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Programme ’09

In times of peril and uncertainty, it is the creative and innovative minds that emerge as the leaders of change. PICNIC ’09 will cover major and minor challenges that lie ahead, from a critical but optimistic point of view. What are the great breakthroughs that will change our lives in the coming decade? How will they heal our economy, our environment and make our lives more livable? What are the alternative scenarios for our future?

Click here for the Day–to–day calendar

PICNIC offers three full days of innovation, creativity and inspiration in the form of top-notch speakers, matchmaking events, hands-on labs and other unique surprises all wrapped in a festival environment.

Conference, Festival & Special Events tickets: see below for details on the different types of tickets required to access each event.

Note: In the following days we will publish times and extra information for each session and activity. Programme details are subject to change without prior notice. Please check back these pages for news and updates.

The Conference

The conference unites the World’s best and brightest thinkers, entrepreneurs and creators to share their stories related to the central themes of PICNIC ’09: Turning Points, Exploding Media and Rebuild. Check out the fantastic speaker line-up below. Conference attendees also have full access to all the Festival events.

  • Conference Tickets

    Conference tickets grant access to the Conference and Festival events and are sold by "individual one day access" or "three day access". Please note that some Festival events like Labs and Specials have limited capacity and might require a special registration. Events like "Dinner at PICNIC" and "PICNIC at Night" require the purchase of a special ticket. "Off PICNIC" is by invitation only.

Keynote Speakers '09

  • Peter Molyneux

    Video game developer and guru, founder of Lionhead Studios

  • Nicholas Negroponte

    Co-founder MIT MediaLab, Founder One Laptop Per Child

  • Niklas Zennström

    Internet Entrepreneur, Disruptive Technologist, Co-Founder KaZaA, Skype,...

  • Philip Zimbardo

    Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Stanford University

  • Linda Stone

    Writer, Speaker and Consultant

  • Ed Ulbrich

    Executive vice president of production, Digital Domain

  • Jeffrey Hayzlett

    Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company

  • Tomi Ahonen

    Mobile Guru, Strategy Consultant, Author: Mobile as the 7th Mass Media

  • Gerd Leonhard

    Media Futurist, Author & Blogger, Keynote Speaker & Strategist

  • Bernard Lietaer

    Chairman of the ACCESS Foundation, Research Fellow at the Center for...

  • Kevin Slavin

    Managing Director & Co-Founder Area/Code

Featured Speakers '09

  • PICNIC '09 Conference Sessions Wednesday

    TURNING POINTS: Conference Programme for Wednesday 23 September

    The world as we know it has been turned upside down in recent years. Our financial system is in crisis, media and journalism are being taken over by the masses, and people are questioning the very foundations of our society. But it's not all gloom and doom. The current situation provides a unique set of opportunities. Opportunities to re-think how societies, systems, and economies function. Opportunities to shake up the status quo. On Wednesday we'll explore these Turning Points and the opportunities they provide for change, with a special focus on Money and Media.

  • PICNIC '09 Conference Sessions Thursday

    EXPLODING MEDIA: Conference Programme for Thursday 24 September

    Take a look at what is planned for Thursday, 24 September. Unless otherwise noted, these sessions are only open to holders of conference tickets (3-day ticket or 1-day ticket Thursday).

  • PICNIC '09 Conference Sessions Friday

    REBUILD: Conference Programme for Friday 25 September

    Take a look at what is planned for Friday, 25 September. Unless otherwise noted, these sessions are only open to holders of conference tickets (3-day ticket or 1-day ticket Friday).

The Festival

PICNIC ’09 offers so much more than just the Conference. Festival attendees have access to all the labs, specials, matchmaking, competitions, interactive installations and exhibits. Below you’ll find all the inspiring, surprising, and innovative sessions taking place during the Festival.

  • Festival Tickets

    Festival tickets grant access only to the Festival activities EXCEPT for "Dinner at PICNIC" and "PICNIC at Night", that require the purchase of a dedicated admission ticket. "Off PICNIC" is by invitation only. Some Festival events like Labs and Specials have limited capacity and might require a special registration. The Festival Ticket DOES NOT grant access to the Conference.

  • PICNIC '09 Specials

    A closer look at this year's key topics

    PICNIC Specials dive deep into this year's key topics in two-hour, small group sessions. Specials combine case studies and audience interaction with the aim of developing missions for attendees to consider long after they have left the festival.

  • PICNIC '09 Labs

    Hands-on creation for thinkers and makers

    PICNIC labs are part of the wildly buzzing PICNIC Festival. They bring together international thinkers and makers in an intense co-creation process, advancing the field by combining very diverse expertise & experiences in a playful setting.

