Tuttlingen – Focusing on megatrends means building on a foundation for decades: As part of the vision process for medical technology initiated by MedicalMountains GmbH, the working groups have entered into a joint discourse for the first time. The rest of the way is accompanied by an Advisory Board.
"Avalanches in slow motion": This is how "megatrends" are to be understood from the point of view of Tristan Horx from the Zukunftsinstitut of the same name. Elke Schlimbach refers to him and other pioneers in her introduction on the evening of the workshop. The coach outlines the goal as follows: Looking at developments that can be predicted in the long term makes it possible to “understand connections and draw conclusions for the future”. Megatrends are not only meant technologically or economically. Societal, social aspects are just as relevant and must be taken into account accordingly. Viewed from a different perspective: The expectations, wishes and challenges of the industry previously formulated in the kick-off event are superimposed, examined and related to the expected megatrends like two slides. Because anyone who perceives the “slow-motion avalanche” today cannot avoid it, but can use its energy for themselves.
The Zukunftsinstitut has identified twelve megatrends, three of which will be the focus of the first meeting: "Silver Society", "Knowledge Culture", "Globalization" (see info box). Eight working groups deal with the aspects and discuss, for example, how an aging society will affect future business models or what influence globalization will have on the visibility of the southern German medical technology industry. "It's not about already formulating solutions, but actually allowing all ideas first," says MedicalMountains Managing Director Yvonne Glienke about this first stage. "I think it was a special experience for everyone and many would have liked to continue the discussion for a long time." The captured thoughts testify to the high creative and visionary potential of the more than 60 participants: "Such ideas only arise in dialogue, in exchange, together. So they have a much higher potency. And ultimately the entire vision process is based on that,” recalls Yvonne Glienke.
"Together" in the vision process also means that an advisory board will accompany you along the way. It contains representatives of well-known medical technology companies to enable a constructive evaluation of the steps. One member of the board is Christian O. Erbe, Managing Director of Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH in Tübingen. He uses the famous quote from former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt: "Anyone who has visions should go to the doctor". And that is exactly what will be done. “Because the doctors are both our customers and our research and cooperation partners when it comes to realizing our visions,” says Christian O. Erbe. “We have many visions and ideas. Rather too many. It is therefore necessary to channel this creativity into strategic channels. And for that we need a vision process.”
The next meeting of the working groups will take place in June. Then other megatrends will be considered. At the end of the year, the knowledge gathered will result in more concrete vision elements that will be presented at a public event in early December.
working groups:
- increase visibility
- Focus on patient / improve quality of life
- driving technologies and innovations
- Rethink digitization
- live together
- Shaping (corporate) leadership
- Business models of the future / entrepreneurship
- guarantee sustainability
Megatrends (according to Horx):
- individuality
- gender shift
- Silver Society
- Knowledge Culture/New Learning
- new work
- health
- neo-ecology
- connectivity
- globalization
- urbanization
- mobility
- security
