Background:
The theme of the 2012 TCI global conference is "Constructing Place-based Competitiveness in Times of Global Change". The conference will take place from 16 - 19 October 2012. While much attention has been given to firm- and cluster- level strategies for competitiveness, there is less analysis of how these combine in the construction of city, regional, national or cross-border strategies for ensuring sustainable competitiveness and development. The construction of this "place-based" competitiveness presents important challenges: both for competitiveness policies; and for firm and cluster management. Moreover, these challenges are heightened given the rapid changes in relationships, institutions and contexts that characterise today's global competitiveness environment. The conference will provide a unique opportunity for policy-makers, cluster practitioners and academics to advance our understanding of these challenges, and to work towards practical solutions.
Hosted in a part of the world renowned for building competitiveness strategy from the strengths of its firms and people, the conference will also offer an opportunity to share and reflect on the competitiveness trajectory of the Basque Country, a Spanish region with strong tradition, experience and results in cluster and competitiveness policy. Delegates will have the chance to explore some of the region's innovative clusters - renewable energy, machine tools, wine and tourism ... - and unique experiences such as the city regeneration of Bilbao or the cooperative organisation of Mondragon.
Around 250 delegates have already registered for the 15th TCI Annual Global Conference on "Constructing place-based competitiveness in times of global change". Registrations have come from across the world, with a critical mass of European competitiveness analysts and practitioners taking part.
The workshop sessions will be organised in 8 tracks, so that delegates can select to follow the discussions within a complete track, or pick-and-mix specific sessions of interest across tracks:
• Constructing place-based competitiveness
• Competitiveness policies & their evaluation
• Smart specialization & inter-cluster collaboration
• Challenges in cluster management
• Clusters in context
• Fostering competitive cities
• Upgrading firms, industries & territories
• Specific competitiveness challenges
Deadline: 15 October 2012
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