Scotland is set to host some of the world's greatest thinkers next year, as part of the Global TEDSummit

Some of the world’s great thinkers are set to converge on the Capital next year for a series of debates and talks.

Scotland has fought off stiff competition from around the globe to play host to the next TEDSummit.

The summit, part of the TED conference network, will take place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) from 21 to 25 July 2019, with 1,300 people set to attend.

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.

The partners worked together to show why the capital is the ideal place to host this gathering of world-leading thinkers.

TED is a non-profit organisation devoted to identifying, and then spreading, relevant and potentially impactful ideas.

It 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.

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.”