The next industrial revolution is here—spanning clean energy, synthetic biology, quantum computing, and the commercialization of space.
In Navigating Disruption in Energy, Biology, Quantum, and Space, you’ll explore how frontier technologies are transforming global markets, sustainability, and leadership. Through real-world insights and strategic foresight tools, you’ll learn to anticipate disruption, assess emerging opportunities, and make ethical, future-ready decisions.
Designed for innovators and strategic leaders, this course empowers you to understand—and lead within—the scientific and technological revolutions shaping the 21st-century economy.
Welcome to Module 1! In this module, you’ll explore how global energy systems are transforming—technologically, economically, and geopolitically—and what these changes mean for business strategy and leadership in the decades ahead.
Energy is no longer a background input to the economy. It has become a defining force shaping markets, innovation, and competitive advantage. Understanding how energy transitions unfold—across technologies, supply chains, policies, and finance—is essential for leaders navigating disruption and sustainability simultaneously.
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18 vidéos8 lectures7 devoirs1 sujet de discussion1 plugin
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18 vidéos•Total 141 minutes
Course Introduction•5 minutes
Meet Your Instructor: Robert Brunner•3 minutes
The Impact of the Gies Community•2 minutes
Global Energy Challenges•8 minutes
The Rise of Renewables•9 minutes
Decentralization and Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) •9 minutes
Foundations of the Smart Grid•8 minutes
Advanced Grid Management•8 minutes
Energy Storage Solutions for Grid Integration•9 minutes
The Hydrogen Economy•9 minutes
Advanced Nuclear and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)•9 minutes
Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS)•8 minutes
Fusion Energy•8 minutes
Space-Based Solar Power•8 minutes
Breakthrough Materials and Advanced Concepts•10 minutes
Emerging Business Models and Investment Dynamics•10 minutes
Navigating Policy and Geopolitical Shifts•10 minutes
Strategic Imperatives for Future Energy Leaders•7 minutes
8 lectures•Total 80 minutes
Syllabus•10 minutes
About the Discussion Forums•10 minutes
Coursera Coach•10 minutes
Online Education at Gies College of Business•10 minutes
Updating Your Profile•10 minutes
Module 1 Overview•10 minutes
Module 1 Readings•10 minutes
Module 1 Glossary•10 minutes
7 devoirs•Total 190 minutes
Orientation Quiz•30 minutes
Practice Quiz: Foundations of the Global Energy Transition•10 minutes
Practice Quiz: Smart Grids and Energy Storage•30 minutes
Practice Quiz: Emerging Energy Technologies and Sustainable Solutions•30 minutes
Practice Quiz: Frontiers of Future Energy Technologies•30 minutes
Practice Quiz: Policy, Geopolitics, and Strategic Energy Leadership•30 minutes
Graded Quiz: Strategic Energy Futures: Technologies, Geopolitics, and Business Leadership•30 minutes
1 sujet de discussion•Total 10 minutes
Getting to Know Your Classmates•10 minutes
1 plugin•Total 15 minutes
Welcome! Please Tell Us About Yourself•15 minutes
Module 2: Synthetic Biology and the Future of Business
Module 2•6 heures à terminer
Détails du module
Welcome to Module 2 — a deep dive into how synthetic biology is transforming the global economy, reshaping industries, and redefining how we design, produce, and sustain life itself.
Synthetic biology—the engineering of living systems with the precision of digital technology—is one of the most powerful forces of innovation in the 21st century. By merging biology with data science, automation, and artificial intelligence, it allows us to design new materials, foods, medicines, and manufacturing systems that are cleaner, faster, and smarter than anything we’ve built before. This module explores not only the science behind these changes but also the strategic, ethical, and commercial opportunities they create for future business leaders.
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15 vidéos3 lectures6 devoirs
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15 vidéos•Total 139 minutes
Introduction to Synthetic Biology•9 minutes
The Bioeconomy as a Strategic Imperative•8 minutes
The Digital Backbone of Synthetic Biology•9 minutes
Gene Editing and Personalized Medicine•9 minutes
Bioprinting, Tissue Engineering, and Drug Development•9 minutes
Commercialization Pathways and Regulatory Navigation in Biopharma•9 minutes
Engineered Crops, Soil Health, and Sustainable Food Security •10 minutes
Cellular Agriculture and Alternative Proteins•10 minutes
Bioremediation and Bio-Based Environmental Solutions•9 minutes
Synthetic Biology in Materials Science and Manufacturing•9 minutes
Microbial Manufacturing and Industrial Bioprocessing •9 minutes
Commercialization Strategies for Bio-Manufactured Products•10 minutes
The Future of Synthetic Biology Business: Predictions and Implications•9 minutes
Regulatory Landscape and Policy Levers in Synthetic Biology•10 minutes
Strategic Foresight for the Bioeconomy•9 minutes
3 lectures•Total 30 minutes
Module 2 Overview•10 minutes
Module 2 Readings•10 minutes
Module 2 Glossary•10 minutes
6 devoirs•Total 180 minutes
Practice Quiz: Foundations of Synthetic Biology and the Emerging Bioeconomy•30 minutes
Practice Quiz: Synthetic Biology in Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals•30 minutes
Practice Quiz: Synthetic Biology in Agriculture and Food Production•30 minutes
Practice Quiz: Synthetic Biology in Materials Science and Manufacturing•30 minutes
Practice Quiz: The Future of Synthetic Biology Business: Predictions and Implications•30 minutes
Graded Quiz: Synthetic Biology and the Future of Business•30 minutes
Module 3: Quantum Computing and Business Advantage
Module 3•6 heures à terminer
Détails du module
Welcome to Module 3 — your gateway to understanding how quantum computing is reshaping industries, redefining competition, and transforming the way we think about problem-solving in business.
