Nikolaus S. Lang

Shaping Europe’s #DeepTech future together! 🌍🤝 One of the highlights at this year’s #FallingWalls Science Summit was our #BCG x SPRIND - Bundesagentur für Sprunginnovationen Executive Table, bringing together leaders from diverse innovation agencies, corporates, and venture capitalists across Europe. Never before have we gathered such a diverse group to shape our deep tech future.  This fruitful discussion marked a powerful step toward a pan-European deep tech strategy, focusing on three crucial changes needed for us to lead in global innovation:  ➡ Change scientific dogma: Almost half of the world's PhDs are awarded in Europe, yet success for scientists is still measured mainly by publications. To empower real-world impact, founding a company should be a natural next step post-PhD. Shifting this mindset can inspire a new generation of science-driven entrepreneurs. ➡ Strengthen business transfer: With German universities investing only 0.1% of their budgets into business transfer, we see an urgent need to rethink these priorities. University transfer centers should move from profit centers to service providers, supporting deep tech startups through long-term investment, encouraging both risk-taking and sustainable growth. ➡ Build a shared ecosystem: While Europe has made strides in early-stage funding, there’s a gap in later-stage investments, especially compared to the US. Encouraging companies and governments to become startup clients and fostering venture clienting are essential steps to create a sustainable ecosystem that helps deep tech startups scale effectively. At BCG, we are proud to have collaborated with SPRIN-D to build these bridges and foster the essential discussions. Thank you to all participants for joining the table and exchanging your ideas.  #Innovation Markus Lorenz Rafael Laguna de la Vera Antonia Jenkinson, ACCA, FCSI Anna Bergstrand António Grilo

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It’s easy to critique Germany’s economic situation, but real change requires action. At BCG, we’re committed to unlocking our country’s potential by actively supporting innovation. I’m proud to join the advisory board of Startup-Verband. This distinguished group, uniting expertise from entrepreneurship, venture capital, politics, science, and international networks, is dedicated to improving the landscape for startups in Germany. Together, we aim to bridge the gap between "Old and New Economy," fostering a spirit of entrepreneurship among emerging scientists and innovators. I’m excited to contribute to a future where our entrepreneurial landscape thrives. #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #BCG

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🌍 Ready to see how cutting-edge technology is reshaping private equity? Join us as we explore how GenAI is driving smarter, faster, and more impactful decisions across the PE landscape. In our latest PE webcast, experts Patrick Devine, Thomas Pflegel and Dr. Pascal du Bosque will share actionable insights on the transformative role of GenAI in PE. From fund-level strategy to portfolio impact. What We’ll Cover:  ✨ 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – How GenAI is enhancing decision-making for funds, deals, and portfolio companies.  ✨ 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗜 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 – How to identify and scale AI use cases that maximize portfolio value.  ✨ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳-𝗼𝗳-𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 – Real-world GenAI solutions driving success in specific industries and segments. If you’re looking to stay competitive in an evolving market, this is an opportunity not to miss. 📅 Date: 21 November 2024  ⏰ Time: 10-11am CET  📍 Register here: https://lnkd.in/ept4DsYw #PrivateEquity #GenAI #DueDiligence #ValueCreation #Innovation #TransactToTransform #StrategicInsights #FutureofPE

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The German economy's need for transformation continues to ensure full order books 📖 🌐 Global players in consulting are growing in single digits - driven by less dynamic development in the USA and Asia. 📈 The Federal Association of German Management Consultancies (BDU) are still forecasting growth of 7.2%.

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Congratulations to Mercedes-Benz AG! 🚗🌐   Their MO360 Data Platform has won the overall Microsoft Intelligent Manufacturing Award 2024 by Microsoft and Roland Berger 🎉   This cutting-edge platform, an evolution of the digital production ecosystem MO360, swiftly identifies supply chain bottlenecks and dynamically prioritizes production resources for electric and top-end vehicles. 🚀 Powered by Microsoft Azure, it enables global deployment of AI and data analytics while maintaining regional cybersecurity and compliance standards. 🌐🔒   What makes it stand out? Unlike other industrial data platforms, it achieves rapid digitalization success across all user groups in the complex automotive industry, democratizing data and driving enthusiasm at every level. 🙌 #MIMA2024

