The First International Conference on Technology Development in Lebanon (TECHLEB|06), took place on May 20-21 2006 at MIT in Cambridge Massachusetts. It aimed to define the roadmap of development strategies and initiatives essential to making Lebanon a vibrant and sustainable technology hub in the Middle East & North Africa region (MENA). The conference convened key players from the Lebanese private sector, government, and Diaspora to connect the building blocks of Lebanon’s technology sector: technical and legal infrastructure, capacity development, economic opportunity, global market access, and tax climate. The strategic importance of a thriving technology sector in Lebanon lies in its ripple effect on other sectors and services from both an economic and social standpoint.

The American Lebanese Engineering Society (ALES) was a sponsor and advisory partner of TECHLEB|06 with two of its board members being on the planning and advisory committees of the conference. ALES also participated in the poster session introducing the organization to professionals and students and highlighting its activities and achievements over the past 15 years since it was founded.

TECHLEB|06 was a successful event attended by over 300 people (professionals, entrepreneurs,  government officials, students, professors, journalists, businessmen, etc.) from different countries who joined to discuss and draw a roadmap for technology development in Lebanon. The conference topics included the current Lebanese state of affairs: challenges, efforts, & initiatives; empowering entrepreneurs, barriers to investment in Lebanon; academia and its role in knowledge-based economy; technology-driven economy development, success stories of high-tech ventures in Lebanon and abroad; benefiting from the Irish success model, leveraging the Diaspora: connecting the human capital; blueprint for the TECHLEB|07 conference, etc.

TECHLEB|06 was a great opportunity for people interested in technology development in Lebanon to network, present their ideas, and discuss other ideas. It was also a great opportunity for ALES to perform its role in being an active and positive factor in such constructive events.

The following are the ALES poster and brochure:

- ALES Poster

- ALES Brochure

The following are articles regarding TECHLEB|06 in the Lebanese Media:

- MIT Gathering Believes in Hi-Tech Lebanon

- TECHLEB|06: A Diasporic Support for Lebanon at MIT

- Lebanon is Massachusetts of the Arab World

For more information regarding the conference, please visit the TECHLEB website. http://www.techlebconference.com.

Below are more pictures from the event.