Hubert Burda Media has invited a select circle of guests to join their fourth conference on global issues of the 21st century: Digital-Life-Design (DLD). Participants will address concerns and innovations in the fields of digital lifestyle, media, science and arts. Approximately one hundred international experts are expected in Munich between 20 and 22 January 2008 to discuss future challenges arising for society as a whole as well as for corporate citizens and individuals.

The only conference in Europe to offer such a wide range of topics, select circle of speakers and exclusive set-up, DLD was founded in 2005 by Stephanie Czerny and Dr. Marcel Reichart, the two managing directors of Hubert Burda Media Research&Development. This year's 800 participants come from Europe, the United States, Israel and the Far East.

The chairmen, publisher Dr. Hubert Burda and high-tech investor Dr. Joseph Vardi, are going to open the conference with a panel of pioneers from the advertising, venture capital and information industries: Sir Martin Sorrell, owner of WPP Holding who has created one of the world's major advertising companies; Joe Schoendorf, one of Silicon Valley's true pioneers whose VC firm AccelPartners holds investments in companies such as Facebook; and information architect Richard Wurman, founder of the legendary TED Conference.

DLD intends to provide a platform for the protagonists of future markets. The 2008 gathering is run under the motto "Uploading the 21st Century". Speakers include digital pioneers and successful entrepreneurs such as Shai Agassi (Project Better Place), Jason Calacanis (Mahalo), Matt Cohler (Facebook), Peter Hirshberg (Technorati), Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn), Bradley Horowitz (Yahoo), Jeff Jarvis (Buzzmachine), Morten Lund (Lund Kenner), Marissa Mayer (Google), Rene Ober­mann (Deutsche Telekom), Patrick Walker (Google) and Jimmy Wales (Wikia).

Science and sustainability are essential to the future of our society. These issues will be discussed by DLD panelists Adam Bly (Seed), Richard Dawkins (humanist), Karina Hollekim (athlete), Professor Sugata Mitra (Newcastle University, Craig Venter (Institute for Genomic Research) and others.

Paulo Coelho (writer), Konstantin Grcic (Industrial Design), Hans-Ulrich Obrist (Serpentine Gallery), Hector Parra (composer), David Silverman (director, "The Simpsons") and Martha Stewart (MS Living Omnimedia) will be among those representing the world of design and art.