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Technology Leader Programme

Developing talent to become influential leaders, accelerating technology innovation and generating new value.

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Technology Leader Programme

Developing talent to become influential leaders, accelerating technology innovation and generating new value.

Request information

Start date

2026 (exact dates TBC)

Course length

15 days over 6 months

Programme fee

£21,000 to £24,000*

Location

Modules in Cambridge, UK and online

Learn how to contribute effectively at the strategic level, integrating technology, business and sustainability considerations to contribute to organisational strategy.

Why the Technology Leader Programme?

For individuals

  • Integrate technology, business and sustainability considerations, contributing to company strategy and generating new value.
  • Keep up to date with technological advantages and possibilities and consider their application.
  • Learn and apply a proven set of technology and innovation management approaches and tools.
  • Communicate effectively with and influence internal and external stakeholders.
  • Accelerate your career and be effective in senior strategic roles.

For organisations

  • Harness and develop internal talent to accelerate technology innovation across the organisation.
  • Keep pace with accelerating technological change and sustainability challenges.
  • Develop capability to identify and adopt effective technology strategies that support business strategy and performance.
  • Create a development pathway for your technical talent.
  • Recruit and retain key talented individuals.

For individuals

  • Integrate technology, business and sustainability considerations, contributing to company strategy and generating new value.
  • Keep up to date with technological advantages and possibilities and consider their application.
  • Learn and apply a proven set of technology and innovation management approaches and tools.
  • Communicate effectively with and influence internal and external stakeholders.
  • Accelerate your career and be effective in senior strategic roles.

For organisations

  • Harness and develop internal talent to accelerate technology innovation across the organisation.
  • Keep pace with accelerating technological change and sustainability challenges.
  • Develop capability to identify and adopt effective technology strategies that support business strategy and performance.
  • Create a development pathway for your technical talent.
  • Recruit and retain key talented individuals.

What is the Technology Leader Programme?

The TLP is a multi-themed, interconnected programme with Innovation and Technology Management at its core, enabling an appreciation of the bigger picture and a deeper understanding across the breadth of an organisation’s activities.

A blend of theory, latest insights and practical approaches from leading experts and practitioners from the University of Cambridge, this programme enables the development of skills and capabilities that will be highly valued and sought after.

Covering seven key themes:

Organisational strategy: Make sense of the external world and ecosystems in which you operate, developing ways to address these whilst leveraging your organisation’s capabilities.

Technologies: Avoiding the hype whilst realising the value. Explore some key technological areas such as AI and automation, and critically evaluate how these can solve problems and meet needs.

Innovation and technology strategy and management: Deep dive into robust approaches, tools and thinking that connect business strategy to innovation and technology strategy, and supports all aspects of managing technology-enabled innovation effectively.

Sustainability: From what it really is, to practical ways you can approach and contribute to your organisation’s sustainability strategy, and implement change.

Business and operations: Capturing value from technology-enabled innovations requires an understanding of customers, supply chains, business models and finance.

People, organisations and society: Stakeholder engagement, ethics, societal impact and change management are just some of the topics to be explored in the context of technology-driven innovations.

Personal development: Understanding self and others, connecting and influencing, building collaborative networks and communicating effectively are all essential skills of a Technology Leader.

Impactful, personalised learning

A key component of the programme is a real project focussed on your organisation. You will deploy the IfM’s Technology and Innovation Management Diagnostic Tool and agree a strategically important aspect for improvement.

Then, following a guided process and supported by a mentor with extensive experience, you will develop an evidence-based, end-to-end analysis of the problems or needs to be addressed, along with insights and recommendations.

You’ll prepare and present a proposal that will enable key stakeholders in your organisation to understand what you have learnt, and decide if they should invest further resources. This enables you to develop capability in an area of personal interest, and deliver impact for your organisation.

Impactful, personalised learning

A key component of the programme is a real project focussed on your organisation. You will deploy the IfM’s Technology and Innovation Management Diagnostic Tool and agree a strategically important aspect for improvement.

Then, following a guided process and supported by a mentor with extensive experience, you will develop an evidence-based, end-to-end analysis of the problems or needs to be addressed, along with insights and recommendations.

You’ll prepare and present a proposal that will enable key stakeholders in your organisation to understand what you have learnt, and decide if they should invest further resources. This enables you to develop capability in an area of personal interest, and deliver impact for your organisation.

How it works

Who will the Programme benefit?

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Individual learners

  • Those with strategic responsibilities, or those developing into those roles – often working in R&D, strategy, manufacturing, innovation, operations, planning.
  • Typically engineers, scientists and technologists.
  • Identified by their organisation as a talent and/or on a succession plan for a senior technology leader role.
  • Individuals with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a relevant role.

Organisations (large or medium)

In the manufacturing and technology ecosystem:

• R&D
• Innovation
• Manufacturing and Supply Chains
• Digital Systems and Services

With a development need for, or gap in, strategic technology talent to:

• Enhance the capabilities of engineers, scientists, technologists – either individually or as a small group.
• Broaden and develop visionary and effective technology leaders.

Benefits 

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For individual learners

What will learners gain from the programme?

