Schneider Electric Advances Energy Technology at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos

DAVOS, Switzerland (January 19, 2026) — Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader, announced it is taking an active role at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. The company says its presence will focus on one big idea: the future of AI and the future of energy are now tightly linked—and that link is changing how every industry will operate, grow, and stay resilient.

Schneider Electric’s delegation is led by CEO Olivier Blum. The company plans to use Davos as a platform to champion cross-industry collaboration—bringing together leaders from technology, energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, and finance—to speed up practical solutions that improve efficiency, strengthen reliability, and support long-term sustainability.

Why Davos Matters for Energy and AI in 2026

In its announcement, Schneider Electric frames 2026 as a turning point. The company argues that we’ve entered a period where AI and energy are inseparable: AI needs massive computing power, and computing power needs dependable electricity. From data centers to factories to smart buildings, the world is adding more digital workloads every year—and that means electricity demand, grid complexity, and energy costs are becoming top priorities for business leaders.

CEO Olivier Blum described the moment in plain terms: AI requires compute, and compute requires energy. In Schneider Electric’s view, the world now needs “greater energy intelligence”—the ability to measure, manage, predict, and optimize energy use across systems, not just in one building or one plant, but across entire value chains.

That idea—energy intelligence—sits at the heart of the company’s pitch at Davos. Schneider Electric positions itself as an “energy technology partner” that helps customers electrify, automate, and digitalize operations in a way that improves efficiency and supports sustainability goals. But the company’s message goes beyond simply connecting devices. It emphasizes building ecosystems where AI, data, and people work together—so businesses can move from reactive energy management (fixing problems after they happen) to proactive optimization (preventing issues and reducing waste before it starts).

Key Announcements Schneider Electric Highlighted for Davos

Schneider Electric stated it will make several announcements during the WEF Annual Meeting. The company also pointed readers to its dedicated Davos participation page for updates, delegates, and related activities.

Below are the major themes and initiatives Schneider Electric highlighted, along with why each one matters for the broader energy transition and the real-world rollout of AI-enabled solutions.

1) AI Applications Delivering Real Impact: Recognition in WEF’s MINDS Program

One of the most headline-grabbing points in the announcement is Schneider Electric’s recognition in WEF’s MINDS program—short for Meaningful, Intelligent, Novel, Deployable Solutions. MINDS is designed to spotlight AI applications that are not just flashy prototypes, but practical tools that can be deployed and scaled to create measurable value.

Schneider Electric said it has been recognized in Cohorts 1 and 2 of the MINDS program. At Davos, CEO Olivier Blum is expected to accept a trophy at the winners’ reception on January 20, 2026 for two solutions:

• EcoStruxure Microgrid Advisor
• Snaplogic Touchscreen Room Controller

What this recognition signals

In simple terms, this recognition is meant to show that Schneider Electric’s AI work is focused on real operational outcomes—like better energy efficiency, smoother control of distributed energy resources, and smarter building or workplace management. The emphasis on “deployable” solutions matters because many organizations are now trying to move from AI experimentation to AI systems that are stable, safe, and cost-effective at scale.

Why microgrids and smart controls are a big deal right now

Microgrids and intelligent controllers are becoming more important as energy systems grow more complex. Businesses want to combine grid electricity with solar, storage, backup generation, and demand-response strategies—without creating a control nightmare. At the same time, offices and industrial spaces are becoming more automated, and small improvements in building operations (like room controls) can add up to major energy savings when rolled out widely.

Schneider Electric’s message at Davos is clear: AI shouldn’t be a side project. It should be built into the “brains” of energy systems—helping companies adapt to volatility, optimize consumption, and keep operations running even when conditions change quickly.

2) A Ninth “Lighthouse” Factory Recognition: Wuhan Site Honored by WEF’s Global Lighthouse Network

Schneider Electric also announced that its Wuhan factory has been awarded by the WEF’s Global Lighthouse Network, which recognizes advanced operational sites worldwide. This marks Schneider Electric’s ninth Lighthouse award—an important milestone the company highlighted as evidence of its leadership in modern manufacturing transformation.

What makes this Wuhan recognition unique

According to the announcement, the Wuhan factory is one of only three factories globally to receive a distinction for talent, a category described as newly introduced this year. The factory was recognized for pioneering a future-ready, people-centric workforce model aimed at bridging skills gaps and strengthening manufacturing resilience.

Why “talent” is now a top manufacturing issue

Modern factories are increasingly digital, automated, and data-driven. That shift creates a new kind of skills challenge: companies need teams who can operate advanced equipment, interpret data, maintain smart systems, and continuously improve processes—often all at once. In many regions, workforce shortages and rapid technology changes are happening at the same time.

By spotlighting talent, Schneider Electric is signaling that industrial competitiveness isn’t only about robotics, sensors, or software. It also depends on how effectively organizations train people, redesign roles, and create pathways for workers to grow alongside new technologies.

