Sharing is Caring in Corona times.

Pre-Corona I have often sighted at yet again an offer for attending a highly interesting, but very expensive Seminar, Plasics Conference or Forum. Where the top executives of the large and global corperations meet, greet and talk about their vision for the future, the global trends and market developments. And it’s usually not in cycling distance from my home. Unaffordable for the average self-employed or SME. And although the organising ladies and gentlemen agree with me, “the guest speaker fee and facilities need to be paid”!

It had not entered the minds of executives of large companies that there is an increased dependency on Startups, Self-employed professionals and SMEs, which is reason enough to invite these groups to those Symposia and Conferences. In visioning their future and strategy the large companies must be aware that innovation, which is decreasing within large companies and increasing within the (specialized) SME's, is and always will be key.

And that globalization has gone too far, away from the original thought of global advantages for all and sharing of human capital and productivity, but more towards benefits for (the few) large companies with low labour costs. However, the increased shortages of raw materials and Force Majeures in recent years also increases the call for return of productivity and R&T to Europe and the UK (also helped by the activities of China: the new silk road and privacy issues 5G Huawei). And we see an increase in the number of Startups, Innovation by Self-Employed professionals and SMEs, like “High Tech Campus” in Eindhoven the Netherlands and the various high tech campuses in London, Cambridge and Manchester, dubbing them the “Silicon Valley’s of Europe”.

Enter Corona! With all the grief, concerns, discomfort and friction between people, (re-) new insights and possibilities arise. We know and feel (again) what is really important, pay more attention to and care more for each other. We’re not only saying to innovate and produce more locally, we are also doing it: all kinds of equipment for health care, PPEs and disinfectants are being produced again in Europe and the UK for the first time on a large scale in years. We require to be less dependent on regions outside of Europe and the UK. Yes, there are still some road blocks, but for once the call for unity and collaboration within Europe is increasing (perhaps even in the UK).

And we do share more! From all over the world and in Europe large and smaller companies are organising Webinars and Forums to share online knowledge and experience, and a huge rise in home offices. Less time and money is spend on travelling, hotels and expensive Seminars. And most of it is free or subsidised, almost every day you can join an interesting topic or group. And also for Self-Employed professionals and SMEs affordable and good digital training is available.

So what will we do post-Corona? We meet face-to-face again and most probably the more expensive Seminars and fairs will be organised. But I hope and expect that some part of this momentum will linger: a combination of face-to-face and online? Optional online attendance of Seminars? For every face-to-face meeting with customers also online meetings? More awareness and real connections between large corporations and Startups/Self-Employed professionals/SMEs? More harmonisation in globalisation?