The SBE Partners have completed their formal evaluations of the three detailed proposals to host the World SBE23 conference that were received from Glasgow, Montreal and Shenzhen.
The evaluation was carried out using the scoring criteria that were established in April. The paper assessment was followed by a videoconference, held on 30 April, in which the SBE Partners held a detailed discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of each proposal.The total point scores for all three proposals submitted by the six SBE reviewers were very close, but consistent in placing the Montreal bid as the best.
The proposal for Montreal was developed by a team that includes McGill University, Université de Montréal and the Palais des congrès de Montréal. The proposal was unique in its inclusion of two universities and also in the fact that the Palais des congrès de Montréal is not only a conference venue, but is provincial non-profit corporation with a mandate to promote research as well as tourism.
The next step in the development of the planning for Montreal is for all parties to agree on a memorandum of understanding.
The two other teams (Glasgow and Shenzhen) have been invited to revise their proposals and to re-submit them as Regional SBE events, to be held sometime during 2021 or 2022.
Nils Larsson
SBE Coordinator