3) Convening C-Suite Leaders: Bloomberg New Economy Energy Technology Coalition

Another key point in Schneider Electric’s Davos agenda is its role in convening senior leaders through the Bloomberg New Economy Energy Technology Coalition. The company said Frédéric Godemel, Executive Vice President of Energy Management at Schneider Electric, will bring together a cross-industry cohort of global decision-makers and influencers on behalf of the Coalition.

A “first significant meeting” with a clear mission

Schneider Electric described this as the first significant meeting for the Coalition, which aims to accelerate adoption of technologies that make energy consumption:

• More efficient (less waste, more output per unit of energy)
• More resilient (better performance under stress, disruptions, or demand spikes)
• More responsive (able to adjust quickly as conditions change)

The Coalition’s focus is framed against a backdrop of soaring global electricity demand, a challenge that is increasingly discussed across energy, economic, and technology communities.

Why cross-industry coordination matters

Energy challenges don’t fit neatly into one sector. Data centers influence grid loads. Manufacturing influences peak demand and reliability needs. Transportation electrification changes load profiles and infrastructure planning. Meanwhile, policy, financing, and supply chains determine what can actually be built—and how fast.

By convening C-suite leaders, Schneider Electric is pushing the idea that solving energy efficiency and resilience is not just about engineering. It’s also about decision-making speed, aligned incentives, shared standards, and coordinated investment. In a world where power demand is rising and AI workloads are expanding, these kinds of leadership coalitions can be a way to move from talk to implementation.

4) Empowering Change for Underserved Communities: EDGE Transition with EDP

Schneider Electric also announced a joint initiative with EDP called EDGE Transition, described as a global accelerator aimed at empowering social entrepreneurs who deliver clean, affordable energy solutions and inclusive economic opportunities in underserved communities.

What the EDGE Transition accelerator will do

According to the announcement, EDGE Transition will support early-stage impact ventures through:

• Mentorship to guide entrepreneurs through growth challenges
• Technical validation to test whether solutions work reliably
• Strategic partnerships to open doors and speed up adoption
• Access to patient, risk-tolerant capital suited for early-stage impact work

The program invites solutions that directly serve underserved communities and advance equitable access to energy. Schneider Electric said this initiative aims to accelerate the energy transition and drive global electrification in a way that creates sustainable impact.

Announcement timing at Davos

Schneider Electric noted that the partnership will be announced at Davos on January 21.

Why this matters beyond philanthropy

Energy access is often discussed as a moral and social issue, but it also has strong economic and climate connections. When communities gain reliable, affordable energy, they can power schools, clinics, small businesses, and local industries. This can improve resilience and unlock opportunities that reduce inequality over time.

By supporting social entrepreneurs—people who design solutions specifically for local needs—EDGE Transition suggests a practical approach: back early-stage innovators with real support, then help them scale the solutions that work. If successful, accelerators like this can help close the gap between big global goals and local on-the-ground outcomes.

Schneider Electric’s Broader Message: “Electrify, Automate, and Digitalize”

Across all of these announcements—AI solutions, advanced manufacturing, coalition convening, and social impact—Schneider Electric repeats a consistent theme: the company wants to be a partner that helps organizations electrify, automate, and digitalize.

In practical terms, this means supporting systems that manage electricity more intelligently, reduce waste, improve reliability, and integrate digital tools that make operations smarter and faster. Schneider Electric describes its technologies as enabling buildings, data centers, factories, infrastructure, and grids to operate as open, interconnected ecosystems—improving performance, resilience, and sustainability.

What This Could Mean for Businesses Watching Davos

For companies not attending Davos, Schneider Electric’s announcements still send important signals about where energy technology is headed in 2026:

1) AI will increasingly be judged by operational results

Recognition in programs like WEF’s MINDS puts pressure on the market to focus on solutions that work in real conditions—across different sites, different teams, and different risk profiles—rather than demos that look good but don’t scale.

2) Manufacturing excellence now includes workforce transformation

The Wuhan Lighthouse recognition highlights that “smart factory” success depends on people and skills, not just machines and software. Companies that invest in training and talent systems may gain a serious edge.

3) Energy resilience is becoming a board-level topic

Coalitions that gather C-suite leaders show that energy is no longer treated as a background utility cost. It’s a strategic issue tied to continuity, competitiveness, and long-term planning.

4) Energy transition solutions must reach everyone

Programs like EDGE Transition emphasize that energy progress must include underserved communities. The transition won’t be truly “successful” if benefits are limited to a few regions or income groups.

About Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric describes itself as a global energy technology leader focused on driving efficiency and sustainability by electrifying, automating, and digitalizing industries, businesses, and homes. The company says its portfolio includes intelligent devices, software-defined architectures, AI-powered systems, digital services, and expert advisory capabilities. It also notes it has roughly 160,000 employees and a network of 1 million partners across more than 100 countries, and that it is consistently ranked among the world’s most sustainable companies.

More information (external link): Schneider Electric’s Davos event page is available here: Schneider Electric at Davos.

Source note: This rewritten news report is based on Schneider Electric’s GlobeNewswire announcement dated January 19, 2026.

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