Berlin international executive seminar

• Develop entrepreneurial thinking and action-oriented capabilities to design, adapt, and scale sustainable and digital business models in complex and rapidly evolving environments
• Evaluate governance mechanisms shaping corporate and cross-sector innovation (bottom-up and top-down)
• Assess sustainability practices at organizational and territorial levels
• Communicate strategic recommendations through persuasive, executive-level pitches

Day 1: The success story of the innovation ecosystem of Berlin

Morning: Executive learning sessions

• Welcome and programme overview
• Entrepreneurial ecosystems: comparative perspectives
• Berlin’s startup landscape and public innovation support mechanisms

Afternoon: Immersive executive experience

• Visit to WISTA Science and Technology Park, a research-driven entrepreneurial hub
• Presentation, interactive Q&A and guided site tour
• Focus on science-driven entrepreneurship, cluster strategies and innovation infrastructure

Day 2: How startup culture and innovation strategies fuel strategic growth

Morning: Startup exposure and Executive learning sessions

• Startup encounter: Gain first-hand insight into the operations, culture, and growth strategies of a startup founded in Berlin, observing innovation in action
• Disruptive innovation: strategies for competitive advantage
• Discussion on scaling ventures in dynamic environments

Afternoon: Immersive executive experience

• Guided Street Art & Cultural Tour: Explore the vibrant East Side Gallery and Kreuzberg neighborhood, discovering how Berlin’s urban art, diversity, and creative spirit reflect its entrepreneurial energy and shape innovative mindsets
• Bundestag/Reichstag visit: Gain a deeper understanding of Germany’s political and institutional context, connecting governance, regulation, and innovation ecosystems

Day 3: Turning innovation ecosystems into a strategic advantage with corporate entrepreneurship

Morning: Immersive executive experience

• BMW iFactory visit: Discover how entrepreneurial thinking is embedded in advanced manufacturing, combining lean processes, digitalization, and sustainability
• Guided Tour of motorcycle assembly and latest production technologies
• Berlin Partner overview: supporting and developing tech startups and scale-ups in Berlin

Afternoon: Executive learning sessions and Networking

• Designing Business Models for Sustainability
• Networking session to connect with entrepreneurs, ecosystem builders, corporates, researchers, investors, and innovators

Day 4: Joint efforts for growth: realizing the potential of innovation ecosystems together with entrepreneurial support organizations

Morning: Immersive executive experience

• Visit of an incubator: Explore one of Berlin’s leading innovation and co-working hubs, with a guided tour and presentation highlighting how the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem fosters collaboration, knowledge exchange, and high-impact venture creation
• Workshop on corporate-startup collaboration for building innovation capabilities

Afternoon: Applied executive workshop, strategic insights, closing and certification ceremony

• Workshop with a startup on cooperation with incumbents, followed by expert panel feedback
• Personal reflection and managerial insights
• Programme wrap-up and certificate ceremony

Final certification:

Personal certificate awarded to each participant based on team presentation.

Benefit from ICN’s expertise in innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable business transformation, as well as our strong connections within Berlin’s dynamic startup and technology ecosystem.

The Executive Seminar includes exclusive visits to key innovation hubs and institutions shaping Berlin’s entrepreneurial landscape

• WISTA Science and Technology Park – One of Europe’s leading research-driven innovation campuses, where science, startups, and industry converge to accelerate venture creation and technology transfer.
• Berlin Impact Hub – A flagship space for impact-driven entrepreneurship, fostering collaboration among startups, investors, and ecosystem builders working on sustainable innovation.
• BMW iFactory – Insight into cutting-edge industrial innovation, combining advanced manufacturing, digitalization, and entrepreneurial thinking in a corporate setting.
• Bundestag/Reichtag, German Federal Parliament – Understanding the institutional and governance context shaping innovation and entrepreneurship in Germany and Europe.
• Example of networking event: Thursday Gatherings at Venture Café Berlin, bringing together diverse actors from across the innovation landscape in an open and collaborative environment designed to foster learning and cross-sector exchange.

Our Berlin campus is located in the Alt-Moabit district, right in the city centre. The neighbourhood combines the calm of a riverside setting with the convenience of being just a short walk from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, the city’s main train station, offering easy connections to major German and European destinations.

Alt-Moabit is known for its mix of historic architecture and modern office buildings, as well as its proximity to cultural, governmental, and representational institutions, such as the Bundestag and many embassies. The nearby Spree River and Tiergarten park provide green spaces to enjoy between classes or after a busy day.

The campus covers 2,000 m2 and offers a modern and well-equipped learning environment, including 6 classrooms, an auditorium, a student lounge, association and study rooms, a locker room, a meeting room, a staff room, a spacious reception hall and an adjacent outdoor terrace ideal for informal exchanges and networking.