BCG × Sonae
Learning Expedition 2026
Five days across Asia — 31 August to 4 September 2026.
A curated, executive-level immersion in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics & Energy, cutting across Sonae’s core businesses in retail, telecom, real estate, manufacturing and consumer electronics. Over five days, Sonae’s leadership will go behind the scenes at some of the world’s most advanced companies in AI, robotics, consumer electronics and energy — from automated logistics and smart-retail formats to humanoid robotics, battery innovation and frontier R&D — meeting the people building them and seeing proven technology running at scale, not in pilots.
Use this site to navigate the experience BCG has designed. You’ll find the full day-by-day agenda, a profile of every company and ecosystem on the itinerary and what each partner is prepared to share, deep-dives into the three core themes of AI, Robotics and Energy, and the thinking behind why we go where we go. Each activity links through to its own page — explore in any order.
Why BCG for Asia
Privileged access, strategic depth, and home bases on the ground in both China and South Korea.
Our Experts
A senior team pairing global AI, robotics and energy specialists with operators on the ground across China and South Korea.
Other Resources
Videos, company profiles, destination guides and hotel details — supporting material for the expedition.
China
Shanghai, Hangzhou & Shenzhen — five curated days at the live frontier of AI, robotics and energy. Open for the full illustrative agenda.
South Korea
Seoul — robotics & physical AI, consumer electronics and battery leadership. A strong second option, with its own five-day agenda.
Our Assessment
Our recommendation on where to go and why: a head-to-head read of China versus South Korea across AI, robotics and energy — and the case for Shanghai, Hangzhou and Shenzhen as the cities that bring the frontier to life.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Now a CEO-level decision. Frontier and generative AI reshaping value chains and enabling AI-native business models.
Robotics & Physical AI
The next frontier of AI is physical — humanoid and industrial robotics scaling fast, with Asia in the lead.
Energy & Batteries
A structural surge in demand making batteries, storage, solar and their materials a strategic business domain.
Hear from our partners
We are delighted to partner with BCG to bring the Sonae leadership team to China for a first-hand experience of how AI, robotics and energy are reshaping industry at scale. From Huawei’s side, we will make sure our very best people and assets are ready to welcome them.
Korea is where the future is already running. Walking the floors with Sonae’s leaders — alongside BCG — is the fastest way to turn what they see into bold moves back home. Samsung is excited to welcome Sonae’s leadership team and showcase the very best of what we do.
