Friday, September 12, 2008

Tech industry groups AeA, ITAA in merger talks

The governing boards of two technology industry associations are discussing a merger of memberships and programs, the two organizations said yesterday. AeA, formerly the American Electronics Association, and the Information Technology Association of America said the aim of a merger is to give rise to a stronger voice for the technology industry by bringing together the largest number of tech companies in the country.

Both AeA, which was founded by tech pioneer David Packard, and ITAA have offices in the Boston area. It was unclear what impact, if any, a merger would have on local programs and operations.

According to ITAA chairman Hank Steininger, a managing partner at Grant Thornton LLP, the goal of the merger is to present a united front for the technology industry to the incoming new administration and Congress. Members of both associations would benefit from access to a wider variety of government and commercial programs, including unprecedented capabilities in lobbying, business and capital development, business services, elite networking, market forecasting, standards development and research, officials said.

The resulting organization would have offices across the U.S. and in Beijing and Brussels.