Conferencing Technologies
While the majority of the world only witnessed the revolutionary power of virtual meetings when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, conference-related technologies have long been core to Geneva’s daily activities. The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) developed and managed the versatile Indico event management system that supports day-to-day UN operations, enabling staff, diplomats, policymakers, and researchers from all over the world to join online consultations, workshops, and policy discussions. The UN Office in Geneva (UNOG) is no stranger to online meetings, with its Division of Conference Management aiding the provision of high-quality services during highly sensitive political negotiations.
The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) takes conferencing to another level, pioneering the hybrid format of participation at its first meeting in Athens in 2006. The IGF further created a new physical-digital dynamic by encouraging local hubs to meet in person while following global deliberations on digital issues online and employing remote moderators to ensure smooth interactions among those in situ and online.
