1. INVITATION

July 2002 in Barcelona

The XV IFAC World Congress to be held in Barcelona, b'02, will be the first IFAC World Congress to take place in the Third Millennium. As such, it will be a good opportunity to highlight the new directions of Automatic Control Science and Technology. In this context the Congress puts emphasis on:

• Emergent Automatic Control Application Fields. New applications in industry and services, and their technological implications.

• Social Challenge of Automation and Control Theory. Analysis of the social impact of control and automation at the turn of the century.

• Use of Advanced Information Technologies at the Congress. The Congress itself is an example of how advanced information technologies can promote scientific and technical exchange among international experts.

The International Program Committee is pleased to report that the response to our Call for Papers has been excellent. More than 2500 papers have been submitted to the IFAC b'02 Congress. Approximately 1700 have been accepted, involving about 2300 authors from 68 countries. With 32 proposals, the reaction to the Call for Tutorial Workshops has also been very positive. The selected Workshops will be held during Saturday July 20 and Sunday July 21, prior to the Congress opening.

As in the previous IFAC Congresses, there will be a prize for the best Application Paper, and a Young Author Prize. Also a prize offered by the Spanish IFAC National Member Organization, CEA-IFAC, will be awarded to the best Poster Paper.

The virtual track, an innovative idea of this IFAC World Congress, has also received high interest: more than 200 papers have been proposed to participate in pre-discussion sessions via Internet, and 10 proposals for open forums have been received. A selection of them will be a available for discussion before the Congress.

Seven Plenary Sessions have been programmed for the five days of the Congress. Each day will start with a Plenary Session, followed by 20 parallel tracks organised in a morning session and a midday session. In the afternoon different kinds of sessions have been programmed, depending on the day: poster sessions, oral sessions, panel discussions, and also plenary sessions.

Therefore, all those attending the IFAC World Congress b'02 will have the opportunity to participate in a high-level scientific and technical congress, to share some days with outstanding specialists in Automatic Control from all over the world, and will also understand why Barcelona is one of the most frequently visited cities in the world.

Barcelona has always been a friendly city towards all cultures. Barcelona has a rich past, a dynamic present, and an exciting future. Situated by the coast, its climate is Mediterranean and mild. In July, its coasts and beaches invite you to have a pleasant stay here.

We look forward to seeing you in Barcelona, at the XV IFAC World Congress.

Gabriel Ferraté NOC Chairman	Luis Basañez IPC Chairman	Juan Antonio de la Puente IPC Chairman	Pedro Albertos IFAC President

2. NOC & IPC STRUCTURE

SPONSORS

Co-sponsors:

SUPPORTERS

3. LIST OF REVIEWERS

4. CONGRESS GENERAL INFORMATION

4.1. Venue & Dates

4.2. Registration Desk

All attendees must register and will receive a badge. Those participants who have registered in advance should also pick up their identification badge and registration package at the Congress Registration Desk. The registration desk will be open at the following hours:
July 20 Saturday, 08: 00–18:00
July 21 Sunday, 08:00–17:00
July 22-25 Monday-Thursday, 08:30–18:00
July 26 Friday, 08:30–12:30

4.3. Venue map and location

Barcelona

5. CONGRESS PRIZES

At the opening Ceremony of IFAC b'02, the following prizes will be awarded:

• The Giorgio Quazza Medal to Professor Lennart Ljung, Sweden
• The Nathaniel B. Nichols Medal to Dr Carl Nett, USA
• The Industrial Achievement Award, which is a new award of IFAC
• The Control Engineering Textbook Prize, endowed in honour of Harold Chestnut, 1st President of IFAC
• The Automatica and Control Engineering Practice Paper Prizes

At the Closing Ceremony of IFAC b'02 the following prizes will be awarded to the authors for the Congress contributions.

IFAC Congress Young Author Prize

The Prize consists of a certificate and a monetary award to be shared among the authors of the winning paper. A selection committee nominates candidates. The criteria are high technical quality and good presentation of results. All authors must be under 35 years old by July 21, 2002. Eligible authors who have indicated this on the Paper Registration Form are being considered.

IFAC Congress Application Paper Prize

The Prize consists of a certificate and a monetary award to be shared among the authors of the winning paper. A selection committee will nominate candidates. The criteria are high technical quality and good presentation of results in the area of control applications. Eligible authors who have indicated this on the Paper Registration Form are being considered.

IFAC Congress Poster Paper Prize

The Prize consists of a certificate and a monetary award to be shared among the authors of the winning paper. A selection committee will nominate candidates. The criteria are high technical quality and good presentation.

6. GENERAL EVENTS

6.1. Congress Opening Ceremony and Welcome Reception

The Opening Ceremony will be held at the "Liceu de Barcelona", the most important Opera House in Spain, on the evening (18:00 hs) of July 21, 2002. It will be followed by the Welcome Reception.

Opening Ceremony and Welcome Reception, are free for all registered and accompanying persons.

GRAN TEATRE DEL LICEU
La Rambla, 51–59
www.liceubarcelona.com

6.2. Congress Banquet

The Congress Banquet will be held on Thursday July 25 at 20:30, at "Barcelona Estació de França", a landmark building constructed for the World Fair in 1929.

Full registration includes the Congress Banquet for one person. Extra tickets may be purchased at 75 Euro each.

ESTACIÓ DE FRANÇA
Av. del Marquès d'Argentera s/n
www.bcn.es/english/turisme/itinerar/maritim/iplafran.htm

6.3. Closing Ceremony

The Closing Ceremony will be held at the Congress Venue on Friday July 26 at 16:30. Congress Prizes will be awarded to the authors during this Ceremony.

7. b'02 AT A GLANCE