Description about the 15th International Annual Global Conference of TCI Network that will take place next 16-19 october in the Basque Country.

1. The TCI conference is a global and inspiring platform for fast exchange of patterns and ideas
on competitiveness, clusters and innovation.

2. Venues: San Sebastian & Bilbao
Who will attend? Practitioners on clusters, competitiveness and
economic development at firm, city, regional and national level.
Business leaders, cluster managers and facilitators, economic
development practitioners, policy makers, government
officials, researchers, analysts, consultants, development agency
teams.
Conference Registration is now open, with an earlybird fee of
€695 until 30th June, and a full-price fee of €950. TCI members
are entitled to a €200 discount.
Call for Participation is open until 31st May. We are inviting
proposals for presentations in three broad types of workshop:
• Developing concepts and evidence
• Exchanging experiences
www.tci2012.com
• Detecting and solving problems

3. Cluster Tours
Conference delegates will be able to pre-register for one of a selection of cluster and experience tours, with transport
departing and returning from/to the main conference hotels in San Sebastian. Lunch and refreshments will be provided
as part of these tours. The tours will be organised in collaboration with local partners (cluster organisations, research
centres, government departments, firms, museums, etc.), and will each feature 2-3 field visits to interesting elements
of the cluster/experience.
Cluster tours are likely to include the following:
AEROSPACE
AUTOMOTIVE
BIOSCIENCES
MACHINE TOOL AND MONDRAGON
RENEWABLE ENERGY
WINE AND TOURISM

4. Plenary Sessions
What does it mean for a region to be competitive in 2012? 17th October, Bilbao
Urban renewal for competitive cities 17th October, Bilbao
Constructing strategies for place-based competitiveness 18th October, San Sebastian
Responding in practice to today’s competitiveness challenges 19th October, San Sebastian

5. Workshop Sessions
• Around 20 workshop sessions designed to explore specific topics in detail
• Three types of workshop session:
 Developing Concepts and Evidence: Sessions focused on the presentation and discussion of
academic papers that make conceptual and/or empirical developments
 Exchanging Experiences: Sessions that bring together practitioners that have interesting
experiences to share with respect to a specific cluster, tool or competitiveness-related project
 Detecting and Solving Problems: Sessions that bring together delegates to discuss and
develop practical solutions to specific competitiveness problems/issues, supporting
collaboration and global networking
• Contributions are invited in line with the general theme of the conference and
related to any aspect of the competitiveness of places and the roles played by
firms, clusters, governments, universities and other institutions
• Call for proposals open until May 31st 2012