Wired Sussex is helping the region's new media companies to pack their bags for Milia, the most important international event on the interactive media industry's calendar.

The Brighton-based agency is leading a delegation of eight companies to the trade show in Cannes in the south of France.

Milia will be attended by some of the most important companies in the technology and media sectors, including Intel, Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony.

More than 2,000 companies from more than 50 countries will attend the show.

The Sussex delegation will be made up of Babel Media, Communicopia, Getfrank, Imparo, Runtime Collective, Wide, Worth Media and Zeus Software.

Project manager Niki Strange said: "The delegation is not only an opportunity for us to showcase some of the exciting work under way in the UK but a very real opportunity for the companies attending to forge new links and to win business deals."

Gavin McWhirter, Communicopia's account manager for interactive services, said there were distinct advantages to going as part of the delegation.

He said: "We are being pushed as the best of British, even though we are all based in the South-East.

"Sussex is a centre of excellence for new media activity but this isn't always recognised in the UK. By going under this banner we are being given a lift.

"If we went as Communicopia on our own we would have to shout louder."

He said the Brighton-based company would use the conference to build partnerships with other organisations while demonstrating its products and services, which include various fantasy sport packages for media such as interactive TV. Mr McWhirter said: "Milia is seen as a market as much as an exhibition and show.

"We have 18 meetings pre-arranged and others will undoubtedly happen as we bump into people."

Algy Williams, managing director of Hove-based Babel Media, said: "Although the floor of the trade show is important, it's really all about the contacts you can make in bars and restaurants."

Babel would be seeking new commissions by targeting a number of interactive TV companies. The company also hoped to use its gaming experience to take advantage of the expanding wireless sector.

Mr Wiliams said: "Milia is about content rather than technology and it's a superb place for us to be because we're driven by issues like language and culture, which are crucial considerations for content providers."

Runtime Collective, based at the Brighton Media Centre, said it would use the show to publicise its online school for A-level students and its usability specialisation, which helps companies remove barriers in the way of would-be internet users.

Director Giles Palmer said: "It's all about exposure. There are so many companies there and it has such a good reputation."

Wired Sussex will be hosting the UK presence at Milia 2002 from the yacht Allegra, which will be moored at the Jetee Albert Edouard, in the Port de Cannes, for the duration of the event.

The visit follows last year's Milia delegation, also led by Wired Sussex. Ten companies took part last year.

babelmedia.com
communicopia.co.uk
getfrank.com
imparo.com
runtime-collective.com
widegames.com
worthmedia.net
garden-of-choice.com
(Zeus Software)