ICI Conference Review 2026 – A New Era of Competitive Intelligence Learning
The ICI 2026 Conference was not just another event – it was a deliberate break from convention. Instead of relying on the traditional, one‑day presentation format, we designed a full Learning Journey for professionals who wanted to truly immerse themselves in the world of Competitive and Marketing Intelligence.
From April 2026 onwards, participants embarked on self‑paced online courses that laid a solid foundation in OSINT and in the design and implementation of CI units. This ensured that everyone arrived at the “conference week” already equipped with the latest thinking, frameworks and tools – ready to discuss, challenge and apply, rather than just listen.
On June 23 and June 25, the focus shifted to highly interactive in‑person and remote workshops, combined with intensive networking. The exclusive setting of Villa Kahn, the guesthouse of Frankfurt’s Goethe University, created a unique atmosphere for deep learning and reflection. Here, practitioners and experts exchanged experiences, worked on concrete CI challenges and started shaping implementation plans tailored to their own organizations.
June 24 remained our traditional “conference day” – but even this element evolved. Carefully curated keynotes and case studies were complemented by interactive breakout sessions, where participants explored specific topics in depth, tested new approaches and learned directly from each other’s practice.
And unlike classic conferences, the most important phase began after the event: Activation. Participants are now working on real implementation projects within their own companies, supported by the ICI community and guided by the concepts developed during the Learning Journey. The endpoint of this activation phase is set for October 1 – a clear milestone by which ideas become impact and concepts turn into tangible CI capabilities.
With this new format, the ICI has underscored its role as a thought leader and innovator in Competitive and Marketing Intelligence: moving beyond one‑off events towards a sustained, structured and community‑driven journey that creates real value for organizations.