The future of business is built on cross-industry collaboration

A sustainable economy calls for new ways of thinking and working together. Tomorrow’s business is founded on strong partnerships within industries and across them, often even between competitors. Mobility, the built environment, manufacturing, energy and finance are now more interlinked than ever. Collaboration between these industries is essential for a sustainable future and for solving global challenges.

Collaboration creates new opportunities and scales business

Circular economy, zero-emission solutions, renewable energy, smart technology and efficient resource use connect different sectors. Innovation no longer happens in isolation, it happens working together.

Cross-industry collaboration enables scalability and cost-efficiency on a level that no single company can achieve alone. It also makes it possible to share resources, harness new expertise and develop entirely new business and operating models. But collaboration takes more than just willpower: it requires the courage to challenge old structures, the agility to try new approaches, and leadership that’s open to letting go of traditional roles.

Engagement is the key to commitment: open strategy

Today, more and more strategies and visions are co-created with key stakeholders, customers and partners. Research shows that companies using open strategy practices succeed in their initiatives up to 30 % better than those with closed models. Co-creation drives ownership throughout the organisation and gets everyone on board from the start.

Towards a shared direction – questions every business should ask

• How could our business use cross-industry partnerships to drive sustainable growth?
• How can we identify new opportunities for collaboration even with competitors, and shape them into shared value?
• How do we ensure our partnerships are effective and benefit all parties?
• How do our operating models, leadership and roles support this transformation and how should they be developed?