DLD Sync
Digital Europe After Covid-19: Hotspot or Notspot?
In conversation with Sebastian Matthes, Editor-in-Chief of Handelsblatt, Lakestar founder Klaus Hommels and Merck CEO Stefan Oschmann took a close look at Europe’s digital economy – and where the continent is heading due to the coronavirus crisis.
How can world-class science lead to world class companies? What are Europe’s competitive strengths, where is the continent’s place in a digital economy increasingly dominated by U.S. and Chinese companies? How can investors strengthen the ecosystem and foster a productive cooperation between founders, established companies and governments?
Klaus Hommels
Lakestar
Klaus Hommels is the Founder of Lakestar, one of Europe’s leading technology investors and Chairman of the NATO Innovation Fund. A prominent voice for the European tech ecosystem, his aim is to strengthen Europe’s sovereignty in times of digital transformation. Hommels was an early investor in many successful companies, including Skype, Spotify, Airbnb, Klarna, Zoom, Coinbase, and Isar Aerospace.
Sebastian Matthes
Handelsblatt
Sebastian Matthes is editor-in-chief of Handelsblatt. Previously he was editor in chief of HuffPost Germany and he worked for publications like the business magazine WirtschaftsWoche, Financial Times Germany and Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
Stefan Oschmann
Independent Board Director
Stefan Oschmann was Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck until 2021. He drove the transformation of the Biopharma business by optimizing its cost structures and improving the efficiency of its research & development model. Before joining Merck, Stefan Oschmann worked for the U.S. pharma company MSD, where he served in a range of senior executive positions.
Video
Sync Scroll
| Time | Topic |
| 0:05 | Intro by DLD founder Steffi Czerny. |
| 4:10 | Europe’s economy tomorrow: hot or not? |
| 5:15 | The initial effect of the coronavirus crisis for Merck and Lakestar. |
| 6:45 | Timeline for a vaccine. |
| 8:15 | Three groups of tech companies and their fate due to Covid-19. |
| 11:20 | Why technology-driven companies have an edge. |
| 12:15 | The crisis as an opportunity for Europe’s tech ecosystem. |
| 13:55 | Will Europe’s current interest in biotech last? |
| 16:30 | Making the most of Europe’s strengths. |
| 19:25 | Fostering collaboration between public and private sector. Taking a cue from Israel and other countries. |
| 20:15 | The upside potential hidden in Europe’s healthcare system. |
| 22:15 | The lack of a “decent funding environment”. |
| 24:50 | How risky is the venture capital business? |
| 27:45 | The value of venture capital to the overall economy. |
| 31:25 | Plenty of good ideas – but no coherent innovation system. |
| 34:45 | The crisis as a wake-up call. |
| 39:00 | Quantum computing, food, liquid crystals: potential breakthrough technologies for Europe. |
| 43:30 | The need to “upgrade the public healthcare sector”. |
| 45:50 | Staying agile: fostering an innovation culture at large companies. |
| 51:30 | The surprising benefits of video conferencing. |
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