I’m currently taking a sabbatical in China.
Not to check off tourist attractions.
Not to “experience China.”
But to understand.
To understand how Chinese companies operate.
Why they are so fast.
Why they are so innovative.
And what we in Europe might learn from China.
In recent years, I’ve heard the same statements over and over again:
China is a copycat.
China is fast and cheap.
China is only fast because companies don’t have to worry about health, environmental, and data protection standards.
China is only fast because the government subsidizes innovation.
At the same time, I see something different:
Companies that develop products in weeks.
Platforms - super apps, open-source AI models, international trading giants - that are rethinking entire industries.
My Tesla, built in China, has excellent build and material quality. Much better than the previous model I had from the US.
A company I know well buys laser marking systems from china for $5k instead of systems of the european market leader for $50k - They are delivered faster than the european products and work reliably.
Extremely fast, large scale installation of solar and wind power plants.
…
…all at a speed that is difficult to grasp.
My goal for this sabbatical is simple:
I want to learn on-site by visiting companies, talking to founders and employees and observing how decisions are made and how work is organized.
What interests me most are three things:
Innovation: How are new ideas generated – and how are they implemented?
Speed: Why are many companies here so much faster than in Europe?
Culture: What mindset underlies this?
I will regularly share my experiences. Briefly on LinkedIn, as immediate observations. And here – in more depth, with reflection and context.
My aim is not to say, “China is better” or “Europe is better.”
But rather: “This is what we can learn from each other”
If you are interested in innovation, entrepreneurship, and different work cultures, then you’ve come to the right place.
👉 And if you are particularly interested in a specific topic, or if you have your own experiences or tips for me, feel free to write to me.
super spannend lieber Reto, ich freue mich auf First Hand information