Keynote Line-Up Announced for the 3rd Annual Front End of Innovation Event

The Product Development and Management Association (PDMA) and The Institute for International Research (IIR) will hold the 3rd Annual Front End of Innovation conference in Boston, MA, May 23-25, 2005. Keynote speakers include Henry Chesbrough - Author of "Open Innovation: The New Imperative for Creating and Profiting from Technology;" Harold Evans - Historian, Journalist, and Author of "They Made America;" Gerald E. Johnston - President & CEO - The Clorox Company; Peter Senge, PhD - Pioneer in the Field of Learning Organizations and Author of "The Fifth Discipline;" Stefan Thomke - Associate Professor of Business Administration - Harvard Business School and Author; Jack Welch - Former Chairman and CEO - GE; and Benjamin Zander - World-renowned Conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra & Leadership, Creativity & Team Building Expert.

In addition, the event will feature a special Inventors forum, entitled "The Essence of Thinking Different." Learn how leading inventors achieve breakthrough discoveries. Panelists will discuss what motivates them and how they find new problems to solve. How do they work with larger teams? How do they leap across disciplines and blast through barriers? How do they ensure that their inventions connect to real-world needs? Participants include: Steve Wozniak, Inventor/Entrepreneur & Co-Founder - Apple Computers; Dr. Thomas J. Fogarty, Winner of the 2000 Lemelson - MIT Prize for Invention & Innovation; Amy Smith, Winner of the 2000 Lemelson - MIT Student Prize; Rebecca Seibert, Technology Manager - Crompton Corporation; and Evan Schwartz, Author of "Juice - The Creative Fuel That Drives World-Class Inventors."

The event is chaired by Peter A. Koen, Associate Professor, Wesley J. Howe School of Technology Management, Stevens Institute of Technology. This Event Is Open for Registration and space is limited. Group discounts and special early bird rate ends January 21st. For More Information and to register, call (888) 670-8200, email register@iirusa.com or visit: www.frontendofinnovation.com. Please mention your priority code when registering: M1704XPR2.

About the event organizers

Founded in 1976, the Product Development and Management Association (PDMA) is the premier worldwide resource for professional development, information, collaboration and promotion of product development and product lifecycle management. www.pdma.org

The Institute for International Research (IIR) is the world's largest conference company and has been the leader in the provision of business information for over 20 years. IIR produces over 5,000 events annually through our network of offices in over 35 countries. www.iirusa.com

To obtain further event please contact: Sabina Gargiulo, Institute for International Research, 708 Third Ave., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10017. Phone: 212-661-3500 ext. 3032. Fax: 212-599-2192 E-mail: sgargiulo@iirusa.com

Contact: Sabina Gargiulo 212-661-3500 ext. 3032 sgargiulo@iirusa.com