MCCHE Convergent Innovation Webinar Series with Eugenio Longo
A sustainability framework and sectoral digitalization: The case of energy
Eugenio Longo
Sustainability Director at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Europe
Eugenio Longo is the Sustainability Director at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Europe. In his role, Eugenio leads the TCS European Sustainability Strategy definition and implementation, and provides steering and governance to help the Europe’s Management team to define clear and actionable goals and targets. Prior to TCS, he was the head of Sustainability and EU Affairs in the Strategy and Group Development team of Borealis, where he developed a sustain-ability strategy focusing on Energy and Climate, the Circular Economy, Health and Safety, Sustainable Finance and Industrial Policy. Eugenio is a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in the Circular Economy and in policy shaping to advance sustainability-driven business models at corporate, industry, regional and global level. He played a key role in shaping and advancing Borealis’ Circular Economy (CE) strategy and supporting the development of the EU Strategy on Plastics. The Borealis CE strategy was recognized by the front-running New Plastics Economy (NPEC) initiative at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) and by the Circular Plastics Alliance. Thanks to his work, Borealis sits on NPEC’s Advisor Board. Eugenio holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from McGill University (Montreal, Canada) and a Master from the University of Ferrara (Italy), in Polymer Science and Technology.
Abstract
The industry welcomes the effort done by policy makers, such as the European Commission, aiming at building a green digital framework for the energy transition. Digitization of the energy sector is happening and will affect many areas of society. Everyone involved, be that in policy or industry need to actively play a role and ensure that the transformation will be a success for the society, economy, and industry. The entire landscape of the energy system is shifting as the industry experiences a rapid pace of change. With this comes the need for a profound transformation through digitalization. Digitalization of the energy sector is crucial to meet climate goals and secure a sustainable future, as it enables greater penetration of renewables, higher network efficiency and innovative customer services. There are several examples of where digitization can be applied to the energy. With the backdrop of a needed harmonized regulatory framework at the EU and the international level, the governments engagement with various stakeholders will increase the availability of digital solutions in the energy sector. To fully reach a well-functioning market, future legislation should not stifle growth nor act as an obstacle for the development of innovative businesses. Legislation should enable the market to overcome barriers and allow data flows to ensure that it creates opportunities for everyone involved. Ultimately, policy makers should help businesses grow and reach digital and sustainable goals.
Chair: Professor Laurette Dubé (Scientific Director of MCCHE)
Co-Chair & Moderator: John G. Keogh (Professor of Practice, MCCHE; Founder, Shantalla Inc.))
Special Panel: A panel will follow with scientists and action leaders to advance convergence science and innovation at the food, health, medicine and healthcare interfaces for addressing challenge and possibilities afforded by open-sciences in accelerating world-scale transformation toward sustainable prosperity. Discussion will also explore how digital transformation of science, business and society can accelerate the bridging of seemingly incompatible commons and value-capture logics, capabilities, processes and impacts.
ABOUT THE SERIES
The Convergent Innovation Webinar Series features cutting edge science, technology and innovation in agriculture, food, environment, education, medicine and other domains of everyday life where grand challenges lie at the convergence of health and economics. Powered by data science, artificial intelligence, and other digital technologies, this disciplinary knowledge bridges with behavioural, social, humanities, business, economics, social, engineering, and complexity sciences to accelerate real-world solution at scale, be it in digital or physical contexts. Initiated in the agri-food domain, the series is now encompassing other grand challenges facing modern and traditional economies and societies, such as ensuring lifelong wellness and resilience at both the individual and population levels.
