Five Aberdeen organisations have formed a taskforce to bring more national and international association conferences to the city and the wider north-east of Scotland.
The group brings together venue The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA), the University of Aberdeen, Robert Gordon University, NHS Grampian and Aberdeen Convention Bureau. It will draw up a list of associations to target, focusing on areas where the region has particular expertise, such as energy and life sciences.
The partners say the taskforce makes official a way of working that has already won the city several major conferences, with the venue, universities, health board and bureau putting together joint bids.
Recent wins
In June 2026, TECA hosted the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers’ annual conference and exhibition for the first time. The event brought more than 6,000 participants and 200 exhibitors to the city, with an estimated economic impact of £13.2m.
The European Society of Breast Imaging’s annual meeting also came to Aberdeen for the first time in September 2025, attracting around 1,500 delegates. The bid drew on the city’s work in medical imaging, including trials of AI breast screening at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary involving the University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian.
Two months later, the 20th UK Stroke Forum brought 2,000 delegates to TECA. Part of the bid was a programme putting stroke survivors and carers in touch with local support services.
Steve Daun, head of association sales at TECA, said: “EAGE, EUSOBI and the UK Stroke Forum were not won by any single organisation; they were won by a team that brought together a world-class venue, leading academics, clinical experts and a convention bureau all pulling in the same direction.”