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TCI 2008 Cape Town, 11th TCI Annual Global Conference

"CLUSTERS: Meeting the challenge of globalisation"
Cape Town, South Africa. 29-31 October 2008


Cape Town welcomed TCIs with open arms. The local team headed by TCI Director, Nigel Gwynne-Evans lined up a fabulous itinerary: a one-week programme beginning with cluster tours, the best chance to learn from 5 successful cluster initiatives in hig-tech, agri-processing, manufacturing, engineering, creative industries and services; the Clusters 101 course, a half-day introduction to clusters by cluster experts; the regional approach to competitiveness with regional sessions on India, Latin-America and PACF-Pan African Competitiveness Forum; and the Academic Summit that this year ran for two days alongside the main programme. 54 countries were represented and there were presentations from more than 70 speakers, including many well known and highly respected specialists involved in clusters and economic development. And of course, the social functions provided a wonderful African and Cape-Town experience that none of us will forget.

Globally, local and state governments are realizing the power of local clusters, and implementing initiatives to strengthen and foster the national and institutional structures that underpin them. More than 2500 cluster initiatives have been mapped globally with an overwhelming body of evidence showing the success of cluster initiatives, and their value as highly cost effective economic development tools.

Being the first TCI global conference in Africa, a particular emphasis has been done on the role of cluster initiatives in emerging economies, and the sharing of lessons between cluster practitioners from both developed and developing economies.

TCI 2008 took place in Cape Town, South Africa widely recognised as one of the most beautiful cites in the world and home to six of South Africa’s top ten tourist attractions. Cape Town is also home to several highly successful cluster initiatives.