Harness AI for strategic innovation

As AI reshapes industries, the pressure to innovate with speed and creativity is growing.

This two-day, hands-on program is designed as an innovation lab built around your real innovation challenge. You’ll combine creative methods and AI-enabled tools to design customer-centric solutions that deliver impact.

Expert input, real-world cases, and interactive workshops ensure practical outcomes you can apply immediately.es, group workshops, and networking sessions, this highly interactive program ensures practical takeaways that can be applied immediately.

This program is delivered in collaboration with Vali Berlin as part of the Innovation Academy.

Key facts

Your profile

You are a mid- to senior-level leader or functional manager responsible for driving innovation, strategy, or digital transformation in your organization. You may be a head of innovation, R&D director, product development manager, digital transformation lead, or business unit manager.
You have minimal or no prior technical expertise in AI but are looking to leverage it in your business strategy.

Benefits

Get an overview of AI-driven innovation: value-add of AI in products, services and processes
Discover frameworks to integrate AI into your innovation strategy and business model
Bring your own challenge and outline a roadmap
Accelerate innovation by learning latest AI tools and how to integrate them
Gain inspiration and build relationships by engaging with leading startups & ecosystems in Berlin & Europe

Topics

AI technologies - machine learning, big data, generative AI
AI case studies - successes, failures, and lessons learned
Data-driven innovation - strategy, quality, and governance
AI-enabled business models - value propositions and customer experience
Startups & ecosystems - partnerships and open innovation
Future trends - impact of emerging tech (e.g. genAI, IoT)

Why ESMT?

Ranked #1 business school in Germany and among the best in the world by the Financial Times
Located in Berlin, one of Europe's biggest startup hubs
This program is delivered in collaboration with Vali Berlin, ESMT’s entrepreneurship hub, as part of the Innovation Academy

2 days

€3,000

Apply now

♡

Next start date: October 06, 2026

Innovation in the Age of AI

Format

Face-to-face

Price

€3,000

Location

Berlin

Duration

2 days

Language

English

Apply now See all dates

Next dates

Innovation in the Age of AI (AIN.1)

Location

Berlin

Next Intake

Oct 06-07, 2026

Duration

2 days

Format

Face-to-face

Tuition

€3,000

Apply now

Download ⇓

Brochure

Innovation in the Age of AI

Download ⇓

How you will learn

Interactive lectures by ESMT faculty, industry leaders, and AI experts
Case studies from corporates and startups, exploring AI-driven successes and challenges
Simulations and hands-on workshops to apply AI innovation strategies
Defining key innovation challenges in your industry and developing actionable solutions
Expert panels and impulse talks with AI practitioners and startup founders, offering insider perspectives and networking
Group work and peer learning to tackle real-world challenges and share experiences

Participants of the Emerging Leaders Program

Apply this program toward your AI Executive Certificate

This program counts toward ESMT Berlin’s AI Executive Certificate. Complete any mix of AI programs totaling 6 learning days and earn a credential aligned with the EU AI Act.

Choose any programs

Complete 6 learning days in total

Earn your AI Executive Certificate

Explore the AI Certificate path

Mito Mihelic

Co-creator and director of the program

An experienced learning designer and facilitator with over a decade of industry experience, Mito specializes in executive education, focusing on organizational development, user centricity, and cultural transformation.

Linus Dahlander

Professor of Strategy, Lufthansa Group Chair in Innovation, ESMT Berlin

As a renowned expert and scientist in innovation management, Linus researches how new ideas emerge and how AI is transforming open innovation practices.

Gisbert Rühl

Entrepreneur and investor with a background in German industry management

Helmut Kranzmaier

Advisor, Entrepreneur, and former Corporate Executive

With over 20 years of experience spanning innovation management, consulting, and banking, he brings deep industry insight and hands-on startup expertise to the Innovation Academy at ESMT Berlin, where he supports its mission to drive transformative impact across organizations and ecosystems.

Baris Efe

Manager & Co-founder at Vali Berlin - Entreprenurship Hub at ESMT

Email: baris.efe@esmt.org

Our partner: Vali Berlin

Vali Berlin, ESMT’s Entrepreneurship Hub, fosters innovation by supporting entrepreneurs, startups, and corporate ventures.

Focused on creating economic, environmental, and social impact, Vali bridges the gap between academia and practice through venture building, corporate partnerships, and hands-on learning opportunities.