The latest Covid-19 related information concerning ICED21 (updated August 17)

We are carefully observing the development of the pandemic situation and will update you with the latest information as soon as it is confirmed.

As previously announced, we plan a “Hybrid” conference in August. This include using an on-line platform with delegate access to all significant events at the conference, still with ambitions to have some activities on site in Gothenburg. This will however need to be constrained following local as well as international pandemic constraints.  We needed to accept a limited number of delegates on site by invitation only. We hope for your understanding that we, in this still extraordinary situation, are doing our very best to prepare the best hybrid ICED conference ever (- yes, it is the first too : )

Important for the ON SITE Participation

You are not allowed to come to the conference in case of symptoms and notify Jessica Twedmark (Jessica.twedmark@chalmers.se) as a contact person and receive support ion how to get tested.

Until you get a negative test result, you must follow ICED from Online.

If we receive any confirmed cases during the week, we will notify you immediately.

Status and plan

At present we have rules in Sweden that allow max 50 people indoors, and the Chalmers president has stated that conferences shall be on-line, or possibly hybrid with only invited delegates. At present, large conferences with international delegates are not recommended. This is valid until August 15th whereafter a transition period for opening is foreseen until end of October.

A selection of ICED delegates with pre-registred interest to attend on site have recevied an invitaiton for final, complementary registration. There is also a waiting list. . 
Also, many countries and geographical regions as well as organisations (universities, companies) have their restrictions and rules that hinder travel, impose quarantine and so forth.

Previously we announce that:

• Physical delegation will be limited and opened following a regional priority.
  - This means that intercontinental travelling is not adviced. This means that foremost ASIAN and AMERICAN delegates are welcome as on-line delegates only.
  - EUROPEAN delegates may be considered – yet national rules applies and travel passes are still under discussion.
• The ICED Organisation Committee (OC) opened registration for ON SITE participation between June 16th which closed on July 1st.
• Acceptance for on site participation will be notified before middle of July based on what is possible to offer from the pandemic situation. First set of invitations have been sent to induviduals, awaiting their completion of registration.

We still need to stress that the On Site participation can be changed anytime, as the government rules can shift on a short notice. Flexibility in travel arrangements is advised, even after OC has confirmed your physical attendance. We advise the delegates to personally follow the Swedish authorities’ rules for the pandemic situation.

WORKSHOPS – MONDAY 16th August

Workshops will be held fully on-line on Monday August 16th. As traditional, we decided to enable delegates to attend two workshops. 

The first workshop block is between 09:00 and 12:00 (3 h) and the second workshop block is scheduled 16:30-19:00. Inbetween there will be activities, foremost the opening session  of the conference. 

GENERAL on SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME and PRESENTATION

Presentations for technical sessions will be made in one-hour blocks, with 5 papers presented as pre-recorded 5 minutes videos, presented in the first 30 minutes of the session. The session chair will then lead the discussion with live involvement of all presenting authors and allowing delegates to ask questions.
Key Notes and plenary session will be presented live, some on site in Gothenburg and some remote.
The sessions will (with permission) be recorded and made available with a time delay via the Conference Portal.

All presenters have received instructions for how to prepare their video presentation and upload to include in the program from the start. 

FRIDAY Workshop and Panel

An exiting workshop and panel discussion is being prepared for the Friday session (August 20th), where actors from the innovation eco-system will be represented together with the ICED delegates to discuss topics on how engineering designers, researchers and practitioners will need to act to enable the  ongoing transformation in society. 

The workshop is scheduled to start in the morning (0900-12:00) with Ignition talks and a group work session. 13:30 there is a panel discussion with invited persons representing different aspects of teh innovation system. 

Regardless of form we look forward to your attendance at ICED in August!

Ola Isksson on behalf of the ICED organisation team

Contact

Do not hesitate to make contact to the ICED21 Organising Committee (iced@designsociety.org) or the Design Society Board of Management (admin@designsociety.org), if you have input or questions for us, regarding ICED21.