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Frustration in Germany boils over You might not expect a speech by Deutsche Börse chief executive Theodor Weimer to become the latest viral piece on Twitter, and yet this reflects on the extreme frustration business leaders in the former powerhouse of Europe are now facing. Weimer noted that international investors find the government in Berlin "stupid," and he exclaimed that this view is shared by leading industry in #Germany today. “Our image was never as bad as it is now,” he said. Weimer noted that international investment was only flowing into German companies because they were so undervalued. “We’ve become a junk shop,” he said. The Financial Times noted "He said he had held 18 meetings with Robert Habeck, the economy minister from the Green party, and “I can tell you: it’s an utter disaster”. Weimer also criticized the government for "Destroying" the vital automotive industry and savaged government policies with he said are leading to the largest economy in the EU becoming a "developing country." Germany was the worst performing major economy in the world last year, and for 2024 GDP is projected to grow at less than 0.3%. Criticism was levelled at growing skills shortages, excessive bureaucracy, high energy prices, and heavy tax burdens. A spokesman for Deutsche Börse described Weimer as a “man of clear words” who is “not known for putting lipstick on the pig”. Weimer is a former Goldman Sachs banker and was the CEO of HypoVereinsbank. In the European elections over the weekend, all three parties in the current Scholz coalition government were overtaken by the far right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) which has campaigned on forced deportation of German citizens with foreign backgrounds and highly nationalistic populist economic policies as well as pro-russian support. German magazine Der Spiegel reported in April that AfD had received Russian propaganda money, and a Chinese spy drafted a "manifesto" for the party. Staff of the AfD were recently arrested on suspicion of spying for China, and the number two party leader is under investigation for corruption. “This is a super result . . . a record result,” said party co-leader Tino Chrupalla. “Our voters remained loyal to us and we beat the party of the chancellor, the Greens and the liberals.” Scholz's fragile coalition suffered what pollsters have described as a "disaster" and the Social Democrats (SPD) received their worst ever result with just 14 percent of voters supporting them. Meanwhile in #Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was a clear winner with 28.6% of the vote. Meloni remarked at a speech on Monday "Italy presents itself at the G7 and in Europe with the government that is strongest of all." “Kiss goodbye to the European Green Deal,” said Simon Hix, politics professor at the European University Institute in Florence. How well does your #Strategy address shifting geopolitical trends in the EU and beyond? https://lnkd.in/dEPXrNMR

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Wow - thanks Simon Walter, Magdalena Maier and Charlotte Niklahs for the program you've put together for the #management hive of #pakcon24! 🔥 How to set up a 10x innovation culture by Nina Michahelles, Sarina Hergarten, Alexander Böhm, Nils Wagner How to build and scale high-performing companies by Friederike Reuter, Stefan Roebel, Martin Sondenheimer, Magdalena Maier Strategy is broken by Sebastian Herzog, Isabelle Schnellbuegel, Paul Becker, Simon Walter AI: The Biggest Opportunity for the German Mittelstand? by Dr. Alexander Mrozek, Dr. Sebastian Walter, Anna Franziska Michel, Dr. Alexandra Deichsel Why Digital Transformations often fail - particularly in Germany by Miriam van Straelen, Marc Schiekofer, Cecilie Hohlbein Hegelund, Moritz Trutschel Venture Clienting - Success Factors of Startup - Corporate Collaborations by Arno Baltruschat, Dr. Sophie Chung, Stefan Schmautz, Anne Decker Last ticket drop: https://lnkd.in/duPQg3Wc

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💡 Will Europe seize its €8 trillion #DeepTech opportunity?  💡 How can we bridge the commercialization gap and transform research into impact?  💡 What bold steps do we need to lead the way? I had the pleasure of discussing these important topics with Rafael Laguna de la Vera from SPRIND - Bundesagentur für Sprunginnovationen at the #FallingWalls Science Summit. Drawing from our latest BCG report ‘From Lab to Leader,’ Rafael and I explored the challenges and significant opportunities for Europe’s deep tech economy. Despite Europe’s strong position in research—with seven of the top 10 spots in the Global Innovation Index—it secures only €58 billion in deep tech funding compared to the U.S.’s €215 billion. This funding gap limits Europe's potential to scale and translate innovations effectively from lab to market.   Thank you, Rafael, for your valuable insights — it was fantastic to collaborate with you and your SPRIN-D team during Falling Walls. 🔗 Check out the full report to see how Europe can bridge the commercialization gap and unlock its innovation potential: https://lnkd.in/ef53fTW6 #Innovation #BCG #FacingForwardWith

