GFCC Global Innovation Summit highlights importance of innovation in a globalised world

Last week, Centre for Competitiveness (CforC) Director Dr Paul Madden attended the 2022 GFCC Global Innovation Summit and led a discussion on building competitiveness by creating local innovation ecosystems. 

The Global Innovation Summit took place from 14th to 18th November and was held in Athens and Ioannina, Greece, welcoming attendees and speakers from 34 nations across the globe.

Founded in 2010, the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils (GFCC) is a network of leaders and organizations from around the world committed to competitiveness and higher living standards, of which Centre for Competitiveness is a long-standing member. 

Paul led a panel discussion with speakers from Brazil, Greece, Kazakhstan and Malaysia, providing insight into local innovation ecosystems and creating initiatives to connect stakeholders and advance local innovation.

Speaking at the event, CforC Director Paul Madden said: "Success of innovation ecosystems is a function of the level of connections and interactions between the various stakeholders and this can be facilitated best by a “chief dot connector" – an individual or organisation that can interpret and act upon stakeholder requirements.”

This is the first in person summit the GFCC has held since the COVID-19 pandemic and the first time they have gathered members in Greece. The Centre for Competitiveness has been a partner with the GFCC since 2010  and has contributed in most of the GFCC annual Innovation summits.

Director and Chief Executive of Centre for Competitiveness, Bob Barbour, said: "We are proud to be foundation partners with the GFCC, an organization which upholds the same principles of innovation, productivity and collaboration as CforC. Just this month, we hosted the President of the GFCC, Deborah Wince-Smith, during a visit to Northern Ireland, and we were delighted to showcase our own initiatives to foster collaboration and competitiveness in NI, such as facilitating clusters of NI businesses ranging from energy substitute solutions, digitalization and advanced manufacturing etc."

The Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils brings together more than sixty member organizations and is currently represented in more than 35 different countries around a collection of shared principles to enhance regional, national and global prosperity. ​To find out more about the GFCC, visit their website here

At CforC, our aim is to inspire and provide pragmatic support for businesses that want to gain a competitive edge. Our membership provides access to a network of leading organisations Ireland-wide and a collaborative ecosystem for organisational improvement. To find out more about our membership click here