  • Microsoft Social Network Design Camps

    Prototype the Next Social Network

    Back in 2000 Jack Dorsey was attending a conference and he got an idea. To make sure not to forget about it, he drew up a quick sketch in his trusted sketchbook. Nine years later Twitter is adding users at a record rate and it all started with this sketch! Ideas.png The Microsoft Social Network Design Camp challenges you to come up with the sketch that will be the start of the next big social network. And as we have advanced a bit since then, we will provide you with the latest in digital prototyping to make sure your sketch will look awesome too. During the Social Network Design Camp small groups will work together to develop the prototypes – the best of which will be demoed to the full audience during the PICNIC Bites sessions.

  • Vodafone Mobile Clicks 2009

    150,000 euro prize for the best mobile internet start-up

    Vodafone Mobile Clicks is an international, high profile contest for the best mobile internet start-up. This competition was founded to accelerate innovation in the mobile internet sector. The winner is selected by a professional jury in three different jury rounds. This year's Vodafone Mobile Clicks sessions take place at PICNIC '09 on Friday 25 September. Check out the sessions at the right for more information on times and location. Vote Now!

  • Postcode Lottery Green Challenge

    500,000 euro awarded to best green idea at PICNIC '09

    The Postcode Lottery Green Challenge is an international competition for the most innovative product and service ideas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The winning submission will take home 500,000 euro and two other brilliant ideas could win 100,000 euro. Click on the events at the right to learn more about the two exciting sessions of the 2009 Green Challenge at PICNIC '09.

  • PICNIC '09 Matchmaking

    PICNIC is about making new connections

    A key part of the PICNIC experience is the people you meet! Whether you're looking for new business parters, creative insight, or just want to brainstorm with like-minded individuals, PICNIC '09 offers fantastic matchmaking formats for networking with your peers.

  • Ignite@PICNIC

    Present your idea in just 5 minutes

    Ignite comes to PICNIC Amsterdam 2009! In partnership with Brady Forrest of O'Reilly Media, we present Ignite@PICNIC - a series of five-minute talks where the audiences takes over the stage. We'll select 10 talks for you to enjoy while relaxing at PICNIC '09.

  • PICNIC Bites

    Bite-sized presentations of just three minutes

    What can be presented in three minutes with only nine images? More than you'd think! This year, PICNIC '09 introduces a new format called PICNIC Bites. Each day, attendees will take to the stage to give three-minute talks on a wide variety of topics.

  • PICNIC Young '09

    The PICNIC experience for students and teachers

    PICNIC Young is a collection of workshops and seminars designed especially for teachers and students ages 12 to 18. The programme explores how technology and creativity can take lessons to the next level and provide a great connection to the world of today’s youth.

  • PICNIC Academy HOT100 '09

    Presented by Virtueel Platform

    For PICNIC '09, Virtueel Platform's HOT100 talent programme has joined forces with the PICNIC Academy to form the PICNIC Academy HOT100. The event brings together the crème de la crème of the Dutch art academies, universities and universities of applied science in the fields of design, theory, communication or development skills. These talented students will soon be working or have recently started working in the new media sector.

  • Interactive Experiences PICNIC '09

    PICNIC is about participation!

    Don't just watch from the sidelines - get involved! The interactive experiences at PICNIC '09 give you the chance to participate in the action. At PICNIC '09 you can get creative, collaborate, test new games, experience new technologies, view installations, and so much more.

  • PICNIC Club (Gashouder)

    Dinner@PICNIC

    Informal networking dinner on Thursday 24 September

    It’s Thursday evening, the day’s conference program is coming to a close, and your stomach is grumbling. What to do? Join us for Dinner@PICNIC of course!

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  • Western Union (WesterUnie)

    PICNIC at Night '09

    The fourth edition of PICNIC at Night will once again take over the Westergasfabriek and transform it into a mini-festival of music and entertainment from 22:00 until 03:00. PICNIC at Night is presented at two unique locations at the Westergasterrein offering innovative music and artists until the wee hours of the morning. The programme in the Transformer Room (Transformatorhuis) is arranged by MTV , and VICE is taking charge of the line-up in the Western Union (Westerunie).

  • FlexBar I

    OffPICNIC '09

    The Gift

    In the Age of Money, any mention of returning to a gift-based economy might seem hopelessly naive. Yet, the money system as we have known it is slowly unraveling, offering the opportunity to create something new. During this OffPicnic day, we will explore the New Economy, new kinds of currency that might underlie it, and the “spirit of the gift” that lies at its foundation. Learn more about the first edition of OffPICNIC at the OffPICNIC website .