Dr. Heba AGUIB

Member of the Board of Directors, BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt

Guided Introductions Session

Facilitator: Saya KITASEI, Partner, Bramble

Fireside Chat: Net-Zero – The Next Growth Frontier

Net zero is rapidly becoming a key driver of economic growth and innovation in the face of rising energy demand on a global scale. This session explores how net-zero strategies not only unlock new markets, attract investment, and create sustainable jobs, but also serve as a critical pathway to staying within planetary boundaries. Panelists will discuss how aligning the polarity of institutional weight with startup agility can accelerate this transition for the benefit of society, highlighting the role of technology, policy, and international collaboration in positioning stakeholders to lead in this emerging growth frontier. Participants will gain clear insights into the opportunities and actions needed to capitalize on the net-zero economy.

Panelists to be confirmed

This curated dinner features a thoughtfully arranged seating plan designed to foster strategic connections. By bringing together diverse leaders, innovators, and decision-makers, the evening creates an ideal environment for meaningful dialogue, targeted networking opportunities.

Drawing from real-world experience, the discussion will explore the critical factors that enable transformative ideas to move from concept to large-scale impact, as well as the common hurdles that founders and organizations face along the way. Participants will gain practical perspectives on navigating challenges, building resilient teams to unlock sustainable growth in the innovation ecosystem.

Panelists to be confirmed

Facilitated by Julio Salazar

Kick-Off: The Economic, Security, and Social Cohesion Imperative

This dialogue serves as firestarter, highlighting the interdependence of economic and social agendas in advancing a just and resilient energy transition. It will explore how comprehensive policies, targeted investments, and civic engagement can ensure equitable benefits, bridge regional disparities, and build public support. Participants will gain cross-sectoral, practical insights on fostering cohesion as a foundation for a sustainable, inclusive energy transformation. The dialogue is followed by deep dives led by the respective experts.

Panelists to be confirmed

ALIGNING CAPITAL, INNOVATION & POLICY TO SCALE CLEAN ENERGY

Reaching global climate goals requires more than individual effort—it demands breaking down silos between sectors that must work together to deliver clean energy at scale. This interactive workshop invites participants to explore how strategic alignment across four key areas can accelerate the transition. Through interactive discussions and group exercises, participants will identify key barriers, uncover shared priorities, and explore how to connect financial, technological, industrial, and societal levers to accelerate the clean energy transition.

CAPITAL & SCALING

How can we close the gap between early-stage innovation and large-scale deployment? This theme explores the financial structures, risk-sharing models, and policy incentives needed to channel capital into scalable, high-impact solutions.

BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATION & TECH SUSTAINABILITY

What does it take to move beyond incremental improvements? We’ll examine how cutting-edge technologies can drive deep decarbonization while remaining cost-effective, durable, and sustainable across their entire lifecycle.

INDUSTRIAL IMPLEMENTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE

Even the most promising technologies must integrate into the real economy to scale. This theme explores how strategic partnerships between established corporates and breakthrough clean tech ventures can drive that integration—addressing the challenges of retrofitting legacy systems, deploying new infrastructure, and aligning value chains to enable rapid, large-scale adoption.

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT & PUBLIC TRUST

No transition succeeds without people. We will discuss how to build transparency, community engagement, and inclusive decision-making into clean energy efforts to ensure public trust and long-term social acceptance.

Panelists to be confirmed

In this closing session, the Firestarters return with a focused keynote reflection—not to introduce new ideas, but to distill the essence of the preceding workshop. Drawing from the discussions, perspectives, and key moments shared, they present one pivotal insight that captures the core of the conversation and one concrete action to carry it forward. This synthesis is designed to translate shared learning into strategic clarity—bridging reflection and execution, and empowering participants to move from dialogue to action.

Panelists to be confirmed

Dr. Bryan SCHELER

VP Solutions & Investments, BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt

An outlook on what’s next. Dr. Bryan Scheler presents the BMW Foundation’s initiatives, partnership opportunities, upcoming engagement formats and flagship events - offering participants concrete ways to stay involved, build on shared momentum, and co-shape future collaboration.

LUNCH

This plenary session invites participants to examine the evolving demands of leadership in achieving net zero. The discussion will focus on the skills, mindsets, and collaborative approaches required to drive systemic change in the energy transition. Following the plenary, participants will break into small interdisciplinary groups to tackle real -world energy challenges in groups of 4–5, fostering peer learning and actionable problem-solving. The session is designed to equip leaders with practical insights and strategies to navigate complexity and deliver impact in a rapidly changing landscape through cross-sector collaboration.

While many are conditioned to think in terms of competition, history shows that collaborative ecosystems consistently outperform isolated efforts.

From Renaissance guilds to Silicon Valley, thriving innovation hubs are driven by individuals and organizations that invest not only in their own success, but in the strength of the entire ecosystem. This session explores how cross-sector collaboration—between startups, corporates, public institutions, and civil society—can unlock shared value, accelerate breakthrough innovation, and build resilient systems for the long term.

Facilitator: Saya KITASEI, Partner, Bramble

In high-pressure environments, leaders must do more than survive adversity—they must lead through it with clarity, adaptability, and strategic depth. This session helps founders and leaders move beyond the hustle myth by reframing resilience as a strategic leadership capacity, not just personal willpower. Participants will learn to use failure as a source of insight and adaptation, explore resilience across self, team, and organization, and gain practical tools to lead intentionally. Guided reflection and peer exchange in a high-trust setting will support leaders in building resilience at every level.

Facilitator: Julio SALAZAR

Curated Dialogue Walk

Upstream Future Ambition that group has to their leadership; 3 Horizons, Digital Tools

These sessions are shaped by the group, picking up the most important topics of the days. It’s a room for honest exchange, and space to explore what ideas need a collective deep dive.​

This session explores the collaborative potential within the room. Through a dynamic plenary discussion and interactive mapping exercise, participants will identify key resources—people, platforms, networks, and themes—and uncover opportunities to align efforts, pool strengths, and spark sustained future collaboration.

Plenary Discussion

An open format for participants to dive deeper into the themes that resonated most, or where they need to complete a conversation. This is a space for spontaneous dialogue, group reflection, and co-creation—shaped by the questions that matter now, and the partnerships that can carry them forward.

Challenge One Initiatives: Energy Transition & Climate Action, Upcoming Events & Formats, Engagement opportunities with the BMW Foundation beyond the Energy Challenge Days.

A final moment to come together, reflect on key takeaways, and share personal or organizational commitments moving forward. This closing session offers space for gratitude, connection, and a collective send-off as we transition from shared experience to sustained action.