Toulouse, May 18-22, 2026
This one-week executive program offers a unique opportunity to explore the mechanisms that drive the growth and diffusion of knowledge, and their implications for innovation, regional development, and corporate strategy.
Drawing from César A. Hidalgo’s forthcoming book The Infinite Alphabet, the course blends historical case studies, mathematical models, and hands-on applications to give participants a rigorous yet practical understanding of how knowledge accumulates, diffuses, and creates value.
Designed for policymakers, corporate leaders, consultants, and researchers, the program is ideal for professionals seeking to sharpen their capacity to design, assess, and implement strategies in the fields of innovation policy, economic development, and competitive strategy.
Participants will join an international and diverse cohort, benefit from interactive lectures and exercises, and engage in networking opportunities with peers and TSE faculty. Upon completion, participants will receive the Executive Certificate in Economic Complexity and Innovation Policy.
About César A. Hidalgo
Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Toulouse School of Economics Director, Center for Collective Learning (CCL)
César A. Hidalgo is a leading scholar and entrepreneur at the intersection of data science, economics, and innovation policy. He is Professor at the Toulouse School of Economics (TSE) and Director of the Center for Collective Learning (CCL), with offices in Toulouse and Budapest.
Hidalgo is globally recognized as one of the founders of the field of economic complexity, which explores how knowledge and capabilities shape economic growth and diversification. His research combines historical case studies, mathematical models, and large-scale data analysis to uncover the laws governing knowledge accumulation and diffusion.
Before joining TSE, Hidalgo was a faculty member at the MIT Media Lab (2010–2019), where he led the Collective Learning group. He is also the founder of Datawheel, an award-winning
company that has produced several economic data distribution platforms, such as DataUSA, DataSaudi, and DataMexico, among dozens of others.
Hidalgo is the author or co-author of influential books, including Why Information Grows (Basic Books, 2015), The Atlas of Economic Complexity (MIT Press, 2014), How Humans Judge Machines (MIT Press, 2021) and The Infinite Alphabet: And the Laws of Knowledge (Penguin Random House, 2025). His work has been published in leading journals such as Nature, PNAS, and Science.
Hidalgo regularly works with governments, international organizations, and corporations on strategies for innovation, competitiveness, and regional development.
The program consists of 28 contact hours across five intensive days. Each day blends morning lectures on concepts and frameworks with afternoon sessions focused on practical tools, applications, and group activities.
Course Themes
- The Growth and Decay of Knowledge: Understanding learning curves, experience curves, and their implications, including disruptive innovation and leapfrogging strategies.
- The Diffusion of Knowledge: Exploring how knowledge spreads across geographies and social networks, illustrated through a variety of historical and empirical studies.
- The Principle of Relatedness: Mapping how knowledge flows across industries, technologies, and occupations, with hands-on network data exercises.
- From Knowledge to Value: Introducing the theory and practice of economic complexity, from empirical applications to mechanistic models.
- Innovation, Policy, and Institutions: Applying principles to policy design and innovation ecosystems, with case studies on innovation districts.
Format
- Lectures & Discussions: Conceptual and theoretical frameworks.
- Case Studies & Historical Examples: From Samuel Slater’s cotton mills to Beijing’s Zhongguancun innovation district.
- Hands-on Activities: Group based exercises and data-driven network analysis.
- Networking & Events: Coffee breaks, lunches, a welcome reception, and a gala dinner with a TSE keynote speaker.
Lead Instructor
César A. Hidalgo, Professor at TSE and Director of the Center for Collective Learning, is a leading global expert on economic complexity and innovation policy.
Professional participants (corporate & government) :
3 990 Euros
The fee includes:
- Accommodation in a four-star hotel from Sunday (the day before the course) to Saturday.
- Tuition
- Course materials
- Coffee breaks
- Lunches,
- Welcome reception
- Gala dinner.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the program reaches capacity. Early applications are strongly encouraged, especially for international participants requiring visa support.
Application requirements:
- Online application form
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Short motivation statement (max 500 words)
Successful applicants will receive an official admission letter and instructions to confirm enrollment.
--> Apply now to secure your place in this unique program and join a global community of professionals shaping the future of innovation and economic policy.