Quantum computing represents the next great leap in computational power. Unlike classical computers, which process information as binary bits (0s and 1s), quantum computers use qubits—units that can exist in multiple states simultaneously. Through the strange yet powerful principles of superposition, entanglement, and tunneling, quantum systems can perform complex calculations exponentially faster than today’s most powerful machines.
In this module, you’ll learn not just how quantum computing works, but why it matters strategically—and how business leaders can prepare for the coming wave of quantum-enabled innovation.
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15 vidéos3 lectures6 devoirs
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Coherence, Qubits, and Quantum Phenomena•8 minutes
The Quantum Technology Ecosystem: Players, Hardware, Software, and Services•9 minutes
Hybrid Quantum-Classical Architectures•8 minutes
Quantum Sensing•8 minutes
Quantum Machine Learning•8 minutes
The Quantum Threat to Cryptography: Post-Quantum Solutions•8 minutes
Quantum Communication and Quantum Key Distribution•10 minutes
Cyberbiosecurity in the Quantum Era•8 minutes
Quantum Optimization for Supply Chains and Logistics•8 minutes
Quantum Simulation for Materials Science and Drug Discovery•8 minutes
Quantum Computing and Financial Services•8 minutes
The Quantum Race: Geopolitical Competition, International Cooperation, and IP Strategy•9 minutes
Ethical and Societal Implications of Quantum Innovation •7 minutes
Strategic Foresight for the Quantum Era•8 minutes
3 lectures•Total 30 minutes
Module 3 Overview•10 minutes
Module 3 Readings•10 minutes
Module 3 Glossary•10 minutes
6 devoirs•Total 180 minutes
Practice Quiz: Quantum Computing Fundamentals and the Technology Ecosystem•30 minutes
Practice Quiz: Applications of Quantum Technologies in Computing and Intelligence•30 minutes
Practice Quiz: Security and Communication in the Quantum Era•30 minutes
Practice Quiz: Quantum Computing Applications Across Industries•30 minutes
Practice Quiz: Geopolitics Ethics and Strategic Foresight in the Quantum Era•30 minutes
Graded Quiz: Quantum Computing and Business Advantage•30 minutes
Module 4: The Commercialization of Space and Business Opportunities
Module 4•6 heures à terminer
Détails du module
Welcome to Module 4—an exploration of the rapidly growing space economy, where innovation, entrepreneurship, and advanced technologies are transforming space from a government-dominated domain into a dynamic global marketplace.
What was once the realm of astronauts and national space agencies is now being shaped by private companies, venture capital, and cross-industry collaboration. From launch services and satellite networks to space-based manufacturing and tourism, a new era of “New Space” has arrived—one driven by accessibility, automation, and bold commercial imagination.
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17 vidéos5 lectures6 devoirs1 plugin
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17 vidéos•Total 128 minutes
Reduced Launch Costs and Increased Access•7 minutes
The Rise of Private Space Companies and Investment Trends•8 minutes
The Role of AI, Autonomy, and Talent in Space Based Businesses•9 minutes
Earth Observation Applications in Agriculture, Environmental Monitoring, and Urban Planning•10 minutes
Geospatial Data Analytics and AI for Space-Based Business Intelligence•8 minutes
The Business of Space Situational Awareness and Cybersecurity•8 minutes
In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) •8 minutes
Asteroid Mining and Space Resource Utilization •8 minutes
Infrastructure, Habitats, and Extended Human Presence•8 minutes
Global Satellite Communication and Internet Connectivity •9 minutes
Microgravity Research and Commercial Space Lab Opportunities•9 minutes
Space Tourism and Human Spaceflight•8 minutes
The New Space Race: Geopolitical Competition and International Cooperation•8 minutes
Ethical Leadership and Space Sustainability•8 minutes
Strategic Foresight for the Space Economy•7 minutes
Course Conclusion•4 minutes
Learn on Your Terms•1 minute
5 lectures•Total 50 minutes
Module 4 Overview•10 minutes
Module 4 Readings•10 minutes
Module 4 Glossary•10 minutes
Congratulations on Completing the Course!•10 minutes
Get Your Course Certificate•10 minutes
6 devoirs•Total 180 minutes
Practice Quiz: The New Space Economy: Business Drivers•30 minutes
Practice Quiz: Earth Observation and Remote Sensing for Business•30 minutes
Practice Quiz: Space Manufacturing and Resource Extraction: Business Ventures•30 minutes
Practice Quiz: Space-Based Services and Infrastructure: Business Opportunities•30 minutes
Practice Quiz: The Future of Space Commercialization: Predictions and Implications•30 minutes
Graded Quiz: The Commercialization of Space and Business Opportunities•30 minutes
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