The event is also important for us since the EC will be conducting a technical review of S-TEAM at that time, and will therefore want the event to be a success. We will have finished products at that time and will want to advertise them.
Should we decide to go for our own event, where should it be held? We have a suggestion onnthe table from Maria Pilar that Madrid might be an option. This would be a good idea subject to identifying a suitable venue.