Maybe youre a businessperson interested in technology and innovation.

Or an academic or entrepreneur involved in research or development.

You might be a scientist, or an artist, working and experimenting to create new knowledge.

Perhaps youre a policymaker, public servant or lawyer addressing a host of issues for the new economy.

You might even be a young West Virginian who simply wants to stay home in the Mountain State, as you work to get established in a career.

Regardless of who you are, you can find out how to start forging your way in the new economy of the 21st century, courtesy of a special conference Sept. 18-19 at West Virginia University.

From Coal to Content: The Role of Intellectual Property and Technology in the New Economy,is the name of the conference hosted by WVU s College of Law and Research Corp.

Representatives from Coca-Cola to Wal-Mart are scheduled to be at the conference, which will look at ideas, marketing and the legal protection afforded to those products and innovations that are exclusively yours.

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin and First District Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va., are expected to attend, along with Wade Savoy, the Assistant General Counsel for Intellectual Property of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Also scheduled are leading trademark attorney Jerome Gilson, whose clients have included Coca-Cola, McDonalds Bayer and Exxon; and John Preston, former director of Technology Development of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who is now a senior lecturer there.

Representing WVU and north-central West Virginia are:

• Dr. John Weete, who heads WVU s Research Corp. while serving as Universitys Vice President for Research and Economic Development;

• Joseph Allen, Vice President and General Manager, IP Management Group, West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation, Fairmont; and

• Lisa Railing, Chief Executive Officer of the Wheeling-based Ziegenfelder Corp.

The event is being organized by WVU law professor Megan Carpenter, a north-central West Virginia native and experienced intellectual property attorney and educator who worked around the world before returning to her alma mater earlier this year.

Look for a world of ideas to be exchanged in the conference that she says will be adiscussionmore than anything else.

This will be a discussion that spans art and science, business and industry, and culture and environment,Carpenter said.Well explore ways to use traditional resources in the new economy, and well examine how we can cultivate human knowledge and creation in a manner that benefits our state. If the opportunities are here, young people will stay here and help grow West Virginia.

For more conference details and information on how to register, contact Carpenter at megan.carpenter@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-7081.