COVID-19 - How Companies Are Responding - World Economic Forum PDF

5/24/2020 COVID-19: How companies are responding | World Economic Forum
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How are companies responding to the

coronavirus crisis?
23 Mar 2020
Katie Clift
Marketing Communications Lead, World Economic Forum
Alexander Court
Marketing Communications Lead, World Economic Forum
The dramatic spread of COVID-19 has disrupted lives, livelihoods, communities and businesses
worldwide.
Organizations around the world, including the Forum and its partners, are coming together and
innovating to minimize the impact on public health and to limit disruptions to economies and
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/how-are-companies-responding-to-the-coronavirus-crisis-d15bed6137/ 1/77
supply chains.
Here are just some ways Forum partners, corporations and other organizations globally are
fighting the pandemic. Updated on 22 May, 2020.
How to succeed amid

uncertainty: considerations
for companies dealing with
the coronavirus crisis
PwC, Strategic Partner of the World Economic Forum, has created a free COVID-19 Navigator, a
digital assessment to help organisations understand the impact of COVID-19 on their business
and assess their readiness to respond.
The digital tool helps companies understand where they stand as they respond to COVID-19 in
the areas of crisis management and response; workforce; operations and supply chain; finance
and liquidity; tax and trade; and strategy and brand.
In an effort to examine the impact of coronavirus globally, PwC has also published a tool to track
the tax, legal and economic measures undertaken in countries around the world in response to
COVID-19, and is conducting a regular CFO Pulse Survey to identify what finance leaders are
currently focusing on.
These resources provide an ongoing view of how the coronavirus crisis will affect communities, economies
and businesses in the months to come.
In a number of countries, PwC is helping set up and administer government schemes to support
businesses and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with financial donations
to charities, PwC has donated medical supplies and equipment to hospitals and medical centres.
The company has also encouraged its staff members who have medical training to volunteer in
their local healthcare systems. Other staff are engaged in community support and various
volunteer programmes and outreach, including feeding the homeless and getting food to key
workers.
Testing for COVID-19 is

essential - this company is
making it possible at home
As COVID-19 has spread throughout the world, health authorities have insisted testing is
essential. Director-General of the World Health Organization Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
said in March: “We have a simple message for all countries: test, test, test”.
World Health Organization (WHO) @WHO · Mar 16, 2020

Replying to @WHO
"But the most effective way to prevent infections & save lives is
breaking the chains of #COVID19 transmission. To do that, you
must test & isolate.
You cannot fight a fire blindfolded. And we cannot stop this

pandemic if we don’t know who is infected"-@DrTedros
#coronavirus
World Health Organization (WHO)

@WHO
"We have a simple message for all countries:

test
test
test.
Test every suspected #COVID19 case.
If they test positive, isolate them & find out who they have been
in close contact with up to 2 days before they developed
symptoms & test those people too"-@DrTedros #coronavirus
31.5K 9:57 PM - Mar 16, 2020
23.1K people are talking about this
However, the logistics can be challenging. How can people who suspect they have COVID-19
access a health facility that provides accurate tests in a safe environment?
In Russia, the technology company Yandex - a Member of the World Economic Forum - is making
this process easier. Beginning with elderly people in Moscow, Yandex is enabling COVID-19
testing to take place at home.
Individuals confirm an appointment through an online portal, then a medical professional wearing
protective gear will arrive at the person's address in a car provided by Yandex. They will take a
nose or mouth swab and securely pack the sample. The analysis will then take place in a partner
laboratory, and at-risk residents will receive the result via email in one to three days following the
test.
Yandex has committed to covering the costs of the first 10,000 tests for people at greatest risk,
as part of its 250 million ruble ($3.4 million) coronavirus fund. The company says this service is
becoming available to people of all age groups across Russia as capacity at participating
laboratories expands.
A prolonged global
recession, job losses and
another pandemic: the
COVID-19 risk report reveals
top concerns for business.
COVID-19 has spread throughout the world at an unprecedented speed. At the time of writing,
4.7 million cases have been confirmed and more than 315,000 people have died due to the virus.
To help all businesses globally understand the emerging risks generated by the impact of the
coronavirus pandemic, the World Economic Forum, in collaboration with Marsh and McLennan
and Zurich Insurance Group, has today (Tuesday, 19 May) launched the COVID-19 Risks Outlook:
A Preliminary Mapping and its Implications.
The report, a special edition which builds on the Forum’s annual Global Risks Report, examines
the views of nearly 350 senior risk professionals, who took part in the COVID-19 Risks
Perceptions Survey. They were asked to assess 31 risks within three categories: most likely for
the world, most concerning for the world and most worrisome for companies.
The report reveals that the economic impact of COVID-19 is dominating companies’ risks perceptions.
Two-thirds of respondents identified a prolonged global recession as a top concern for business.
One-half identified bankruptcies and industry consolidation, failure of industries to recover and a
disruption of supply chains as crucial worries.
Companies are also concerned about the geopolitical disruptions to business, with more than
40% of respondents rating tighter restrictions on the movement of people and goods among the
most worrisome impact from COVID-19. The third most worrisome aspect for companies, is an
increase in cyberattacks and data fraud – according to 50% of respondents – as well as the
breakdown of IT infrastructure and networks, a top concern for companies, according to nearly
30% of respondents.
Collaboration between the public and private sectors to date has helped solve some of the most
urgent business and economic challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and they will
become increasingly more important as the world rebuilds and adapts to a 'new normal'.
Companies are invited to join the Forum’s work to help manage the identified emerging risks of
COVID-19 across industries to shape a better future. Read the full COVID-19 Risks Outlook: A
Preliminary Mapping and its Implications report here, and our impact story with further
information.
COVID-19: how acting

