Sigaria has announced the launch of a groundbreaking virtual conference, Procuretech Live 2007, that will allow participants to experience the very latest in procurement technology without leaving the comfort of their own homes or offices.

ProcureTech Live 2007 is the first conference of its kind anywhere in the world. Targeted at procurement professionals the event will be delivered 100% online and will enable attendees to visit exhibition booths, view literature and presentations, attend keynote sessions and access resource centres.

In addition it will offer visitors the opportunity to network with their peers through online interaction and the exchanging of business cards.

The event, which takes place on November 21 2007, will cover areas such as procurement technology, supplier networks, eSourcing, eProcurement, contract management, services procurement and spend analysis and has been tailored to enable both procurement and IT decision makers the opportunity review the latest global procurement technologies.

ProcureTech will feature a fully interactive exhibition hall, which will allow visitors to visit individual booths to, amongst other things, view product demonstrations and speak 'live' with on-hand product specialists.

A conference hall will also provide an interactive forum for attendees to listen and attend keynote addresses and webcasts on a variety of business critical topics, in addition to offering visitors the chance to download research and white papers.

"We're excited to announce the launch of this unique event," said Alex Martinez, Marketing and Services Director, Sigaria. "This is a tremendous opportunity for global procurement professionals to come together 'live' through the internet and experience what's new and exciting in procurement."

To find out more visit the ProcureTech LIVE website – www.procuretechlive.com

Some of the continent’s leading procurement figures are gathering in the South of France for the seventh bi-annual European Leaders in Procurement Forum in Nice.

The theme for the event, which is being hosted by the Hotel Negresco in Nice, will be Procurement Evolution and ‘Sustainable strategies for long term stakeholder value.’

The event will cover a range of topic areas, including Supplier Relationship Management, Outsourcing, CSR , Global Sourcing and Procurement Talent.

The forum will also feature a keynote address from Hewlett Packard’s procurement director, Patrick Scholler, who earlier this year picked up the ELP Award for Innovation.

HP’s procurement risk management framework was described as a “breakthrough” by judges back in May, and delegates will now get to hear how HP implemented a process to mitigate supply chain risk and inform sourcing decisions.