Richard E. Schantz - Böcker

This volume contains the proceedings of the International Middleware Con- rence, held in Leuven, Belgium during December 1–4, 2008. This year marked the ninth rendition of this annual conference in its current format initially - opted in 1998, aspiring to serve as the premier venue focusing exclusively on important middleware results. A lot has happened over the intervening 10-year span. Middleware has become pervasive in an increasinglyinterconnected world, with its concepts now securely embedded in the notional architectures driving forward the information age. The conference continues to be a focal point for important new initiatives and results for new generations of middleware. With each succeeding year, it has become an even more competitive publishing venue, further extending its selectivity this year as well. Of the 117 submissions, - ly 21 were able to receive acceptance invitations, for an acceptance rate of less than18%. Competitiveindeed. Additionally,thesesubmissionscontinuetocome from all over the globe, spanning authors from 23 countries. A truly world-wide endeavor. But other things have also changed as we turn the corner on the ?rst decade of this conference. In many ways, middleware has achieved signi?cant success where it really counts: in terms of technical innovations, advanced capabilities, successful ideas, and ?elded systems which permeate society, industry, gov- nment, and academia. With this success comes maturity.