ITEF released the full speaker lineup and programme details for GCC Connect 2026 at an industry-attended curtain raiser, signalling the most ambitious edition of the forum's flagship summit to date.

Programme highlights:

Day 1 — Industrial Corridors: Opening keynote on the Saudi Vision 2030 industrial corridor, with panels covering procurement opportunities, joint-venture pathways, and engineering talent demand forecasts through 2030.

Day 2 — Engineering Leadership: Masterclass track for senior engineers transitioning into executive roles. Includes confirmed sessions on board governance, technical-to-commercial transitions, and managing globally distributed engineering teams.

Day 3 — Innovation & Startups: Showcase of fifteen Tamil Nadu deeptech startups looking for GCC pilots. Live pitch sessions, structured investor introductions, and a closing partnership signing ceremony.

Day 4 — Community & Awards: ITEF Engineering Excellence Awards 2026, recognising six categories including Engineering Project of the Year, Rising Engineer, Industry Builder, and Lifetime Contribution.

The summit will be held at the Chennai Trade Centre from 12–15 September 2026. Registration is now open to all ITEF members through the member portal; non-member professional rates and partner-organisation passes are also available.

Sponsorship packages are being released in three tiers — Industrial Partner, Innovation Partner, and Community Partner. Interested organisations should contact the Secretariat directly.