quickly helped UAE contain
the pandemic
When the first cases of coronavirus appeared in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) the authorities
rushed to contain the outbreak. By closely monitoring cases through testing and enforcing self-
quarantine and confinement for up to 35 days, the country registered 23,358 confirmed cases of
COVID-19 and 220 deaths between the end of January and mid-May 2020.
The private sector has worked closely with the government and played a critical role in reducing
the spread of the virus in the UAE. For instance, the major global port operator, Gulftainer, which
is a subsidiary of World Economic Forum Partner Crescent Enterprises, has launched a fast-track
service to speed up the delivery of medical equipment.
Image: REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
This focus has accelerated the delivery of over 200,000 metric tons of medical and essential
supplies which are being used to treat patients and fight the spread of COVID-19 in the UAE.
Globally, Gulftainer’s express services have ensured that over a million tonnes of essential
supplies have been prioritised.
The world’s spending habits:

how have they been
impacted by coronavirus?
On this week’s COVID Action
Platform call, the private
sector offers an analysis for
the future.
As discussed on this week’s Forum COVID Action Platform virtual meeting (13 May), the world’s
economy is moving into a post-lockdown phase in some geographies. But how has consumer
spending changed since the start of COVID-19 and what effects have worldwide lockdowns had
on the economy?
Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga joined the conversation to offer his analysis of consumer spending,
including his prognosis for future changes to the economy.
Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga on the COVID Action Platform Virtual Meeting, 1…
1…
Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga on the COVID Action Platform Virtual Meeting, 13 May 2020
Mastercard, in surveying the world’s spending, says the economic process is progressing through
four phases: containment, stabilization, normalization and growth. Banga said most of the
economies around the world are currently in the stabilization phase. Depending on how
economies proceed to open, movement may occur back and forth within the four phases.
Banga also stressed the importance of stakeholder capitalism and his learnings from working
with the Forum about engaging multistakeholders in a variety of ways, to get lives and livelihoods
going in the correct direction.
Companies from across the globe join the Forum’s COVID Action Platform virtual meetings each
week, and hear from world experts across the public and private sectors on the latest COVID-19
developments and their implications. Businesses are invited to join the Platform here.
WiFi brings lifesaving

