Kapil Sibal, India's HRD minister, Aneesh Chopra, America's chief technology officer, and Sam Pitroda, India's National Knowledge Commission chairman, will be the key speakers at the Pan-IIT Global Conference to be held in Chicago during October 9-11.

About 3,000 IITians from around the globe are expected to attend the annual gathering, organising committee conference chairman Ray Mehra said. He said Kapil Sibal will open the conference while Chopra will be the keynote speaker at the gathering.

Mehra said that Chopra’s presence will emphasise the commitment of Obama administration to develop innovation as the engine for growth for the US and also the global economy. He said the theme of this year's conference is 'Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Global Economy'.

The conference has been addressed in the past by Microsoft chief Bill Gates, former GE CEO Jack Welch, current US National Economic Council chairman Larry Summers, current GE CEO Jeffery Immelt, and Hillary Clinton.

Since its commencement in 2003, the Pan-IIT annual conference has become one of the leading technology summits for executives looking to build partnerships with leaders in the world of advanced technology.

Mehra said that the 2009 conference would bring the world's top public and private sector technology leaders together to create new initiatives in advanced technologies.

He said the conference offers extensive opportunities for attendees to network with leaders from industry and academia in diverse areas such as manufacturing, clean energy, healthcare, and nano-technology. For those looking for capital and resources, the conference will also feature the Entreneurship Networking Zone with booths for venture capitalists.