Island of Ireland to host gathering of global innovation powerhouses
When you think of Silicon Valley, some big names are likely the first to come to mind: Google, Meta, Apple. Yet beyond these global giants lies something more important, the ecosystem that has grown around them.
Silicon Valley is, at its core, a cluster, a dense network of interconnected businesses, investors, researchers, and institutions. This may be the most famous and extreme example, but it illustrates the transformative potential of clusters everywhere.
October 2025 will mark a first for the island of Ireland – and a milestone for the global clustering community – as TCI Network, the world’s leading organisation for clusters and innovation ecosystems, brings its annual flagship conference to the island.
Hosted by InterTradeIreland, in partnership with Invest Northern Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, the theme of the 28th TCI Global Conference is ‘Building a Global Economy’, a title that reflects the ambition of the event.
“This year’s conference is the first time that TCI has worked across borders. It is a chance to highlight how cross-jurisdictional collaboration works in practice across the island, north and south,” says Alison Currie, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at InterTradeIreland.
“We have clusters at every stage of maturity – from new initiatives to well-established groups, offering a wealth of experience to share and learn from, and this conference offers a fantastic opportunity to spotlight our key industries and their strengths.”
Collaboration as an engine for innovation
“Cross-border collaboration and knowledge sharing helps spark innovation and growth, especially in sectors like health and life sciences, and advanced manufacturing,” continues Currie.
That approach to collaboration and partnership working underpins InterTradeIreland’s work, and for good reason.
“Research shows SMEs in clusters export more, pay higher wages, and grow faster, and start-ups in clusters grow 1.5 times faster than those outside. These are indicators of resilience to economic shocks and changes,” says Currie.
Particularly in today’s fast-moving economy, clusters – those groups of interconnected businesses and organisations – have proven their value.
Shaping the future of the cluster ecosystem
A key appeal of the conference will be bespoke and carefully curated interactive training workshops that will offer policymakers and cluster managers the opportunity to directly engage with global experts, providing exposure to real life examples of clustering successes that can be applied to their own strategy.
Currie asserts: “These are not passive sessions. They are about working collaboratively together, sharing ideas, and building key relationships and networks that may lead to new initiatives and partnerships, both locally and internationally.”
World-class speakers
A powerful line up of speakers will feature, including futurist Mark Esposito, known for his work on economic trends and technological change; Christian Ketels, formerly of Harvard and now with the World Bank; and Mariella Masselink, Head of the Industrial Forum, Alliance and Clusters unit within the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs.
Former Minister for the Basque Government, Arantxa Tapia-Otaegi will detail how two decades of sustained cluster investment has delivered results within the Basque Country, while Joan Martí Estévez, a leader in cluster strategy in Catalonia, will share the story behind the region’s clustering transformation.
Why attend?
For those unfamiliar with clusters, the conference will provide a gateway to opportunities – learning what clusters are and their benefits, finding collaborators, and networking. “It is about seeing what is possible, how policy, academia, and industry can work together to solve real-world problems, with extensive learning and networking opportunities”, Currie states.
Five key takeaways for delegates include:
- Cluster tours: Visits to businesses within sectors successfully engaging in clustering activity across the island;
- Peer and best practice learnings: Hear directly from other businesses and learn more about best practice in global clustering;
- Cross-border collaboration: See how clusters operate across jurisdictions;
- New markets and services: Potential to explore diversification opportunities; and
- Strengthen networks and build partnerships: Meet peers, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders from around the world.
Real-world impact
The value of clusters cannot be overstated, and they are proving hugely beneficial to the island’s innovation ecosystem.
The FinTech Corridor, a cluster that supports increased co-operation and collaboration amongst indigenous and investment fintech firms on the island, has influenced university courses, attracted global partners, and connected with a transatlantic payments ecosystem in Atlanta, USA. In precision oncology, north-south cooperation in diagnostics, pharma, and genetics is exploring the potential to create a world-class hub with economic and health benefits.
Clusters have also helped businesses navigate Brexit, Covid-19, and supply chain disruptions. They are also assisting indigenous SMEs to access global supply chains, furthering the island’s foreign direct investment (FDI) success.
The cybersecurity cluster is a prime example. Formed to address skills shortages, wage pressures, and fragmentation, it united FDI firms and SMEs to consolidate the talent pool, share innovation, and support sustainable growth.
“The evidence is clear – clustering works,” says Currie. Clusters boost local jobs, tax revenues, and innovation – benefits that multiply when undertaken on an all-island basis.
Innovation in action
Clusters across the island are already delivering cybersecurity tools for manufacturing, AI-driven medical diagnostics, offshore wind innovations, and breakthroughs in the circular economy.
Conference delegates will have the chance to see some of this work first hand as they can take part in exclusive industry tours across four sectors:
- cybersecurity and fintech;
- advanced manufacturing
- maritime and offshore; and
- health and life sciences.
They will visit university labs, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, and collaborative hubs across the island, where innovation is thriving.
Looking ahead
“Our ambition is to build globally leading all-island clusters in key sectors, and help grow the economy across the island,” says Currie.
InterTradeIreland’s Synergy programme funds research, cross-border initiatives, and cluster manager training, whilst Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland support cluster development in their jurisdictions. The TCI Conference is supported by the Shared Island Enterprise Scheme through the Government of Ireland’s Shared Island Fund, which has been a major driver in delivering the conference.
“There is no doubt that clustering should shape all-island industrial policy, education, sustainability, and development strategies. Integrated policy support will be the game-changer,” Currie states.
Inclusion and opportunity
Concluding, Currie says: “This conference is for anyone who wants to play a part in developing practical, inclusive, and sustainable strategies for regional innovation and economic transformation.
“It is about working together, and we want diverse voices shaping the future. Above all, it is about collaboration – between industry, academics, and policymakers, and the conference will be a celebration of exactly that.”
