About the ESTT

The Energy & Strategy Think Tank (ESTT) is a collaboration between Verbund, Wien Energie and the Institute for Strategic Management (ISM) at Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU). Aims of the ESTT: Megatrends such as digitalization, decentralization, and decarbonisation are reshaping the energy industry and adjacent capital-​intensive industries. To lead, navigate, and understand these disruptive…

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About the Team

The ESTT team at WU consists of experts on strategy, innovation, organization, and sustainability in and beyond the energy industry. Georg Reischauer  (Head) Christian Bruck Alexander Engelmann Nina Hampl  Maryam Rassouli Melanie Wiener  

Master Thesis on Managing Digitalization Projects

The master thesis “Managing Digitalization Projects: Best-in-class Process and KPIs” derives a best-in-class model for the management of digitalization projects in the context of energy providers. Here is the abstract: Digitalization is having an increasingly bigger impact on the energy sector in recent years. Thus, organizations aim to set up digitalization projects to implement new…

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Master Thesis on Digital Technologies for Utilities

The master thesis “Digital Technologies for Utilities: A Strategic Technology Management Perspective” identifies various digital technologies involved in the value chain of a energy providers of power utilities in the German speaking area. Here is the abstract: Power utilities have traditionally been known for their stability, reliability, and predictability. However, factors such as the energy…

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Innovation Talk “Bewertung von Digitalisierungs-Initiativen”

This Innovation Talk with the title “Bewertung von Digitalisierungs-Initiativen bei Vattenfall Wärme” was held by Jan Timmermann (Head of Strategy & Business Development) and Dr. Victor Vican (Digital Transformation Consultant) from Vattenfall Wärme. Innovations in the energy industry are not only technical in nature. A core component to ensure future viability for energy suppliers is…

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Innovation Talk “Radical Corporate Innovation in Energy”

This Innovation Talk with the title “Radical Corporate Innovation in Energy: Success Factors and Best Practices” was held by Dr. Ernesto Ciorra, Chief Innovability Officer (Head of the Enel Group’s Innovability® Function) at Enel. Enel has combined innovation and sustainability in a model called “Innovability”®. Thereby, it follows an “open” approach that leverages an ecosystem…

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Master Thesis on Innovation Controlling

The master thesis “Innovation Controlling in Industrial Markets” provides a comprehensive overview of ways to control innovation projects, with a particular focus on energy providers. Here is the abstract: This thesis examines the question of how effective controlling of individual innovation projects can be achieved. In particular, the use of KPIs as an objectifying means…

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Innovation Talk “CVC als Innovationsmotor”

This Innovation Talk with the title “CVC als Innovationsmotor” was held by Oliver Holle, Managing Director at Speedinvest, a venture capital fund with more than €600m to invest in pre-Seed, Seed, and early-stage tech startups across Europe.  This talk was held as a panel discussion between Oliver Holle, Dr. Franz Zöchbauer (Director Corporate Innovation &…

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ESTT at the SMS Conference 2022

ESTT members contributed to the 42nd Strategic Management Society (SMS) Annual Conference, London, with the following papers: Assessing how digital strategies create and capture value Strengthening the Identity of Incumbent Ecosystems After New Rival Entry The Design of Incumbent-Sponsored Meta-Organizations for Sustainability-Oriented Innovation

Master Thesis on Innovation Controlling Process in Capital-Intensive Industries

The master thesis “Innovation Controlling Process in Capital-Intensive Industries and its Implementation” derives best practices for innovation processes in the context of energy providers. Here is the abstract: The highly competitive environment in capital-intensive industries forces companies to innovate fast and develop high-quality innovation processes. The aim of this research paper is to identify a…

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Master Thesis on Multiples as M&A Tool

The master thesis “Multiples as M&A tool for valuing wind and solar energy projects in Europe” provides a comprehensive overview of how to value projects with a diverse set of multiples and compares their value for practice. Here is the abstract: The global shift from an energy system based on fossil fuels to one based…

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