>>Explore the full conference photo album

From 27 to 30 October 2026, the global cluster community gathered in Córdoba, Argentina, for the 29th TCI Global Conference, under the theme From Collaboration to Impact: Clusters and Ecosystems Driving Transformation. Bringing together more than 500 participants from 27 countries and over 300 organisations, the event provided an international platform to exchange knowledge, explore new approaches to cluster development and strengthen connections across innovation ecosystems worldwide.

Organised by TCI Network, the Government of the Province of Córdoba and the Municipality of Córdoba, this year's edition marked an important milestone as the first TCI Global Conference held in the Southern Cone.

A global programme exploring the future of clusters

The central conference programme, hosted at Centro Cultural Córdoba, featured two days of international keynotes, plenary panels, parallel sessions and interactive working spaces. Experts, policymakers, cluster practitioners and representatives of international organisations came together to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping today's clusters and innovation ecosystems.

The programme featured contributions from leading international voices, including Otto Scharmer, Professor at MIT, who shared seven practices for driving deep innovation and ecosystem transformation, highlighting the importance of leadership, trust and the quality of relationships in creating sustainable change.

Joan Martí Estévez, from ACCIÓ, explored the role of leadership and people in cluster development, focusing on how collaboration can be translated into concrete results. Meanwhile, Christian Ketels, from the World Bank Group, examined Córdoba's experience in cluster policy development, its achievements and the challenges ahead in strengthening territorial competitiveness.

Sessions and panel discussions addressed a broad range of topics central to the future of cluster development, including ecosystem transformation, technology adoption, access to finance, talent and skills development, governance models, trust-building and impact measurement.

The conference also welcomed contributions from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), with dedicated sessions exploring the green and digital transformation of the automotive industry and the potential of the circular economy to generate new projects and capabilities.

The conference also provided an opportunity to celebrate the people, organisations and initiatives making a difference across the global cluster community. Through the inaugural TCI Recognition Awards, we recognised six outstanding contributions that demonstrate how collaboration can drive meaningful impact across clusters and innovation ecosystems. Discover the six award winners and the stories behind their contributions here.

Beyond the conference room: Connecting people and ecosystems

As always, the TCI Global Conference extended beyond presentations and panel discussions, creating opportunities for participants to connect, exchange experiences and explore new collaborations.

The programme included two complementary activities that brought the global community closer to the local ecosystem:

Cluster Visits – Discovering Córdoba's productive capabilities

Participants explored four strategic sectors through visits to companies and productive facilities: Health and Biotechnology; Advanced Manufacturing and Automotive; Agrifood and Bioenergy; and the Knowledge Economy. Bringing together 100 international participants, the visits offered first-hand insights into the region's industrial capabilities, innovation activities and business ecosystem.

Connect Cluster Match – Turning connections into opportunities

The dedicated matchmaking day brought clusters, companies and institutions together to identify common interests and explore potential partnerships. With more than 400 meetings scheduled, involving 280 participants and 175 organisations, the initiative provided a practical space to turn conversations into new opportunities for collaboration and business development.

The day also featured dedicated learning and exchange sessions, including the workshop "From Handshakes to Hard Outcomes: Making International Cluster Collaboration Work", led by Bridget Bohan from NGen, Canada. Further sessions, organised by ECLAC and UNIDO at the Catholic University of Córdoba, explored the potential of the circular economy to transform production processes, as well as the role of clusters in strengthening SME resilience amid the green and digital transformation of the automotive industry.

Looking Ahead to Lyon 2027

A big thank you to the Government of the Province of Córdoba, the Municipality of Córdoba and the entire local organising team for their commitment and dedication in bringing this global gathering to life. We leave Córdoba with new connections, fresh perspectives and renewed momentum as we look ahead to the 30th TCI Global Conference in Lyon, France, in October 2027!