The “networked economy” is characterized by a shift in the conceptual definition of the organization. Global organizational alliances are formed at an increased speed and scope. These alliances are created with the aim to cooperate effectively within a targeted value chain or supply chain. Increasingly, this is complemented by collaboration support between the actors.

Parallels to the above trends can be drawn to people Lifestyle, which displays as well ad hoc community formation, media deployment, synchronisation of activities and collaboration support. The foundations of these radical new economic and lifestyle patterns are rooted in very recent technological innovations. The Web 2.0 technologies lead for example to a paradigm of a Web-centric access and sharing of content, revealing new functionality and orchestration logics.

The conference aims to display and investigate foundations and implications of eBusiness and Collaborative Business on organizations. This can also include effects on Life-Sciences and Lifestyle.

CollECTeR (Collaborative Electronic Commerce Technology and Research) is a joint venture undertaken by universities around the world which, through a loose federation of research centres provides both depth and breadth of expertise in electronic commerce.

CollECTeR Europe 2007 continues the conference series with the focus on Collaborative Business after Furtwangen (Germany, 2005) and Basel (Switzerland, 2006). The conference site, Albi, is located in a prosperous innovation region, close to Toulouse with its aeronautical and space industries (EADS, Airbus, Astrium) and its pharmaceutical/lifescience industries (Groupe Pierre Fabre). Ecole des Mines d’Albi-Carmaux (EMAC) in Albi is one of the Grandes Ecoles in France and will host the conference. Albi is positioned in the middle of the beautiful wine region of the Tarn valley in the Midi Pyrénées region (the South West of France).

The aim of CollECTeR Europe 2007 is to bring together researchers and best-practice practitioners to elaborate on the foundations and (industry) potentials of the new discipline of Collaborative Business in industry and in society. The Programme Committee seeks papers describing novel, radical and, indeed, controversial ideas. Papers may describe either completed research or work in progress. In order to stimulate a lively discussion, the number of participants will be limited to approx. 50 people. Panels with representatives from the region will complement the paper sessions.

CollECTeR Europe 2007 follows the week after the Bled 2007 eConference in Slovenia and ICIS 2007 in St. Gallen Switzerland:

• Bled 2007, June 4-6: www.bledconference.org
• ECIS 2007, June 7-9: www.ecis2007.ch