connectivity to emergency
healthcare centres battling
COVID pandemic
Reliable WiFi is more than a convenience; it is essential for delivering vital services in hospitals
where many lifesaving devices are now dependent on wireless connectivity.
COVID-19 has put hospitals and health systems around the world under great strain. To treat the
increased number of emergency cases, many countries have built pop-up clinics and temporary
hospital facilities. In the UK, London's ExCeL exhibition centre – which usually hosts lifestyle
shows and business conferences – has been converted into a temporary hospital with capacity
for 4,000 beds with oxygen and ventilators. As well as needing medical equipment, doctors,
nurses and disinfectant, these healthcare facilities need to be connected online.
Having recognised that these facilities need networking infrastructure to operate effectively,
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has donated USD50-million worth of secure connectivity kits
which will be used in healthcare facilities in the US, Canada and some European and Asian
countries.
To make sure these clinics are fully operational as quickly as possible, HPE Aruba has also
activated a group of over 200 volunteer network engineers who have donated their time to
building network infrastructure in medical facilities that are battling the coronavirus pandemic. In
over 20 countries, the Airheads Volunteer Corps is connecting those in need of IT skills with those
who can provide help quickly.
The global response to COVID-19 has also caused many businesses to turn their attentions to
employees working from home and other remote locations. Technology companies like HPE are
supporting this shift by providing secure, remote work options to help businesses around the
world support their employees and operations during this crisis.
“Our infrastructure solutions, which provide industry-leading remote management, security, and
automation capabilities, help businesses quickly deliver virtual workspaces to their remote staff,”
said Gerald Kleyn, vice president at HPE.
Building resilience: new

COVID-19 scenario planning
helps companies plan their
response to the pandemic
Salesforce, Strategic Partner of the World Economic Forum and member of our COVID Action
Platform, is helping businesses globally plan their response journey to COVID-19, through a
variety of scenario planning resources covering the next 18-36 months.
As the coronavirus crisis continues to evolve, leaders have been challenged to interpret
developments, regain control of the situation, make tough decisions, and guide their employees
as they respond to the rapidly moving pandemic. The next phase of returning to work is bringing
new challenges for businesses - especially with many uncertainties around the development of a
vaccine, or potentially a second wave of the virus.
To help companies continue to navigate the unprecedented effects of the coronavirus, Salesforce
has created a framework of critical uncertainties that highlight the key public health, economic,
and sociopolitical dimensions of the crisis. Within the framework, three broadly applicable
scenarios for the next 18-36 months are described, which show how the interplay of these critical
uncertainties could result in different “curves” for the impact of the virus and the loss of GDP.
Scenario Planning with Simon Mulcahy and Peter Schwartz | Salesforce
Scenario Planning with Simon Mulcahy and Peter Schwartz | Salesforce
The 1-3-year scenario resource answers key questions for businesses about the near future. How
will the virus behave? How long will the health and economic crises last? When will we move
from crises mode back to work? What will going back to work look like in the new normal?
Companies can prepare for the future with a variety of resources, including the COVID-19
response framework, free access to a COVID-19 data hub, and the scenario planning materials.
The heart of resilient

leadership: a new guide for
senior executives on
responding to COVID-19
teaches companies to
embrace the long view.
A guide for CEO’s to successfully guide their companies through the COVID-19 crisis has been
released by Deloitte, a Strategic Partner of the World Economic Forum.
Deloitte Global CEO Punit Renjen has outlined five fundamental qualities of resilient leadership
that he hopes will help other CEO’s ensure their companies emerge stronger from the impact of
coronavirus.
The five qualities include designing from the heart … and the head, putting the mission first, aiming for speed
over elegance, owning the narrative and embracing the long view.
Renjen believes a crisis plays out over three time frames: responding, recovering and thriving -
and his practical guide helps senior executives navigate the different seasons they find their
organizations in.
For example, in regards to putting the mission first, Deloitte identified a number of key actions for
leaders to take based on their analysis of the leading practices of multinational companies in
other health crises. Launching and sustaining a crisis command centre, supporting talent and
strategy, maintaining business continuity and financing, and staying engaged with customers are
among the findings.
COVID-19 is a crucible within which resilient leadership is refined. Acting without perfect
information, often with only a few hours or days to spare, CEOs will have to guide their
organizations through myriad decisions and challenges, with significant implications for
their company’s whole system—employees, customers, clients, financial partners,
suppliers, investors, and other stakeholders—as well as for society as a whole.
— Deloitte Global CEO Punit Renjen
With the right approach, Deloitte believes the COVID-19 crisis can “become an opportunity for
companies to create even more value and positive societal impact, rather than just bounce back
to the status quo.” Read more of their advice here.
Companies can practically respond to the coronavirus crisis by combining their efforts with other
organizations through the Forum’s COVID Action Platform. Companies are invited to apply to join
the Platform.
Chinese e-commerce giant

