Positioned to Compete is a research and advisory project dedicated to supporting developing economies in identifying viable, high-value entry points into renewable energy and battery supply chains. As clean energy demand reshapes global industrial geographies, Global South countries risk being locked out of upstream and midstream value creation unless equipped with the right tools, data, and policy strategies.

This initiative aims to level the playing field. It supports an interdisciplinary, multi-country advisory group of economists, engineers, trade experts, and policymakers to map what data and analytical tools currently exist, and what gaps remain, for Global South countries seeking to position themselves competitively. The first phase will culminate in a diagnostic gap analysis and proof-of-concept country engagement with the goal of offering tailored advice on industrial development opportunities.

The project’s core focus is strategic enablement: helping countries understand where they can plug into energy transition value chains in ways that are not just extractive, but catalytic, through targeted processing, component manufacturing, or regional trade integration. The project 1) identifies what knowledge infrastructure and technical assistance are most urgently needed, 2) co-designs analytical and policy support that reflects local capacities and ambitions, and 3) ultimately, increases meaningful participation in clean tech markets beyond raw material supply. In an increasingly fragmented but fast-evolving global economy, Positioned to Compete supports world-class researchers in Geneva and beyond to ensure that climate industrialization is not a story of exclusion but of opportunity.