Junior Chamber takes over GNU/Linux Summit

Junior Chamber takes over GNU/Linux Summit from SOT

Autotalo, Helsinki, Finland, 2004-1-20

SOT Finnish Software Engineering Ltd. has stepped down as organizer of the annual GNU/Linux Summit and transferred the event to the Junior Chamber organization, citing the need for an independent organizer. In future Summits, SOT's role in will be limited to sponsorship and assisting with the selection of speakers. Junior Chamber plans to bring the traditionally north European GNU/Linux Summit to other continents around the world with the help of its active international network.

"We wanted the Summit to have an independent organizer, one that will serve all actors in the industry equally, and ensure that the Summit remains an event of substance. For the future success of the Summit, we would prefer that sales speeches are excluded from the program and that the Summit remains focused on essential matters, such as how to gain concrete financial and technological benefits from open software and GNU/Linux", said Santeri Kannisto, Managing Director, SOT.

Junior Chamber is recognized as a world leader in skill development. Its members consist of the entrepreneurs and young leaders of today and tomorrow. The organization has more than 50 years of experience in arranging high-level international training.

"The previous Summit reached decision makers and professionals, bringing them new and up-to-date information about GNU/Linux and Open Source. In addition, our involvement in the Summit earned us JCI Europe's prestigious 'Best Local Project Award'. Next year we are aiming to see the GNU/Linux Summit win at an international level in Fukoka, Japan", explained Jyrki Lihr, Junior Chamber's Vice President.

Well-known international ICT professionals have already signed up to speak at the next GNU/Linux Summit. This year, the two-day event will take place in Helsinki instead of Espoo, the site of the previous year's event. The upcoming Summit is scheduled to be held on Thursday and Friday of the last week of February: 26-27.2.2004. For more information, visit www.linuxsummit.org.

Junior Chamber

JCI (Junior Chamber International) is a worldwide federation of young leaders and entrepreneurs. With 200,000 active JCI members and millions of JCI alumni participating in projects, meetings, learning programs and events, JCI thrives in more than 6,000 communities located in more than 100 countries throughout the world. Drawing on the experience of JCI alumni such as Jari Vilén, Bill Clinton and Kofi Annan, JCI members learn the skills to create positive change. JCI organizes projects in the areas of Business, Individual, Community, and International Development.

SOT

SOT provides services related to product development and ICT-infrastructure. Founded in 1991, the company's core competences are GNU/Linux and Open Source. As an established software house in the Finnish ICT arena, SOT counts Finland's leading companies and public corporations among its customers. SOT's best known products include SOT Linux, Best Linux and SOT Office.

ENDS

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