A Three-Day Journey from Insight to Action

SCIE combines a preparatory orientation session, three intensive live workshop days, supervised project work and a final written examination.

Orientation Session

The orientation session introduces the learning journey, program requirements and practical assignments. Participants begin identifying the strategic challenge, intelligence need or organisational opportunity they wish to address during the program.

Day 1 — Intelligence That Drives Decisions

The first day establishes the foundations of competitive intelligence (CI) and market intelligence (MI) as strategic leadership disciplines.

Participants explore how to:

• Define the strategic questions that intelligence must answer
• Distinguish data and information from decision-ready intelligence
• Structure the intelligence cycle—from requirement to collection, analysis and communication
• Formulate a clear CI/MI mandate
• Identify high-value intelligence use cases
• Create the basis for an intelligence roadmap

Day 2 — Building an Intelligence Capability

The second day focuses on creating an intelligence capability that delivers sustained organisational value.

Participants work on:

• CI/MI operating models, roles and governance
• Intelligence processes and stakeholder engagement
• Intelligence products and service portfolios
• Prioritising intelligence needs and allocating resources
• Communicating insight in ways that gain leadership attention
• Designing a practical organisational blueprint and implementation roadmap

Day 3 — Preparing for What’s Next

The final live day expands the focus from current competitive dynamics to possible future developments.

Participants learn how to:

• Detect weak signals and create an early-warning approach
• Use strategic foresight to challenge existing assumptions
• Develop plausible future scenarios
• Apply scenario canvases to explore uncertainty
• Use war-gaming to test strategic choices and competitor reactions
• Translate foresight into robust strategic action

Applied Projects and Final Assessment

Following the live workshop days, participants complete two individual supervised projects. Project topics can be selected in line with the strategic needs of their own company or organisation. Each project requires approximately 40 hours of work.

To complete the program participants must:

• Attend all three live workshop days
• Submit both supervised individual project assignments
• Pass the final written examination

Application Procedure

Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to the maximum cohort size of ten participants.

Participants are encouraged to apply by 26 August 2026, before the orientation session. Late enrolment may be possible until 20 September 2026, subject to availability and the ability to complete the required preparation.

The program team can support participants with travel planning, accommodation information and visa invitation letters where required.

Apply now

For application and support enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | +49 6033971377

About the Institute for Competitive Intelligence (ICI)

Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Germany, the Institute for Competitive Intelligence (ICI) is a leading independent institution dedicated exclusively to competitive intelligence, market intelligence services and professional education.
ICI delivers high-quality, personalised learning experiences for working professionals from more than 100 countries. Its international expert faculty combines rigorous methodologies with practical relevance for professionals working in complex B2B environments.
SCIE is one of six interconnected certificate programs at ICI — a single step on a longer path, for those who want to keep going.