2020–2021: A TIME OF CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY

"The year 2020 will undoubtedly be remembered in world history as the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, which will leave its mark on all spheres of daily life. Many governments have been forced to introduce drastic restrictions in order to limit the spread of the virus, and these have been ambiguously taken up by the public. Global economic growth has slowed, and, in many places, recession has set in, leading to a fall in living standards. At the same time, we have seen global consensus emerge in efforts to pool intellectual and financial resources to fight this virus, and to mitigate the consequences. It was particularly fascinating in regard to the way scientists from many countries, and even private-sector actors, worked together to create effective vaccines, as well as to carry out basic research. The public sector invested huge sums in projects carried out by private companies such that vaccines be developed within one year and be made available to the public. And the results have been really fantastic!"

Read the whole article here (pdf).