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Eine grandiose Deloitte-Studie! Einige Key Insights zu Future of Corporate Affairs: 1. Reputation is the highest priority for 2024, followed by people and culture change 2. Data & Insights remain the most desirable future competency to strengthen within CA teams https://lnkd.in/dA4T-u2a

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Gründer: Zahl der Start-up-Insolvenzen steigt auf Rekordhoch https://buff.ly/3Y8hwa8 The number of start-up insolvencies has reached a record high, indicating a challenging environment for new businesses. Factors contributing to this trend could include economic instability, lack of funding, or insufficient market demand. It's crucial for entrepreneurs to carefully plan and manage their finances to navigate these risks successfully. According to recent reports, the rise in start-up insolvencies underscores the importance of resilience and adaptability in the business world. #startups #insolvencies

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"We [Germany] are on the way to becoming a developing country...we’ve become a junk shop". - Theodor Weimer, CEO of Deutsche Börse. 😬 Everything seems totally normal and fine in Europe's largest economy. 😳 🤣 "Our reputation in the world has never been as bad as it is now. Never before." Well...I mean...come on...we at least know that's not true. It is Germany you're talking about after all. https://lnkd.in/eAzRyuXP 🇩🇪 🍺 🥨 #stocks #finance #banks #banking #money #business #tech #technology #innovation #startups #entrepreneurs #entrepreneurship #vc #venturecapital

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We are humbled to be recognized by Forbes as one of the “World’s Best Management Consulting Firms” for the third year running. Especially in times of global crisis and uncertainties, STAUFEN.’s global presence and focus on operational excellence make us a strong partner for quickly solving current problems and preparing companies for the challenges of the future. I'd like to express a big "Thank-you" to our customers and employees. #operationalexcellence #leanmanagement #ForbesAward #StaufenAG #ManagementConsulting

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The economic development in Germany is currently under a lot of pressure. This is also visible in my area of passion the #automotive industry and the transition to #e-mobility. But we believe that a pivot is possible. Here is our latest perspective on “A pivot for Germany – All for growth and growth for all”. According to our results, Germany can increase its GDP by almost 50 percent by 2035. ▶️ With a dual strategy of stronger focus on future fields and higher productivity, plus a massive state investment push, Germany can become more attractive for investments from private sector sources. ▶️ The value of the German economy would grow from 12 to 24 trillion euros, which would mean an additional 31,000 EUR in annual income for households. ▶️ With this growth, central societal challenges can be addressed – with higher investments in education, health, climate change, infrastructure development, and social security systems. 👉 The full report is available here: mck.de/apivotforgermany (English) or mck.de/wachstumswende (German) #WachstumswendeDeutschland #60JahreMcKinseyDeutschland

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Recently, I had the opportunity to talk to Daniel Nerlich, founder of CONSULTANT career lounge. We talked about INVERTO | A BCG Company and Boston Consulting Group (BCG), about the challenges the economy is facing and discussed why procurement and supply chain teams are so integral to make our clients businesses stronger.   Thank you for the interesting conversation, Daniel Nerlich!   Please read the whole interview here: https://lnkd.in/eFcdcY_3 Let me have your thoughts!   #Procurement #SupplyChain #Wearehiring #BCG #INVERTO

