Industry Minister Tony Clement Keynote Speaker at Canada 3.0 2010

STRATFORD, ON, April 7 /CNW/ - Canada's Industry Minister Tony Clement will be the lead keynote speaker on the first day of the Canada 3.0 2010 digital media forum in Stratford May 10, the Canadian Digital Media Network (CDMN) announced today. The two-day forum is dedicated to advancing Canada's digital media industry, and Minister Clement is expected to share how Canada can leverage the strengths of this emerging sector for global economic advantage.

"Industry Canada is committed to mobilizing science and technology to Canada's advantage, and digital media has a key role to play in ensuring Canada's ongoing economic success," said Minister Clement.

There are three key elements needed to sustain a strong technological lead for the country and those are: creating entrepreneurial advantage by translating knowledge into commercially viable products; knowledge advantage to build upon research and engineering to achieve excellence; and people advantage to attract and develop the talent needed to sustain a digital economy, Minister Clement said.

Organizers highlight that the Canada 3.0 forum is an important milestone because it will bring together people with a common interest in making Canada a leader in digital media and achieving the 'Moon Shot' for 'anyone to do anything on-line in Canada - by 2017'.

"We are working to commercialize digital technology, increase R&D efforts and collaboration across the country, and grow the skilled talent pool through facilities such as the University of Waterloo Stratford Campus and DigiBC," said Kevin Tuer, Managing Director of the CDMN.

Helen McDonald, Assistant Deputy Minister, Spectrum, Information Technologies and Telecommunications, Industry Canada will also be speaking at the forum. Other speakers and stream leaders are drawn from private industry as well as academic and creative facilities.

For full details on the forum, log into www.canada30.ca or follow developments on Twitter using #can30. Note that early-bird pricing continues until April 9th.

About Canada 3.0 2010

Canada 3.0 2010 is a forum organized by the Canadian Digital Media Network www.cdmn.ca and the University of Waterloo Stratford Campus www.stratfordcampus.uwaterloo.ca intended to advance Canada's strength in digital media. The CDMN will link Canada's digital media expertise and capability from coast-to-coast, enabling collaboration between researchers, implementers and entrepreneurs.

For further information: Media Contact: Shelley Grandy, Canada 3.0 media relations, [phone] or [email protected]