03 November 1998 | 05 November 1998 | Spain

The first TCI Global Conference was organised with the objective of analysing and comparing in depth the best practices in cluster methodologies development carried out world-wide. The conference gave also the framework for the official creation of The Competitiveness Institute, later renamed to the current TCI Network.

The organization presented the conference as "the key meeting for exchanging experiences and tools" and decided that the theme of the workshop would be "Nuts and Bolts of Cluster Development", which reflects the need of cluster practitioners to explore in deep the best practices and the experiences accumulated in the recent years in the field of cluster methodology application. 

Barcelona was the chosen city to celebrate this first Global Conference because of Catalonia'spioneer role in the application of comprehensive cluster development programs. It was a perfect location to compare and discuss among different cluster initiatives, according to the organization, "not what we did but how we did it".

The principal aims of the conference were to consider all this aspects and to try to learn from some of the most successful cluster development initiatives made in some pioneer countries or, more frequently, regions. In order to analyze the real issues that cluster practitioners face daily, the workshop was organised in two interrelated streams, each one composed of three workgroup sessions where the topics at analytic and process level were presented.

Cluster approach to regional and local development both in advanced or developing economies, doesn't realy on a unique and standardised methodology, but in need to be adapted to every specific situation taking into account the location in which the initiative is carrying on, the geographic scope, the industry and the business segment taken into account and finally, the purpose of the promoter of every single initiatives.

The conference was the occasion for meeting a great part of cluster practitioners from all around the world with the aim of sharing experiences, compare methodologies and discuss around common problems. Representative of academic and business world as well as representative of regional Governments from different countries attended this event. Mr. Antoni Subirà, Ministry of Industry of the Catalan Government and Prof. Michael E. Porter, inaugurated the facilities of the Institute located in Vallés Technology Park in Barcelona.

TCI was created by a group of professionals from around the world following the Workshop for Cluster Practitioners organized by the World Bank and Scotish Enterprise in Chihuahua, Mexico in November 1997. These professionals saw the need to enhance the methodologies and training of cluster development practitioners and used the institution as a tool to collect, develop and disseminate best practices on cluster devolopment. Since then, TCI evolved to the leading network for cluster practitioners around the world.