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What gives me #hope⁉️ This is what climate activist Luisa Neubauer, SPD parliamentarian Verena Hubertz, FDP politician Ria Schröder, Green finance minister (BW) Dr. Danyal Bayaz and i were asked by Jan Hauser of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung last week. In a time that many call #polycrisis, we can easily believe nothing positive is happening. And unfortunately the elections in Germany yesterday night didn’t help… As the eternal optimist that I am, for me there are at least 2 things that do give me hope: 1️⃣ the next generation (I feel like an old lady 👵 saying that). 👉I was deeply moved recently watching Bangladeshi (high school) students, armed with nothing more than their bravery, stand up to their authoritarian government. Over 500 lost their lives, but their perserverance succeeded in toppling a dictator who had been in power for 15 years. 👉I have been equally impressed by the perseverance of the young climate movement. They have singlehandedly ensured that climate stays front and centre in any political & business agenda. 2️⃣ That I see we are actually making progress on climate.🌎 👉 the COP process has created a global alignment of all 190+ countries on limiting warming to 1.5 degrees 👉the 3 major economic blocs Europe (Green deal), US (inflation reduction act) and China are pumping trillions into the green transition. 👉 the majority of the technological solutions we need to get to net zero are already there and now also available at costs lower than fossil fuels in most part of the world (eg solar) ➡️ of course we still need to continue rolling out the existing technologies at scale and help invest in the technology gaps that still exist… but there is light at the end of the tunnel. 💡bonus insight: all 6 in the article mentioned optimism on climate, so we’ve got something to work with! What gives you #hope?

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„Doing the right thing even if no-one is looking“ - that is a good definition of #integrity. How to improve your skills to be able to do so is one of many questions to be answered for a good corporate culture. It was a pleasure to share my experience and thoughts about it with some distance in this podcast. Thanks #BCG and Dr. Katharina Hefter for the opportunity. Spotify Link to the podcast below in the comments. #compliance #corporateculture #leadership #crisismanagement

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Congratulations to Mercedes-Benz AG! 🚗🌐   Their MO360 Data Platform has won the overall Microsoft Intelligent Manufacturing Award 2024 by Microsoft and Roland Berger 🎉   This cutting-edge platform, an evolution of the digital production ecosystem MO360, swiftly identifies supply chain bottlenecks and dynamically prioritizes production resources for electric and top-end vehicles. 🚀 Powered by Microsoft Azure, it enables global deployment of AI and data analytics while maintaining regional cybersecurity and compliance standards. 🌐🔒   What makes it stand out? Unlike other industrial data platforms, it achieves rapid digitalization success across all user groups in the complex automotive industry, democratizing data and driving enthusiasm at every level. 🙌   #MIMA2024

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📎 Reminder: How about staying humble every now and then? - Learn from students! Yesterday, I had the opportunity to have a "hot seat" chat with students from Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. Great and intriguing evening. My 3 key take aways: 1️⃣ I was deeply impressed by the students’ knowledge and interpretations on the industry's challenges, e.g., Software Defined Vehicle, Challenges from/in China, Powertrain decisions, Sales Concepts etc. 2️⃣ It is time, to stop talking and start listening every now and then (to all the experienced ones here: Take it as a recommendation): Be humble, start listening and be open to get (unconventional) inspirations from younger ones! They are well-educated, smart, creative and unconventional. 3️⃣ I cannot wait for students like them to enter the job market and start applying, e.g. at Capgemini Invent Thank you for the great evening. #holisticlearning #capgemiinvent #hotseat

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Germany's startup ecosystem is a powerhouse waiting to fully unleash its potential in driving digital and sustainable transformation. But how do we make sure this happens? The Startup-Verband, the voice of German startups, addresses this head-on with their bold new initiative, "Innovationsagenda 2030: Weltklasse Made in Germany" (link in comments). Here’s what resonates most with me: 🚀 A Regulatory Framework Built for the Future To foster real innovation, we need policies that allow startups to experiment, iterate, and scale swiftly. Flexible, forward-thinking regulations in areas like AI and Climate Tech could be the catalyst for Germany’s long-term global leadership. 🌟 Stronger Leadership & Collaboration The future of innovation depends on tighter collaboration between government, industry, and startups. Building partnerships that connect research with industry can ignite sustainable growth and cement Germany’s place as a global innovation hub. 💬 What do you think is the most crucial next step in shaping Germany's innovation landscape? Let’s discuss in the comments below! #Innovationsagenda2030 #Startups #DigitalTransformation #Germany2030

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