Nicola De Blasio
Dr. Nicola De Blasio is a globally recognized energy scholar and innovator whose work has shaped the intersection of energy technology, policy, and sustainability for over 25 years. His career spans leadership roles in industry, academia, and strategic consultancy, with a focus on advancing the global energy transition through innovation, strategic alliances, and actionable evidence-based solutions. Renowned for integrating interdisciplinary expertise with practical applications, Nicola has made significant contributions to developing and deploying pathways toward a low-carbon economy and sustainable energy systems.
Dr. De Blasio is a Research Associate with the Harvard-China Project on Energy, Economy, and Environment, where he focuses on energy technology innovation and the systemic changes required for a sustainable future. Nicola is also an independent board member and advisor to corporations, startups, governments, and non-profit organizations. Throughout his career, he has bridged the gap between academia, business, and civil society, fostering impactful research, advancing education, and forging partnerships to drive energy policy and practice.
Previously, Nicola spent 18 years at Eni, one of the world’s leading energy companies, where he served as Vice President and Head of R&D International Development. In this role, he spearheaded strategic alliances with prestigious institutions, including MIT, Stanford, and Tsinghua University, driving the integration of innovation into global energy systems. He also founded Eni's startup group and was a member of the Eni Award Committee, which recognizes groundbreaking energy research and applications.
In academia, Dr. De Blasio has held distinguished roles, including Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, leading Belfer Center research on energy technology innovation, Visiting Scholar with the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI), and member of MITEI’s Advisory Board and Executive Committee. Before joining Harvard, Nicola was a Senior Research Scholar at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and Program Director of Technology and Innovation at the Center on Global Energy Policy.
As a thought leader, Nicola has co-authored the book Value of Innovation and published extensively on energy systems, technological innovation, and project evaluation. A sought-after lecturer and collaborator, he shares his insights at leading global institutions and contributes to the academic discourse on energy transition and sustainability.
Nicola holds a doctorate in Chemical Engineering from Politecnico di Milano, where his thesis on scaling up industrial catalysis processes laid the groundwork for his expertise in energy innovation. He later specialized at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, and Eni Corporate University in energy economics and sustainability.