Energy policy: a cornerstone for resilience

Energy policy today is security policy - and security policy begins with the resilience of our infrastructure, our economy and our society. Energy supply as a strategic pillar of defence and economic security must be seen as part of the national security architecture. In conversation with His Excellency Nathanael Liminski, Minister for Federal, European, International Affairs and Media of North Rhine-Westphalia, this Energy Talk explores how resilient energy systems form the foundation of economic strength, strategic sovereignty and a resilient society. This talk will outline North Rhine Westphalia’s vision for a resilient, innovative and sovereign energy system built on partnerships, technological progress and societal trust.

Delivering more profit and a better world: AI is catalysing an energy revolution

Artificial intelligence is radically transforming the energy sector. In exploration and production, it is unlocking advances through enhanced use of seismic data, more efficient drilling, and smarter decision-making. Midstream and downstream, a new era has begun in which hydrocarbons can be more efficiently refined and the outputs of the refinery stack can be upgraded into higher-value products.

In this Energy talk, Jack Hidary, CEO of SandboxAQ, will show how these advances are powered by quantitative AI, models trained on chemistry and engineering. He will explain how these large quantitative models (LQMs) are accelerating catalytic chemistry for midstream, leading to materials innovation, novel battery chemistry, and shaping energy efficiency and sustainability. The discussion will also highlight real-world examples that are compressing decades of product development into just a few years through their pioneering use of AI.

Embracing a multi-source energy revolution

In parallel with the accelerating shift toward resilient energy economies, the importance of exploring different energy sources continues to rise. Increasingly, it becomes clear that all energy sources will be needed as no single solution will be able to address all challenges.

Nuclear has emerged as a promising low-carbon source of energy. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), nuclear energy is set to reach a new record in 2025 and can improve energy security as electricity demand accelerates. The momentum in nuclear energy is growing, fuelled by new policies, pioneering projects, strategic investments, and technological innovations like Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

However, challenges remain when addressing timelines for project deliveries and financing. Other energy sources, such as wind and solar, are also emerging, contributing to a growing need to increase the capacity for storing intermittent energy.

Embracing a wide range of energy sources and assessing every integration strategy can open greater opportunities for companies and governments, lessen dependence on a single energy source, and access new markets.

Attendee insights:

Understand the different specifications and opportunities in new energy sources, including nuclear, wind, and solar, and what type of energy sources companies are focusing on now.

AI’s role in emerging economies

Emerging economies are navigating rising energy demand alongside the urgency of building more resilient energy systems. AI is increasingly viewed as a strategic tool to unlock efficiencies, improve system design, and accelerate energy innovation, especially in markets where digital infrastructure is underdeveloped but evolving rapidly. AI-driven analytics are revolutionising energy generation, distribution, and consumption. In emerging economies, real-time data and predictive modelling enable smart renewable integration, grid optimisation, and tailored electrification strategies. As AI adoption accelerates, infrastructure and energy system planning must keep pace to avoid deepening access and equity gaps, especially where energy systems are already under strain. With targeted policy support, these economies can leapfrog legacy models and adopt decentralised, AI-enabled clean energy systems. AI offers emerging markets with an unprecedented opportunity to scale energy innovation without replicating legacy infrastructure. But doing so will require intentional investment in digital infrastructure, inclusive data governance, and energy planning that anticipates the exponential growth of AI-related demand.

Attendee insights:

Discover how AI is reshaping energy systems in emerging economies, unlocking innovation while raising urgent questions around infrastructure equity, scalability, and the energy footprint of digital growth.

Strengthening resilience in emerging economies: ensuring infrastructure resilience and economic continuity

Emerging economies are increasingly vulnerable to disruptions that strain infrastructure systems, destabilise supply chains, and undermine long-term growth. As global risks intensify, resilience is becoming a central pillar of sustainable development, requiring forward-looking investments to protect both physical assets and economic continuity. Many emerging markets face weak infrastructure and limited redundancy that heighten exposure to shocks - whether environmental, economic, or logistical. The infrastructure investment gap in these economies now exceeds $450 billion annually, creating urgent pressure to build systems that are both climate-aware and disruption-ready. Compounding this challenge, over 90% of global supply chain leaders report experiencing disruptions in the past year, with nearly 60% citing infrastructure failures or weather-related impacts as contributing factors. Tackling these vulnerabilities requires rethinking infrastructure design, strengthening logistics networks, and embedding flexibility into energy, transport, and industrial systems. Emerging economies must prioritise resilience through smarter infrastructure investment, economic diversification, and coordinated planning across public and private sectors.

Attendee insights:

Gain insight into how emerging economies are building resilience through infrastructure investment, supply chain protection, and strategic planning to withstand escalating disruptions and sustain economic momentum.