Engineering Innovation Leadership
DATE & DURATION
6 to 8 May 2026
| 3 days (in-person)
LOCATION
DELIVERY
Structure & Modules
ACCREDITATION
Imperial College London & Astra Terra Limited
Why This Programme
In today's volatile business landscape, continuous innovation isn't merely a choice; it's the cornerstone for market dominance and growth. Organisations that neglect to innovate risk losing competitiveness, shrinking market share, and failing to retain top talents.
This course provides a practical, actionable roadmap to rigorously unlock critical customer needs, strategically harness AI-enhanced creativity, and generate truly sustainable innovations that deliver powerful, measurable business outcomes in an engineering context.
Who Should Attend
This programme is designed for mid to senior level management, C-suite decision makers, engineers and consultants.
Participants from industry corporations, start-ups, government agencies, academia, NGOs and think tanks.
What You Will Gain
- Diagnose the barriers to innovation and methods to overcome psychological inertia.
- Understand AI and ML models in innovation and how they can improve the process and the results.
- Gather end user and stakeholders’ intelligence, analyse, and objectively recognise pitfalls and opportunities.
- Establish an agile culture of creativity with tools, techniques, and practices to embed within your organisation.
- Evaluate ideas, prioritise the winners, and secure comprehensive resilience mechanisms for innovations.
- Open up new uncontested markets and create new value streams by identifying competitor threats and create mitigation strategies.
- Learn about the Ethics of innovation, how to innovate organically, embed social corporate responsibility as a strategic lever of innovation.
Programme Highlights
Beyond the Boardroom
Learn to navigate innovation through the eyes of top stakeholders, mastering what boards and investors demand. You'll discover how to avoid the most common, costly innovation pitfalls and, critically, how to harness the power of AI to generate new income streams.
Inside the Playbooks of the World’s Best
Meet and Learn from top UK industry innovators, guest speakers, and leading academics.
Applied Learning
Hands-on labs and exercises (RGT, Kano Mapping, Jobs-to-be-Done, AI-driven customer insights and data analytics) applied to your own live business challenges.
Programme Structure
Day 1
- AI and Innovation Foundations
Establish context on the History and Progression of AI and detail the Foundations of Innovation required for managing market disruption.
- Outcome-Based Demand Translation
Focus on the skill of Decoding Demand, specifically transitioning from identifying latent needs to producing measurable business outcomes.
- Strategic Leadership Integration
Incorporate expert perspectives on the Modernisation of Historic Institutions and the corporate discipline required for Scaling Innovation.
Day 2
- Applied Technology and Customer Insight
Focus on Innovation and Emerging Technologies, followed by a practical Customer Insight Lab utilising AI lab exercises.
- Evidence-Led Problem Definition
The core instruction is to Decrypt Demand, establishing proficiency in an evidence-led approach for rigorous and accurate problem definition.
- Finance and Sectoral Economics
Conclude by integrating core financial strategy via Innovation Economics and Finance.
Day 3
- Ethics, Regulation, and Sustainability
Discussing the essential governance framework, covering Ethics, Regulations, Standards, and Sustainability, with specific attention to AI.
- Systematic Breakthrough Generation and Tools
Including the function of AI - to effectively generate and select genuine breakthrough innovations.
- Validation and Cross-Sector Insight
The practical element involves the Proof-of-Value Lab (translating insight to impact), complemented by external perspectives on Cross-Sector Innovation and strategic guidance on being heard in innovation leadership.
Faculty and Associates
Prof Mireille Elhajj
Prof Mireille Elhajj
PhD, FRIN
Programme Director
Prof Washington Yotto Ochieng
Prof Washington Yotto Ochieng
CBE, EBS, CEng, FREng, FRIN
Instructor
James Kelly
James Kelly
Research Consultant & Innovation Champion
Instructor
Dr. Naseem Akhtar
Dr. Naseem Akhtar
BEng (Hons), MSc, DIC, MBA, PhD, CEng, MRAeSc
Instructor
Dr. Sen Wang
Dr. Sen Wang
PhD
Instructor
Dr. Raffaele M Della Croce Di Dojola
Dr. Raffaele M Della Croce Di Dojola
PhD
Instructor
Farah Alghali
Farah Alghali
MSc
Programme Administrator
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frequently
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Course Content & Eligibility
1. What makes this Innovation Leadership course different from others?
Unlike standard leadership courses, this programme specifically focuses on AI-Enhanced Creativity. We provide a practical roadmap for navigating a volatile business landscape, helping you move beyond theory to generate sustainable innovations that deliver measurable business outcomes.
