Submissions open until: July 10th

About the 2026 Global Conference.

From Collaboration to Impact. Clusters and Ecosystems Driving Transformation

The 2026 TCI Global Conference invites the global cluster community to move from conversation to impact. Themed From Collaboration to Impact. Clusters and Ecosystems Driving Transformation, TCI 2026 will focus on how clusters and collaborative ecosystems can act as more effective catalysts for change — helping territories anticipate disruption, accelerate technology adoption, build future-ready talent, attract investment, strengthen productive capabilities and generate measurable value for firms, regions and societies.

Join us in Córdoba to explore how clusters and collaborative ecosystems can enable faster, deeper and more measurable transformation across firms, industries, regions and societies.

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Join Us — Let’s Build the Program Together

We invite cluster leaders, ecosystem builders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and practice-based researchers to co-create an ambitious, hands-on, forward-looking program.

Bring your experience. Bring your story.

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Five Questions, One Conversation

The 2026 program is built around five strategic tracks:

Track 1. Who is driving the transformation?

Talent and leadership

This track focuses on the people behind transformation: skills, leadership, mobility, learning systems, inclusion, new professional profiles and the human capabilities needed for clusters and ecosystems to evolve. How can clusters help territories anticipate future skills needs, connect education and industry, attract and retain talent, and develop the leadership required for change?

We are especially interested in cross-regional and cross-cluster approaches to building a robust, future-ready talent base.

Track 2. How are clusters adopting technology in practice?

Technology adoption

This track focuses on applied technology in two directions. First, how are cluster organisations adopting technology themselves — through ecosystem intelligence, regional data systems, AI-enabled services, dashboards and new tools for coordination and impact? Second, how can clusters and collaborative ecosystems help develop, adopt and scale the technologies that are reshaping competitiveness — from deep tech ecosystems and strategic autonomy to the energy transition, quantum, biotech or semiconductors?

We welcome honest accounts of what technology adoption costs, what it delivers and what it disrupts.

Track 3. How is transformation financed and scaled?

Capital & Investment

This track focuses on how clusters and ecosystems connect transformation with capital. How can clusters help firms and scale-ups become investment-ready, attract private investment, engage venture capital and build the business models needed to grow? Topics may include investment readiness, venture capital, scale-up support, public-private funding, blended finance, cluster finance, strategic partnerships, new business models and value creation.

We welcome practical cases showing how clusters can mobilise capital and partnerships to finance and scale transformation.

Track 4. How do territories stand out?

Territory Attractiveness

This track focuses on the role of clusters and collaborative ecosystems in helping territories build distinctive value propositions rooted in local assets, capabilities and relationships. How can clusters help territories attract strategic opportunities, investment, talent and anchor companies and institutions while strengthening productive specialisation and global positioning?

We welcome practical cases showing how clusters and collaborative ecosystems strengthen territorial value propositions, support investment attraction and connect local capabilities to global opportunities. We also welcome cases of cross-border clustering and neighbour collaboration that build new opportunities across territories.

Track 5. What governance models make transformation possible?

Governance & Impact

This track focuses on how collaboration is organised, governed and sustained in increasingly complex ecosystems. How can cluster policy, multi-actor governance, cluster organisations, institutional capacity, trust and coordination evolve to deliver greater impact?

We welcome practical cases on how clusters and ecosystems are evolving their role and rethinking governance and coordination models to create stronger, more visible and more measurable impact.

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Session Formats

We are looking for formats that are practical, dynamic and useful for the global cluster community. Proposals may take one of the following format:

• Cluster Stories. Short case talks with one clear challenge and one useful lesson.

• Cluster Confessions. Honest accounts of what went wrong and what should change.

• The Cluster Court. A provocative proposition is put on trial; teams argue different sides and the audience votes.

• Tool Labs. Hands-on sessions using a method, prompt, dashboard, framework or live demo.

• Learning Journeys. Walk-throughs of a real process: context, decisions, trade-offs, data, turning points and results.

• Debate Sessions. Structured debates around a hard question, with opposing views and audience participation.

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How to Make Your Proposal Stand Out

Strong proposals should answer four simple questions: What happened? Why does it matter? What can others learn? What should happen next?

We are especially interested in proposals that:

• Address one of the strategic tracks or transformation questions.

• Present a real case, tool, dilemma, method, experiment or applied insight.

• Include interaction with participants.

• Share evidence, lessons or practical takeaways.

• Bring a clear point of view.

• Use visual, dynamic or creative resources.

Creative, visual and dynamic contributions are strongly encouraged, including:

• Short videos, around 2 minutes, in English or with English captions

• Visual presentations with graphs, charts, images, gifs or memes

• Infographics, maps, dashboards, live tools, demos and polls

• Practical exercises and sharp debate questions

All proposals should be submitted in English, the working language of the conference.

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Key Dates — TCI 2026 Global Conference

• 2 June 2026. Call for proposals opens

• 29 June 2026. Deadline to submit proposals

• 10 July 2026. New deadline to submit proposals

• 20 July 2026. Notification of selected speakers

• 10 September 2026. Full program with confirmed speakers is published

• 29-30 October 2026. Conference days

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Bring your voice to TCI 2026.

Let’s argue. Let’s confess. Let’s build. Let’s shape the future of clusters and collaborative ecosystems — together.

Below, you will find the questions included in the application form. We encourage you to review them in advance and prepare any relevant information before completing your submission:

1. Your personal info, full name, email, organisation

2. In which conference track does your proposal best fit?

3. Title of your contribution

4. Pitch your case, tool, dilemma, method, experiment or applied insight (Max.150 words)

5. How will you actively involve participants

6. What is the main evidence, lesson or practical takeaway?

7. How would you like to present your contribution, in which creative format?

8. Is there anything else you would like to share that could help us shape your contribution or the overall conference programme?

SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL HERE

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TCI GLOBAL CONFERENCE OFFICIAL WEBSITE