Gothenburg has harnessed local business support and the strengths of its academic community to secure the International Continence Society World Congress in 2019.
The ICS attracts an estimated 3,000 international delegates in the urological, gynaecological, physiotherapy and nursing sectors for a multi-disciplinary focus on Continence. Continence professionals, surgeons, research scientists, bio-engineers and allied professions will take part in keynotes, lectures and live surgery events at the event, taking place at the Swedish Exhibition and Congress Centre in Gothenburg, 17-20 September 2019.
Gothenburg won the event over Paris and Glasgow in a vote by ICS members, with the Swedish city winning almost half of the votes cast. Outstanding continence research at Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, along with support from major industry and sector player SCA Group helped persuade the ICS membership, along with a strong promotional video.
The 2019 event will be chaired by Professor Ian Milsom, author of a number of publications within the field of female reproductive health and a specialist in urinary tract dysfunction. Milsom is Chairman and Professor at the Institute of Clinical Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy, as well as the current Chairman of the Epidemiology Committee for the International Consultation on Incontinence.
“Gothenburg is a fine city for congresses and the research that is taking place here and in the rest of Sweden is exceptional,” he said.
Gothenburg’s candidacy was also supported by the SCA Group, which produces incontinence protection including the TENA brand. Margareta Lehmann, Business Area Manager for Incontinence Care at SCA, said: “SCA is a leading global company in hygiene and forestry. Because we have a large research and development unit in Gothenburg that specialises in incontinence, it is enormously valuable to us to have a world congress on the subject held here. It is also important considering the specialist research in this subject that is carried out in the region.”
The win is the latest in a successful year for the Swedish city. “The new investments that have been made to increase hotel capacity are making Gothenburg an attractive choice to a growing number of meeting organisers. We have moved up a level as a City of Meetings,” added Annika Hallman, Meetings Manager at Gothenburg Convention Bureau.
