Background & Purpose
Accelerating decarbonisation in both the industry and energy sectors is critical for achieving climate neutrality. This is especially relevant in regions where industrial growth drives economic development – and potentially increasing emissions. Taking early action can prevent carbon lock-ins and pave the way for sustainable, climate-aligned industrial growth.
While industrial decarbonisation is globally recognised as necessary, it remains relatively new territory for many think tanks. Strengthening their expertise and networks in this area is key to developing strategies and policy recommendations for industry transformation.
Against this backdrop Agora Industry’s five-day intensive training provides an overview of industry transformation alongside practical tools to advance discussions on the topic in participants’ home countries and regions.
Training Objectives & Methods
On completion of the five-day training, participants will: - Be able to articulate and apply knowledge on context-specific industry decarbonisation pathways, particularly regarding the techno-economic aspects.
- Be equipped to critically assess and effectively communicate policy opportunities for advancing industrial transformation in their countries.
- Have identified or refined strategic areas to further develop industry-related work in their respective institutions to accelerate the shift towards climate neutrality.
Thematically, the training will support participants in engaging with: - The big picture: The role of industry decarbonisation in the wider context of the transition to climate neutrality and how it links to the decarbonisation of the energy sector.
- Key industrial subsectors: Mapping transition pathways and opportunities for emission reductions in the steel, cement and chemical sectors.
- Important cross-cutting strategies such as energy efficiency, electrification, hydrogen, circular economy and carbon management.
- Policy instruments supporting the transition to climate-neutral industries, such as carbon pricing and demand side policies to initiate and scale up lead markets for circular and low-carbon material.
- International trade policy: The role of strategic partnerships for clean value chains and carbon border adjustments for governing trade rules for green products.
- Social and key financial dimensions: The social implications and financial mechanisms supporting the shift to climate-neutral industrial production, ensuring a just transition.
Methods The programme combines expert presentations, hands-on exercises, group work and facilitated discussions in an informal and collaborative learning environment. Participants will share insights from their national contexts and will be asked to prepare a short input or piece of work in advance (details provided upon selection).
Your profile
The training is open to professionals
currently working for or affiliated with a think tank or civil society organisation working on the energy transition and/or industry decarbonisation. The training primarily targets mid-career professionals with around four to six years of relevant work experience.
Priority will be given to applicants from developing and emerging economies who:
- Are actively engaged in public and policy debates on industry or energy transitions;
- Seek to increase their knowledge and institutional impact on the industry transformation in their respective countries/regions; and
- Plan to develop future industry transition projects or activities in their organisations.
As the training will be conducted in English, participants must have sufficient English language communication skills.
Location & Cost
The training will take place from
4–8 May 2026 in Berlin, Germany
Hosted at the Agora Think Tanks office
, the full-time training (9:00 to 17:00) includes catered lunches and coffee breaks. Attendance throughout the five days is required for a comprehensive learning experience.
CostParticipation in the five-day training is free of charge.
In addition, the following costs will be covered:- Up to seven nights of accommodation near the venue (Saturday, 2 May - Saturday, 9 May);
- Breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks during training days; and
- Reimbursement of international travel to Berlin of up to EUR 1,300 per participant.
Participants must cover:- Dinner expenses;
- Visa costs (an invitation letter can be made available upon request);
- Local transportation including airport transfers and travel within the city; and
- Personal and incidental expenses (e.g., travel or health insurance).
Application
Applicants must submit:
- CV
- Motivation letter (max 600 words) outlining:
- Your personal and your organisation’s engagement with industry transformation;
- How the knowledge and skills gained from the training will improve your personal and your organisation’s future activities and impact.
We encourage applications from underrepresented groups in energy and industry policy. To ensure a diversity of participants, we take into consideration factors such as regional and gender representation. Please let us know if you anticipate any barriers to your participation such as disability access, childcare requirements or other needs. While we cannot guarantee a solution, we will do our best to accommodate candidates chosen for the programme.
The application
deadline is 16 November 2025. Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis – early applications are therefore advised.
