The IBM Institute for Advanced Commerce is a forum for the examination of fundamental shifts in business and trade. National and international trade, business operations, and general society are all dramatically impacted by the emergence of electronic commerce. The Institute, through a series of conferences and university partnerships, will address market and business concerns with a goal of developing long-term replicable commerce solutions to meet corporate needs. In addition, the Institute will explore developing economic trends and emerging technologies to better understand the technical, business, and social processes that are shaping the future of the electronic marketplace. The goal is to better understand the fundamental changes that these technologies bring and to capitalize on future research and business opportunities as they emerge.