✔️ Enhanced strategic thinking, integrating multiple considerations (e.g. macro-environment, technology, innovation and sustainability) into business strategy;

✔️ Insights on transformative and disruptive technologies and their innovation possibilities;

✔️ Opportunity to learn and apply a proven set of approaches and tools to a real organisation problem, with support from an experienced mentor;

✔️ Extended self-awareness, knowledge and skills from being immersed in a holistic professional and personal development programme;

✔️ A peer network of specialists who share a passion for technology and innovation;

✔️ The confidence and skills to take on greater responsibilities, alongside enhanced communication, collaboration, and strategic thinking abilities.

For organisations

What will organisations gain from the programme?

✔️ Credible individuals ready to contribute effectively to a broad strategic agenda including technology, digitalisation and sustainability, with both external and internal stakeholders;

✔️ Equip innovation, technology and R&D professionals with skills, capabilities and robust approaches that will support them in navigating the rapid pace of change driven by external trends and drivers;

✔️ Gain insights on a specific challenge or issue through application of a Technology and Innovation Management (TIM) Diagnostic and project work;

✔️ Improve talent retention by providing your high-potential employees with a development opportunity at a prestigious university, making them feel valued and indicating their importance to the business;

✔️ Build a development pathway and succession pipeline for senior technology roles.

What you can expect

About the programme

This is an immersive and engaging learning experience, where participating in discussions, group activities and trying out new learning will be the norm. Simulations will be used to bring learning to life and create skill development opportunities.  

A programme which progressively builds and develops your knowledge, behaviours and skills, the TLP will often combine several aspects, whilst giving you time to assimilate, connect and learn in ways that work for you. 

Step out of your comfort zone to engage with new ways of thinking, mindsets, perspectives, behaviours and skills.  

Enjoy a learning environment in Cambridge at the award-winning Møller Institute, with accommodation on site, providing everything you need to step away from the day to day and dedicate yourself to your learning. 

Through our active online programme modules, you’ll be using a range of interactive and collaborative tools. We limit any online programme day to four hours with regular breaks.  

Cambridge is an inspiring place to learn, grow and just be. Give yourself time to be curious, open-minded, and truly invest in you.

Behaviours you’ll enhance

Communicate effectively with and influence internal and external stakeholders.

Network and collaborate to connect and combine expertise, contributing to offerings and strategy.

Be curious and explore external and expert viewpoints.

Think strategically, being mindful of operational implications.

Create value through
the proactive application of Technology and Innovation Management approaches and tools.

Behaviours you’ll enhance

Communicate effectively with and influence internal and external stakeholders.

Network and collaborate to connect and combine expertise, contributing to offerings and strategy.

Be curious and explore external and expert viewpoints.

Think strategically, being mindful of operational implications.

Create value through
the proactive application of Technology and Innovation Management approaches and tools.

Your journey

BEFORE

  • A conversation with the Programme Director to ensure that this is the right programme for you.
  • An easy application process with space to ask questions.
  • A welcome webinar and detailed information pack to provide you with everything you need to know and do before coming to Module 1 in Cambridge.

DURING

  • Our team will guide you along your journey, helping you make connections and enhance your learning.
  • A learning experience platform will give you access to information, resources and communication channels.
  • Opportunities for guided reflection and a structured method to capture learning, application and impact.
  • A social programme to build your network and experience some of historic and modern Cambridge.
  • Learning with and from your cohort in activities, peer learning groups and in the many opportunities for informal learning.

AFTER

  • A digital badge and certificate to document and showcase your learning journey, new knowledge and skills.
  • Identification of areas for ongoing professional and personal development to prepare for senior management and leadership roles.
  • A network of peers and access to the IfM community to share challenges, insights and successes, and continue learning.
  • Opportunities to meet in person as programme alumni and to engage with the Institute for Manufacturing at events to extend your knowledge and network.

BEFORE

  • A conversation with the Programme Director to ensure that this is the right programme for you.
  • An easy application process with space to ask questions.
  • A welcome webinar and detailed information pack to provide you with everything you need to know and do before coming to Module 1 in Cambridge.

DURING

  • Our team will guide you along your journey, helping you make connections and enhance your learning.
  • A learning experience platform will give you access to information, resources and communication channels.
  • Opportunities for guided reflection and a structured method to capture learning, application and impact.
  • A social programme to build your network and experience some of historic and modern Cambridge.
  • Learning with and from your cohort in activities, peer learning groups and in the many opportunities for informal learning.

AFTER

  • A digital badge and certificate to document and showcase your learning journey, new knowledge and skills.
  • Identification of areas for ongoing professional and personal development to prepare for senior management and leadership roles.
  • A network of peers and access to the IfM community to share challenges, insights and successes, and continue learning.
  • Opportunities to meet in person as programme alumni and to engage with the Institute for Manufacturing at events to extend your knowledge and network.

Why IfM Engage?

  • An unrivalled knowledge of global manufacturing and technology-based industries, along with the changes and challenges they face

  • A proven track record of working with industry, both through consultancy and in the delivery of education

  • Access to the latest thinking and new research from experts across the IfM and the University of Cambridge as a whole, including specialists in technology management, innovation, sustainability, global operations networks, service capability, strategy and performance measurement

  • Excellent teaching practice that changes mindsets and gives participants a wide range of skills and tools that are immediately applicable in the workplace

Grow your people, grow your capabilities, grow your organisation

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