Competitiveness & Innovation in Energy Transition

Empower leaders to turn the energy transition into a competitive advantage

The energy transition is reshaping economies, value chains, public policy, and corporate strategies. It demands leaders capable of navigating geopolitical uncertainty, accelerated technological innovation, ambitious climate targets, and new models of global competitiveness.

The executive program Competitiveness & Innovation in Energy Transition, from CATÓLICA-LISBON, prepares executives, public decision-makers, and transformation leaders to operate in this complex context. The focus is clear: to develop strategic thinking, analytical capability, data-driven innovation, and adaptive leadership to address systemic challenges related to energy and critical materials.

Key Topics

✔ Develop a strategic view of global energy systems

In-depth understanding of the energy transition, critical materials, value chains, and geopolitical factors.

✔ Integrate competitiveness, innovation, and sustainability

Learn frameworks that balance environmental impact, economic growth, and organizational resilience.

✔ Apply technology, AI, and advanced business models

Turn data into strategic decisions with analytical tools and Business Model Innovation.

✔ Interpret policy, regulation, and macro trends

Ability to navigate markets, public policy, and financial instruments linked to the energy transition.

✔ Solve real challenges with cases, simulations, and practical exercises

Hands-on approach that converts knowledge into strategy, solutions, and measurable impact.

Target Audience

Ideal profiles:

• C-level executives, directors, and senior managers

• Leaders in strategy, sustainability, operations, and innovation

• Officials responsible for public policy, energy, environment, and regulation

• Professionals connected to energy systems, environmental transition, critical materials, or geopolitics

Target sectors:

Energy, utilities, industry, transport, technology, consulting, mobility, environment, public sector, and infrastructure.

What makes this program transformational?

Energy Systems and Critical Materials

• Energy transition
• Critical materials value chains
• Circularity and energy security

• Global competitive dynamics
• Geostrategy applied to the energy system
• Macroeconomic trends

Global Competitiveness and Geostrategy

Innovation, Business Models, and Applied AI

• Business Model Innovation
• AI applied to strategy
• Tech toolbox and data-driven strategy

• Energy regulation
• Global energy markets
• Public policy and ESG

Public Policy, Regulation, and Markets

Sectoral Strategies and Leadership

• Mobility, industry, energy
• Leadership for complex systems
• Just Energy Transition and non-market strategies

Program Structure

Module I – Global Energy & Critical Materials Landscape

1) Energy Systems & Competitiveness
2) Oil & Gas in Transition
3) Electricity & Power Systems
4) Critical Materials & Circularity

Module II – Unlocking Business Opportunities

1) Business Model Innovation & Tech Toolbox
2) Competitiveness & Adaptive Capabilities
3) Advanced BMI & AI Applications
4) Pitch 1: Value Proposition & Customer Segments

Module III – Strategic Approaches to Energy Challenges

1) Decarbonizing Mobility
2) Mobility Use Case (BMW)
3) Decarbonizing Power
4) Power Use Case (Enel-X)
5) Decarbonizing Industry & Buildings
6) Simulation: Industry & Buildings

Module IV – Markets, Finance & Regulation

1) Finance & ESG Impact
2) Regulation & Policy Frameworks

Module V – Grand Strategies, Geopolitics & Non-Market

1) Grand Strategies & Geopolitics
2) Just Energy Transition
3) Non-Market Strategies
4) War Game Simulation

Module VI – From Vision to Impact

1) Capstone Pitch – Parte I e II
2) Leadership Roadmap 1h30
3) CEO Fireside Chat & Graduation

Program Director

Francisco Barreiros

With over 20 years of executive leadership across the Energy, Mobility and Technology sectors, Francisco specializes in strategic transformation, operational excellence and sustainability-driven innovation. His work focuses on solving complex systemic challenges through cross-disciplinary collaboration, stakeholder alignment and data-driven decision-making, delivering measurable impact in efficiency, cost reduction, technology integration and long-term sustainable growth.

A strong advocate of purposeful entrepreneurship, he has founded initiatives promoting sustainability in the wine and hospitality sectors. He has completed executive programs at MIT, INSEAD, CATÓLICA-LISBON and the EIT, and holds an Executive Master’s in Sustainable Energy Systems (MIT Portugal), an MSc from the London School of Economics and a BSc in Economics from CATÓLICA-LISBON. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Integral Ecology at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, researching competitiveness and innovation in areas such as Just Energy Transitions, Circular Economy and cross-sector partnerships for sustainable development.

Want to know more?

Contact the program manager:

E-mail: andreia.hidalgo@ucp.pt
Phone: +351 214 269 846

CATÓLICA-LISBON