The Association "Knowledge Economy Forum" in cooperation with Mykolas Romeris University, Information Society Development Committee under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania organized the international conference "Lithuanian Knowledge towards Global Competitiveness: Lisbon Strategy Relaunched" was held on 6-7 October 2005. The conference venue was the Seimas (Parliament) of the Republic of Lithuania.

The Conference was intended to give an opportunity to researchers, political decision makers and representatives of different interest groups to present and share their work and experience in order to detect underlying patterns and to draw lessons regarding best practices. This was an excellent possibility to discuss main growth factors and the development perspectives of knowledge economy in Lithuania, to share valuable experience of different European regions on growth and management issues and leading tendencies of learning and innovative economy, to broaden professional experience and establish new contacts.

The conference involved participants from European countries: politicians and business strategists, academics as well as representatives of public and civil society organizations.

Main themes of the conference were the following:

1. The change and role of public management in developing national and regional competitiveness. How multilevel and multi-stakeholder governance injluences economic growth?
2. Principles of life long leaning: from A to Z. Return on investments into a learning society.
3. Civil society, labor and social capital. How does social capital stimulate competitiveness?
4. Lisbon strategy - Lithuania's homework and world experience.

IIS General Director Tatiana Ershova made presentation "Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: the New Phenomenon of the Knowledge Age" at the the first theme session on 6 October. She also moderated this session on 7 October and reported on it to the closing session. She shared her practical experience in coordinating a multi-stakeholder e-Development partnership in Russia - an initiative based on trust and mutual assistance in approaching a common goal, which is an Information/Knowledge Society where all layers of the society could gain from the benefits of information and communication technologies.

For more information about the conference please refer to http://conf2005.zef.lt/