EDCOM Conference 2014

 Life in the Cloud – What does real-time connectivity mean for brands? 

The European Association of Communications Agencies (EACA) and its European Institute for Commercial Communications Education – edcom – are organising the 8th Commercial Communications Conference which will take place at IESE Business School in Barcelona on 9 May 2014.

Under the title “Life in the Cloud? What does real-time connectivity mean for brands?”, we invite agency professionals, clients and academics to discuss and analyse opportunities and challenges for the future of brands in a technology-driven reality, defined through increasing media convergence and connectivity. We will be looking into:

• the opportunities and challenges imposed by the explosion of web-enabled, connectable devices and media convergence,

• the implications of a connected world for communications and brands,

• the impact of a connected world on consumer expectations.

Through the 20 minutes Keynote speech we aim to set the scene for the conference (introduce trends and some ideas of where technology and data-usage are heading) and give some food-for-thought for the following panel discussion.

The Panel discussion will address topics such as:

• “The Facebook of Things” – objects and devices (smartphones, tablets, Connected TV) are becoming connected and aware of other devices around them. The conference will address the new potential and challenges for joined-up advertising in a connected world;
•  Seamless advertising? – in a world of connectivity and media convergence, can/should brands deliver a seamless consumer experience?
•  High-performance Creativity – in a world of media convergence and real-time data;
•  Brands of tomorrow – how is real-time reaction changing the way we advertise?

Following the Panel discussion, three interactive parallel sessions will provide a platform for participants to discuss:

1. Drawing the red-line: the ethics of targeted advertising

2. How does a world of real-time connectivity impact the way in which we teach advertising?

3. The future of brands in a world of real-time connectivity

When: 9 May 2014, 9h30-17h30

Where: IESE Business School, Barcelona

Audience: academics, agency representatives, clients, students

About the European Association of Communications Agencies (EACA) 

EACA is an organisation which brings together the advertising, media and sales promotion agencies across Europe, enabling international experience and issues to be shared and dealt with on a pan-European basis. It provides an important link between agencies, advertisers and the advertising media in Europe and around the world and participates closely in setting the standards in many aspects of the business across Europe.

EACA membership is organised into 5 councils:

• The National Associations’ Council (NAC)
• The International Agencies’ Council (IAC)
• The Integrated Marketing Communications’ Council (IMCC)
• The Health Communications’ Council (HCC)
• The Media Agencies’ Council (MAC)

For more information, please visit: www.eaca.eu.

About the European Institute for Commercial Communications Education (edcom) 

In 2007, the European Association of Communications Agencies, together with the founding academic partners, has set up the European Institute for Commercial Communications Education (edcom). The institute strives to promote excellence in commercial communications education and research and to further exchanges between the European commercial communications sector and academic partners.

The main objectives of edcom are to:

• promote excellence in commercial communications education and research;
• raise awareness of the European Commercial Communications Education offer from academic partners, members of the network;
• enhance communication and co-operation between the European commercial communication sector and academic partners;
• facilitate cross-border education, employment and exchange of commercial communications students;
• facilitate cross-border exchange of qualified and specialised teaching staff;
• promote the value of cultural diversity in commercial communication education;
• promote knowledge and understanding of innovative advertising and communication techniques and new use of media and other public platforms.

For more information, please visit: www.eaceducation.eu.

PROGRAMME

09h30 Conference Opening 

Frances Illingworth, President, European Institute for Commercial Communications Education

09h40 Keynote Speech 

Michael Bayler, Director of Strategy / SapientNitro

10h00 Panel Discussion 

Chair: Cliff van Wyk, Senior Lecturer / Bournemouth University

Speakers:

 Marcus Wilding, Partner / Client Leader Europe, Team Unilever, Mindshare

 Dietmar Dahmen, Global Chief Creative Office / ecx.io

 Simon Francis, Chief Executive Officer / Flock Associates Ltd

 Speaker 4 – Data-driven Client (tbc)

11h15 Coffee Break

11h45 Ad Venture – the Final 3 

13h15 Lunch 

14h30 Parallel Sessions 

1. Drawing the red-line: the ethics of targeted advertising Dominic Lyle, Director General / European Association of Communications Agencies

2. How does a world of real-time connectivity impact the way in which we teach advertising?

Gresi Sanje, Associate Professor / Istanbul Bilgi University

3. The future of brands in a world of real-time connectivity

Micky Denehy, Principal / EACA International School of Advertising

15h30 Results parallel sessions 

15h45 Coffee Break

16h15 Innovation and Research 

Presentation of Research Papers Competition Winners

17h15 Announcement of Ad Venture Winning Team 

17h30 Conference Closing

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