From time to time we send a person or group of people to a technical conference like this event, mainly with events associated around BIM. About once a year, one of the more 'academic' (i.e. BE MEng CPEng etc. etc.) employees will present a project at a conference like this.
I hear that the conferences a more geared around someones PhD project then actual industry based advancements. When I get the opportunity I may drop in to my old University and look at the conference proceedings to see if there are any worthwhile papers submitted.