fights COVID-19 by delivering
essentials and spraying
disinfectant
E-commerce giant JD.com has delivered essential goods across China in an effort to fight the
COVID-19 pandemic.With the support of the local government, JD deployed drones to conduct
ground surveys, design flight corridors, request airspace access permission and conduct final
flight tests in China.
In some parts of China drones deliver consumer goods as residents were asked to Image: JD.com
limit travel.
Several drone delivery corridors were put in place replacing hours-long drives with a 2km flight
that could be completed in just 10 minutes.
The company, a Strategic Partner of the World Economic Forum, developed a drone route to
Baiyang Lake in Hebei province. The route, which usually saw delivery of packages to the village
by boat, was suspended due to the outbreak of the virus. With the drone program, the drones
dropped parcels at a fixed point - so customers were able to collect them without human-to-
human contact.
JD has also strengthened protective measures against COVID-19. In Inner Mongolia, the
company deployed two drones to support critical disinfection procedures by spraying areas in the
High-Tech Industrial Development Zone of Ordos City.
The company has also donated medical supplies to countries including the UK, Uzbekistan and
Chile. Medical supplies which the company donated to Switzerland include 800,000 KN95
protective masks and 800,000 disposable medical masks, 800,000 surgical gloves, 20,000 pairs
of goggles, and 10,000 protective gowns to support the fight against COVID-19. The donations
leverage JD’s supply chain capabilities to source from domestic manufacturers in China, as these
businesses work to resume normal operations.
Interactive maps keep air,

ocean and road cargo
moving in a new COVID-19
world.
Global logistics company Agility – a Strategic Partner of the World Economic Forum and member
of our Pandemic Supply Chain Network – has designed interactive maps reporting the latest
global shipping and operational outlook, to assist global supply chains and keep cargo moving
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company is producing real-time crucial updates on the impact of the coronavirus on global
air freight, global ocean freight and road freight network capacities. Their interactive data updates
allow users to navigate across their digital maps, discovering capacity availability in real time. The
maps identify airport and port constraints across the world, to assist with the transport of medical
items, and the manufacturing and storage of support products and personal protective
equipment (PPE)
These insights help businesses operating along the supply chain to understand the impacts of the global
pandemic, and to make better decisions on how to keep their cargo moving globally.
Along with the maps, Agility provides general updates on cargo capacity for road, air and ocean
travel. For example, regarding global ocean freight capacity, the company notes the biggest
current impact of COVID-19 is on space and container availability throughout the world.
Agility says as the virus spreads to poorer countries with weaker infrastructure, the need for
humanitarian assistance will increase. The company believes logistics expertise is key to an
effective humanitarian response to this global crisis. Real-time global updates are available here.
Carmakers are changing

tack to support doctors, care
facilities and refugees
globally
Volkswagen Group is driving a global response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Doctors, nursing
homes and hospitals across Germany are being provided with medical equipment worth around
€40 million – from breathing masks to disinfectant, gloves, thermometers, protective goggles and
suits.
The Spanish brand SEAT has converted an assembly line for the production of respiratory aids.
Volkswagen Group is sourcing the materials in China, with distribution in Germany handled by
public authorities. The company is also using its own facilities to produce medical equipment for
areas in need –3D printing mountings for face shields, among other things.
The Spanish brand SEAT has converted an assembly line for the production of respiratory aids.
Along with medical supplies, Volkswagen Group has also stepped up to donate €1 million for
refugees threatened by the coronavirus pandemic. The German Red Cross is using the funds for
emergency aid in Syria, Turkey and Greece, to source, transport and distribute relief supplies and
food.
In late April, Volkswagen reopened its factory after one of the longest shutdowns in its history. It
says it remains focused on the health of its workers, as it goes back to work alongside many
other companies across Europe.
Over €7 billion pledged in the

