“Colla­borations are the most important currency today”

Is the image true that the "young wild ones" are pushing the established ones?
According to the "Start-up Monitor," the average age of a successful German founder is 36. I find the image of "young versus old" a bit difficult. In the end, we are all driven by innovation. Things that make our processes easier, save money and benefit the environment are attractive to companies, as well as the consumer, and determine markets. Large companies occasionally lose sight of the consumer and then ultimately lose that consumer to a new, possibly more dynamic player in the market. But that's part of a healthy ecosystem. This keeps everyone moving.

So it takes a joint effort?
It definitely needs more discourse. Communities are an important tool for this, as long as they show a willingness to change and also allow other opinions to be expressed. Living or doing business sustainably is a major feat and requires courage and the will to change something, which is not necessarily a strength of our society. We as a society must succeed in working out solutions together. This is exactly the kind of discussion we consistently push at our festivals. In my view, collaborations and cooperations are the most important currencies today.

The GTF has now grown into a global event: What differences around the world do you perceive when it comes to the mega topic of sustainability?
In all of the markets we target, the issue of sustainability already has a prominent place in the political and business agendas. However, they vary in focus, funding levels, and also sales markets. For example, e-mobility and charging infrastructure solutions are already much more in demand in England than in Singapore, while the USA and Singapore are much further along in the digitized real estate industry.

What can we in Germany learn from the USA, Asia or England - and vice versa?
These are very different markets. But what I appreciate about the U.S. and the U.K. is their enthusiasm and willingness to invest. In both countries, sustainable economic approaches are seen as a huge opportunity. Singapore, on the other hand, can implement visions quickly and efficiently due to its location and size. Even if the charging infrastructure in these countries is currently inadequate, it is highly likely that they will be able to meet their ambitious goal of fundamentally changing this by 2030. Germany is ahead of all three markets when it comes to social acceptance. Recycling, reusable and deposit systems, circular economy: these approaches have long been accepted by large sections of society in our country.