Bright thinking will be coming to Scotland next summer, after it fought off stiff competition from around the globe to play host to the next TEDSummit.
TED is a non-profit organisation devoted to identifying, and then spreading, relevant and potentially impactful ideas.
The prestigious summit, part of the TED network, which has previously been held in Canada will take place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre from 21 to 25 July 2019, bringing together up to 1300 members of the international TED community.
The EICC previously hosted TEDGlobal from 2010-2012 and its believed the benefits of hosting this ‘trophy’ event next year will go beyond tourism, positioning Edinburgh and Scotland on the world stage.
Bruno Giussani, the Global Curator of TED and coordinator of TEDSummit, said: ‘For a big multi-day TED event we need a very specific type of location.
‘It isn’t sufficient to just have a beautiful and strong theatre infrastructure – which the EICC provides.
‘We look at the cultural atmosphere of the place, and at all the spaces that we will use – including hotels, restaurants, events and celebration venues and exhibition spaces – as creating a sort of virtual campus that our attendees will be able to experience over several days, moving from one venue to the other by foot, engaging with and immersing themselves in the city.’
Edinburgh, he added, ‘offers this atmosphere in spades, and we look forward to bringing the TED community to town.’
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: ‘With our history, culture and wealth of experience of hosting world leading festivals, Edinburgh is the ideal location for TedSummit 2019.
‘This international event will be an opportunity to show off Scotland as a home of innovation and of creativity and to build on our reputation as a place to visit, to live and to develop new ideas.’
Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland agreed: ‘We’re a nation of pioneers, and a home to ground-breaking scientists, philosophers, engineers and architects for a number of years.
‘Scotland’s innovative past, present and future continue to inspire and influence audiences across the globe, so it seems fitting that we’ll be hosting such a prestigious event as the TEDSummit in Edinburgh next year.’
The bid to bring the event to Edinburgh was led by the EICC, VisitScotland Business Events, Convention Edinburgh, and Scottish Enterprise, backed by support from the Scottish Government, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier University, Social Bite, Festivals Edinburgh, Edinburgh Science Festival and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. All worked together to show why the capital is the ideal place to host this gathering of world-leading thinkers.
Amanda Ferguson, head of business tourism at Marketing Edinburgh, said: ‘Edinburgh is renowned for attracting the great minds of the world, encouraging innovative thinking and inspiring debate, so it is entirely fitting that we welcome this unique, global initiative to our capital.’
Jane Martin, managing director, Scottish Enterprise concluded: ”With the world’s thinkers and innovators coming together here next year, we have a real opportunity to put Scotland firmly on the map as a place that embraces progressive ideas and is a great place to visit, to work, to live and to invest for the future.’
TED began in 1984 with a conference converging technology, entertainment and design and over time the organization has expanded its topics from science to business to global issues.
TEDSummit gathers the most engaged members of the global TED community for community brainstorms, discussions, performances, workshops, outdoor activities and an eclectic program of mainstage talks – in beautiful surroundings.
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