global fight against COVID-
19
European governments have pledged over €7 billion in initial funding, as part of a global effort to
respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Money pledged today will be used to support countries and organisations around the world
which are working together to ensure that life-saving tools developed in response to coronavirus
are universally available and affordable.
Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum, and Image: World Economic
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission Forum / Mattias N
European Commission President von der Leyen, who is a Member of the Board of Trustees of the
World Economic Forum, said “The response to this pandemic can only be global. We need
cooperation between governments across the world, scientists, civil society, business, citizens.”
In recognition of the role the Forum has played in the formation of The Global Fund, GAVI and
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and
Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, delivered pre-recorded remarks during the
EU-hosted event.
“Every business is challenged today to contribute with its knowhow and with its resources to the
solution of this challenge, of this problem, which is of utmost significance for the future of
humankind,” Professor Schwab said. “We would like to assure you, that business as far as the
Forum can mobilize it, is behind this initiative and we will support you in any way we can."
The World Health Organization (WHO) and global health organisations continue to call for action
to develop fast and equitable access to safe, quality, effective and affordable diagnostics,
therapeutics and vaccines against coronavirus.
New grant allows for 3

million tests for coronavirus
in Denmark, helping reboot
the economy and ensuring
safety of citizens
After previously announcing funding of 50 million Danish Krone (6.7 million euros) in grants for
scientific, social and health outreach projects to manage the impact of COVID-19 in Denmark, the
Novo Nordisk Foundation has awarded a grant to TestCenter Danmark to carry out up to 3 million
tests.
Testing is one of the greatest tools in understanding and managing the coronavirus pandemic.
Being tested allows an individual to know if they are infected, or if they are healthy and can go
about everyday activities, including helping others in the community in need.
TEASER - NEW DANISH NATIONAL TEST CENTRE -

COVID-19
from Novo Nordisk Fonden
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A component of the de-escalation strategy in Denmark is to ramp up testing significantly. The

testing is an add-on to the existing diagnostic services offered across the country, ensuring that
any person who wants to be tested can be.
“TestCenter Danmark is an extremely important initiative that will help to ensure testing of
more people for the new coronavirus. It will contribute to increased safety for individual
citizens and the people they have social contact with, and it will also support the gradual
re-opening of the Danish society, including rebooting our economy. Having a national
setup that improves our ability to test the population on a large scale will also make us
better prepared for tackling similar situations in the future.”
— Lars Rebien Sørensen, Chairman of the Novo Nordisk Foundation
Through the unique collaboration between public and private actors, the new TestCenter
Danmark has been built and prepared for operation in less than one month.
Partner of the World Economic Forum, Novo Nordisk Foundation has taken an innovative
approach since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, to invest millions into research and
development that will prepare Denmark for future viral epidemics.
A new letter urges

companies to join the
Forum's Therapeutics
Accelerator for COVID-19.
The speed and the scale of the COVID-19 virus is unprecedented and the economic disruption it
has caused is unparalleled. As daunting as it may seem, experts say the world can only fully get
back to business when we’ve addressed the health concerns and when there are effective
remedies to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
That is why the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mastercard, Wellcome, the Chan Zuckerberg
Initiative, the Dell Foundation, and the U.K. Government have invested in the COVID-19
Therapeutics Accelerator to identify and scale treatments to counter the virus.
But more progress is needed to effectively contain COVID-19. Image: REUTERS/Edgar Su - RC2PDF9MP5J0
A letter today issued by Ajay Banga, CEO Mastercard, Bill Gates, Co-Chair and Trustee, Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation, and Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World
Economic Forum is calling on companies globally to join the collaborative funding effort by the
private sector, philanthropic organizations, and governments to speed up the research and
development process and to make the results available to all.
Companies can read the letter in full, and find out more information via the COVID-19
Therapeutics Accelerator website.
David Rubenstein says how

businesses plan to bounce
back from a very deep

recession - on the COVID
Action Platform call
David M. Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Chairman of The Carlyle Group, told the
Forum’s COVID Action Platform Virtual Meeting this week it would take a long time to get through
the very deep recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Rubenstein said there was a word between recession and depression that hasn’t been invented
yet - that is probably the most appropriate to explain the challenge the business world is facing.
COVID Action Platform | David Rubenstein shares the business response to t…

t…
COVID Action Platform | David Rubenstein shares the business response to the coronavirus
Rubenstein told COVID Action Platform members about the business response to the recession
caused by coronavirus - which includes cost-cutting, taking care of employees and working to
save what they have. Coming out of the recession phase, Rubenstein said businesses are likely
to use fewer employees than before, and that employees will travel less, using more digital means
instead.
Watch further highlights from the COVID Action Platform Virtual Meeting from Wednesday, 29
April. Companies globally are invited to join the Forum’s platform to gain first-class, expert
business advice and analysis in response to the coronavirus weekly here.
Yan Bao Charity Foundation

