eHealth refers to the use of digital information and communication technologies to meet the needs of citizens, patients, healthcare professionals, healthcare providers, and policy makers. Interactive health communication channels like the Internet have multiple potential benefits for the public, such as access to general and individualized health information on web sites. Support for health decision-making processes for prevention, diagnosis, and disease management is also possible. In addition, home care applications and mobile emergency call systems can be used by elderly or handicapped people at any time or place.

The ICMCC Event is the annual platform of the International Council on Medical & Care Compunetics - an international foundation aiming at being the knowledge centre for medical and care compunetics, making information on medicine and care available to patients using compunetics as well as distributing information on the use of compunetics in medicine and care to patients and professionals.

Digital Repositories are knowledge resources essential for the European Research Area much in the same way data transport network, grid computing resources or data storage are.

There is, in fact, a growing strategic relevance of Scientific Digital Repositories for Europe's objectives of a Single Information Space. Digital technologies provide the possibilities for exchanging and sharing information and knowledge and, on the other hand, massive quantities of information need to be managed to be really of use. Therefore, there is an opportunity to build in Europe a strong base of scientific and educational digital repositories as part of the European Research Infrastructure which is witnessed by the e-IRG and ESFRI roadmaps and the key initiatives in several European Member States.

The conference is organised by the European Commission DG Information Society and Media and DG Research and with the support of three roadmapping projects of DG INFSO (SYMBIOMATICS, STEP & SHARE).

The World of Health IT Conference & Exhibition is a new concept for the healthcare community. Bridging the gaps between public policy and the realities of day-to-day implementation, The World of Health IT has been designed for and by the healthcare IT community in Europe, the Middle East and Africa - be they buyers, vendors, technology users, providers or healthcare regulators.