More than 300 business leaders from the digital design sector will visit Brighton later this month to exchange ideas and discuss ways of taking the industry forward.

They have been invited to take part in the dSCAPE/04 exhibition at Fabrica in Duke Street which has been organised by Wired Sussex, the media-based business development company.

A number of industry luminaries have been booked to speak at the event, including Martin Freeth, television director, producer and founder of the BBC Multimedia Centre.

Graham Telling, from the Department of Trade and Industry, will discuss funding opportunities and explain what the Government's innovation report means for the industry. He will outline the Government's plans to build a "knowledge-based economy" in the UK in which the technology, scientific and creative industries will play a central role.

Delegates are expected to hear how innovation - defined as the ability to turn ideas into a commercially viable product - will be the key to bringing the UK up to speed with other European countries.

Emily Aitken, executive director at Wired Sussex, said: "dSCAPE/04 presents designers once again with the chance to discuss and showcase their ideas with seasoned professionals in the industry. Brighton is home to a lot of innovative and creative talent and is therefore the perfect setting for this event."

The event kicks off next Wednesday when students and freelancers will hear from leading design companies, including Designate, Red Design, Epic and Get Frank.

Designers taking part in the Short And Sharp showcase on October 28 include Creative Industries Award winner Littleloud, which is currently working with Channel 4. Other digital designer companies participating include Kerb, which recently won an award at the Flash Film Festival in New York, and Studio Tonne, which helped Channel 4 win a BAFTA.

Ju Row Farr, one of the three core creative members of internationally renowned Blast Theory, will be the keynote speaker at By Designers For Designers on October 29.

Ju said: "These are exciting times for the industry, and dSCAPE helps bring everyone together in a motivating environment. This event promises to provide us with inspiration, new ideas and potentially new creative partnerships and collaborations."

For more information, contact Wired Sussex on 01273 201780 or email info@wiredsussex.co.uk