donates more than 300,000
USD worth of life-saving
health equipment to WHO
response
Image: REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
The Yan Bao Charity Foundation, a family foundation focused on improving education, health and
alleviating poverty in China and around the world, joined the collective philanthropic response of
the COVID Action Platform by donating 300,000 USD worth of protective health equipment
including masks and personal protective equipment to the World Health Organization.
Having connected to the WHO Emergency Response effort through the Forum’s Covid Action
Platform, the Yan Bao Foundation, which was created by the Baofeng Energy Group, delivered
20,000 masks and 10,000 quality certified suits to the WHO logistics hub in Dubai in April.
In response to unprecedented demand and severe disruptions to the global supply chain, the
WHO’s Supply Chain Inter-Agency Coordination Cell (SCICC) has established a supply working
group to streamline procurement of critical items facing global shortage. Requests for supply of
the critical equipment is then consolidated at a country level through COVID-19 coordination
mechanisms, ensuring that the equipment reaches those facing the greatest need.
AstraZeneca and Oxford

University announce
landmark agreement for
COVID-19 vaccine
Following their donation to the COVID Action Platform of 9 million face masks to support
healthcare workers on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic and a commitment to boost
testing in the UK, AstraZeneca has today announced a landmark agreement with Oxford
University for the global development and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The agreement will see the development and distribution of the University’s potential recombinant
adenovirus vaccine aimed at preventing COVID-19 infection from SARS-CoV-2.
As COVID-19 continues its grip on the world, the

need for a vaccine to defeat the virus is urgent. This
collaboration brings together the University of
Oxford’s world-class expertise in vaccinology and
AstraZeneca’s global development, manufacturing
and distribution capabilities. Our hope is that, by
joining forces, we can accelerate the globalisation

of a vaccine to combat the virus and protect people
from the deadliest pandemic in a generation.
—Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca
In a recent interview with the World Economic Forum, AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot also called
on companies to give practical support, not just money, to fight COVID-19. He said governments
needed help with their supply chains, capabilities, skills and expertise - and that it remains crucial
for companies to partner with others in order to scale their efforts.
AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot discusses the company’s partnership with the COVID Action
Platform
Organizations globally are invited to partner with the Forum’s COVID Action Platform, which
ensures global cooperation among governments, international organizations and the business
community in response to the spread of COVID-19. Companies can join the platform here.
Mass production of
ventilators begins in Turkey -
a move crucial to fighting the
pandemic locally
Koç Holding, Partner of the World Economic Forum and Turkey’s largest investment holding
company, has mobilized its assets in the fight against coronavirus.
Arçelik, a Koç Holding subsidiary and leading consumer durables manufacturer in Europe, is
undertaking the mass production of life-saving mechanical ventilators to help the country avoid
possible shortages (Turkey is currently reported to have around 17,000 ventilators in its public
hospitals.)
Mass Production of Domestic Mechanical Ventilators
Arçelik’s Mass Production of Domestic Mechanical Ventilators
Working with the Turkish Ministry of Industry and Technology and the Turkish Ministry of Health,
the company designed and tested the first prototype, and has begun mass production with a
team of 120 world-class Turkish engineers working together under quarantine conditions, with no
visitors allowed to enter production areas. Their goal is to produce 5,000 units by the end of May.
The first 100 units were delivered to hospitals by April 20, only 14 days after the consortium
started its collaboration.
Along with this initiative, Koç Holding, a partner of the Forum’s COVID Action Platform, has
mobilized its two automotive manufacturers, Ford Otosan, JV with Ford, and TOFAŞ, JV with Fiat,
to address the need for critical medical supplies in hospitals, free of charge. This includes
producing protective face shields and waterproof protective gowns, and building biological
sampling cabins and intubation cabins.
As of April 28, there are 114.653 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Turkey, and 2.992 deaths. The
ventilators will provide essential respiratory support to patients in intensive care.
Mahindra Group tells

