The WTN brings key players together - from the most cutting-edge technologists to the most forward-thinking financiers, from the most conceptual futurists to the most grounded entrepreneurs, from the most insightful science writers to the most savvy marketers, from the most big-picture government officials to the most focused policy analysts, and from the world's leading corporations to the world's newest start-ups --helping to make things happen sooner and better than they might have.
The WTN exists to "encourage serendipity" -- the happy accidents of colliding ideas and new relationships that cause the biggest breakthroughs for individuals and institutions. The WTN works to accomplish its mission through global and regional events for its members (and others) to help make connections among them, and to examine the likely implications and possible applications of emerging technologies. The WTN also seeks to provide useful information and provoke action through its publications.
The World Technology Awards are presented each year to the outstanding innovators from each sector within the technology arena, both as a way to honor those individuals and as a vetting mechanism to determine the newest WTN members. The Awards are announced each year in a gala ceremony at the close of the annual World Technology Summit. The World Technology Summit is a global gathering of the WTN membership as well as other delegates. The 2001 World Technology Summit was held in London at Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine and the National Museum of Science & Industry. The 2002 World Technology Summit was held in New York City, in part at United Nations headquarters. The 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 World Technology Summit & Awards took place in San Francisco, with the Summits at leading hotels and the Awards ceremony at San Francisco City Hall. The most recent World Technology Summit & Awards programs have taken place in New York City at the Time and Life Building. The 2010 World Technology Summit & Awards took place November 30 / December 1. The 2011 World Technology Summit & Awards will take place on October 25th and 26th at the TIME Conference Center (the Summit) and on the evening of October 26th at the United Nations (the Awards).
The WTN also convenes more specific high-level gatherings. The WTN is a community for and of those people working in and around new technologies, who are creating the future and changing the world.
