• BEFORE

  • We dive into the themes of the conference via pre-communication and general orientation. We ponder what goals we will set for the week and what challenges we wish to find solutions for over the process. We go through the list of participants on the website and select potential new contacts and partners to meet in Jyväskylä.

• STEP 1 / MONDAY

  • Benchmarking and brainstorming
    We get to know the development measures of Finnish clusters, we ponder the challenges and future directions of different business areas and visit businesses and development organizations in Jyväskylä, Central Finland, Kuopio and Tampere.

• STEP 2 / TUESDAY

  • Networking and setting the goals for the conference
    We brush up on the basics of business network-based competitiveness development, hear about the recent academic research in the field, hear stories of cluster development, familiarize ourselves with the cluster development of the emerging economies and orient ourselves for the learning process and goals of the week. In the evening we are welcomed to Jyväskylä in the setting created by the famous architect Alvar Aalto.

• STEP 3 / WEDNESDAY

  • Breaking mental models
    The real work begins! We hear the thoughts of top experts of the economical situation, the future challenges and will contemplate on how networks work effectively. We start to think outside the box and lay the foundation for new thinking and share insights into different themes in competitiveness development.

• STEP 4 / THURSDAY

  • Creating solutions and envisioning the future of competitiveness
    We take a mid-check of the week so far and discuss what should be yet accomplished. We start to crystallize new operational models and opportunities in workshops and take the insights into practical level and come even closer to the model for effective learning clusters and business networks. We yet again broaden our perspective through inspiration from one of the leading minds. We end the day in TCI network tribal festivities in the midst of Finnish mythology.

• STEP 5 / FRIDAY

  • Conclusions and look forward
    We hear final insights from a visionary thinker and draw conclusions of what we have accomplished. We think of how to best bring all the new ideas into practice to excel the functioning and added value of our local networks, clusters, businesses and regions. We evaluate how well we met the goals set before and during the conference and say farewell to all the interesting experts from all around the world. We prepare for the work of the following week with a whole new mindset.

• AFTER

  • We go back to work with the new ideas and contacts. We report the results of the week’s work to our bosses and colleagues and pinpoint the practical applications of the process. We receive the Learning Clusters -report that highlights the process, results, insights and proceedings of the TCI Global Conference 2009 in Jyväskylä, Finland.

Download the conference brochure here