2. How will the course help me understand AI technologies and their business applications?
The course provides an overview of AI technologies, their business impact, and relevant case studies. Participants will learn strategic frameworks for leveraging AI to foster innovation and create value. The curriculum explores how AI has become an integral component of the innovation cycle, from understanding the innovation process itself to utilizing AI for data gathering and idea generation.
3. Will the course include hands-on workshops or just lectures?
The course includes a blend of lectures, interactive discussions, and hands-on workshops to facilitate experiential learning, plus an array of firsthand industrial shared experience from world-renowned experts as guest speakers.
4. Are there any prerequisites?
Do I need technical expertise in AI? No strict prerequisites are required, and you do not need technical expertise. The course is designed for leaders, strategists, and managers. While we explore how to harness AI for market dominance, the focus is on strategic application, not coding. Note: This course is not intended for junior or entry-level participants.
5. My organization is not a tech company. Is this relevant for me?
Absolutely. Innovation is a mandate for growth in every sector. Whether you are in healthcare, finance, or the public sector, the tools for unlocking customer desires and securing market share are universally applicable.
6. Is the course a good platform for networking?
Absolutely. The course structure encourages networking via group exercises, breakout sessions, and social events.
Registration, Payment & Administration
7. What is the cancellation or refund policy?
- Up to 2 weeks before start date: Refundable with a 20% deduction for administration fees.
- Within 2 weeks of start date: Refundable with a 50% deduction.
- Within 1 week of start date: Refundable with a 70% deduction.
- Within the last 48 hours: Non-refundable.
8. Can I pay by invoice instead of credit card?
Yes. If your organization prefers to pay via bank transfer/invoice, please contact our team directly. Full payment must be received at least 3 days prior to the course start date.
9. Are there group discounts available?
Yes. We offer a preferred rate for organizations sending 3 or more participants. Please contact us directly for a customized group quote.
10. Can I transfer my registration to a colleague?
Absolutely. If you cannot attend, you may nominate a substitute from your organization at no additional cost up to 3 days before the event. Please email us with the new participant’s name and details to ensure their certificate and badge are prepared correctly.
11. Who can I contact for technical support or course administration questions?
Please contact Education@astra-terra.com or cpd@imperial.ac.uk.
12. What is your policy on inclusion and diversity?
We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment where everyone is welcomed, respected, and empowered. Our DEI policy ensures equal opportunity, values different perspectives, and actively promotes a culture of belonging across all levels of engagement.
Logistics, Tools & Travel
13. Do I need to bring my own laptop?
Yes. As parts of the course involve digital tools and AI-enhanced exercises, please bring a laptop or tablet with Wi-Fi capability.
14. Are there any required software or tools to be installed before the course?
You will need Microsoft Teams (you may be required to have an account) and a device with good bandwidth capability.
15. Is accommodation included in the course fee?
No. The course fee covers tuition, materials, and catering during the day. Participants are responsible for booking their own accommodation. We can provide a list of recommended hotels near the South Kensington campus upon request.
16. Do you provide visa support letters?
Yes. If you are travelling from abroad and require a visa to enter the UK, we can issue an official Letter of Invitation once your registration fee has been paid in full. Please request this as early as possible to account for visa processing times.
17. What is the dress code?
The dress code is Business Casual. We want you to be comfortable for interactive workshops while maintaining a professional atmosphere.
Certification & Materials
18. Will I receive a certificate of completion or professional accreditation?
Yes, a joint certificate of completion will be awarded at the end of the course from Imperial College London and Astra Terra Limited.
19. What learning materials will be provided to participants after completion?
Participants will receive digital learning materials, including slide decks, white papers, and case study documents.
About the Organizers
20. Why this course and who are Astra Terra and Imperial College?
- Astra Terra is a consultancy firm anchored in R&D, specializing in research, innovation, capacity building, and start-up incubation.
- Imperial College London is a pioneering UK university in STEM, ranked 2nd in the world in research and innovation, with campuses in Central London. The two outfits are best equipped to take you on an unmatched journey of learning.
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