businesses the stakeholder
principle is absolutely
essential in fighting
coronavirus - live on the
Forum’s COVID Action
Platform.
Mahindra Group has endorsed the Forum’s set of Stakeholder Principles to manage the
economic impacts from the coronavirus emergency, saying togetherness and innovation are the
ways we can combat coronavirus and work towards a global recovery.
On a call with the Forum’s COVID Action Platform, Anish Shah, Managing Director and CEO
designate for Mahindra Group, also outlined the extensive measures the company has
undertaken to fight COVID-19 in India. From supporting society by meeting needs from a medical
standpoint to enacting isolation centres across their resorts for government use and mobilizing
their IT department to monitor cities with control centres, the organization has been preparing
their response to the crisis as numbers grow in India - at the time of writing, cases have
exceeded 22,000.
Anish Shah, Group President (Strategy), Mahindra Group, shares the compan…
compan…
Anish Shah, Managing Director and CEO designate, Mahindra Group, shares the company’s
response to COVID-19.
The company’s manufacturing facilities are making ventilators, project teams are on standby to
assist the government in creating temporary care facilities, and the Mahindra Foundation is
creating a fund to assist the hardest hit across the value chain. The organization is also inspiring
others to respond to coronavirus with significant resources. They have used their engineering
ingenuity to develop low-cost respirators for patients in need, and are reinforcing the fact that
innovation and togetherness is the only way to beat the coronavirus.
Companies can join together with the Forum and organizations like Mahindra Group around the
world working to defeat coronavirus, via the COVID Action Platform.
World’s leading 3D printing

manufacturers rapidly
respond to COVID-19 as a
community: providing
ventilators, masks, swabs,
face shields and more.
The world’s leading 3D printing manufacturers - including HP, Johnson & Johnson, General
Electric, Royal DSM and others - have come together through the Forum’s 3D Printing COVID-19
Rapid Response Initiative to address equipment shortages and rising medical demands due to
the ongoing pandemic.
The Forum’s rapid response initiative has created a community of companies manufacturing 3D
products to meet global needs.
The organizations are providing support for medical devices, equipment manufacturers and hospital
systems.
Carbon and its partners, in the US, are producing PPE for medical workers and patient sampling
swabs. Linde plc is offering combined 3D printing (metal and plastic, design and software) and
medical equipment capabilities in Germany and the US. In Italy, Roboze is printing in-house and
with its partners – valves, adapters, connectors, splitters, face shields and durable thermoforming
tools for faster manufacturing of N95 masks.
Where there are global needs for specific products or services, from ventilators and respirator
components to hands-free door openers, masks and mask components, swabs or face shields -
the Forum community has published lists of which companies can provide specific items -
making it easier to access and provide the equipment needed around the world.
3D printing companies, communities and platforms are invited to join the Forum’s initiative by
applying here.
To predict and prevent

COVID-19 transmission,
Telenor is harnessing
mobility data
Image: Telenor
Governments around the world are enforcing lockdown in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.
In major cities this is particularly challenging with families suddenly confined to small apartments
for weeks on end.
In Norway, the leading telecommunications company Telenor is gathering accurate and

anonymous data on how people are moving around so health authorities have the information
they need to protect lives and limit the viral spread.
“Knowledge about a population’s travel pattern is vital to understanding how an epidemic

spreads throughout a country and thus the population,” says Kenth Engø-Monsen, senior
researcher at Telenor Research.
Mobile phones automatically connect to the nearest base station and these connections leave a
location trace. This anonymized location data gets extracted from more than 8,100 base stations
across the country and aggregated every six hours powering a dynamic map.
The maps show people’s movement in Norway on 10 March (left) and 15 March, Image: Telenor
compared to people’s movement on the same day the previous week. The blue
color a decrease in movement.
Anonymized data gathered in this way is crucial for health authorities that need to understand
whether preventative measures including school closures and placing staff on furlough are having
an impact and stopping the spread of infection.
The success of this approach largely depends on engaging the right people in the healthcare
sector to make sense of the aggregated data. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH)
added anonymized mobility data to its epidemics model before making informed
recommendations to the government.
This work is scalable beyond Norway, and Telenor is working with other Nordic authorities with a
view to rolling out similar big data projects in Denmark, Finland and Sweden.
3D printing and air-bridges:

Airbus responds to COVID-
19
Image: Airbus
Airbus is employing its fleet of aircraft as well as its industrial resources to support governments
fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The company is flying millions of facemasks and thermometers
from China into Europe so health workers and caregivers have the resources they need to work
safely and sustainably.
In March, multiple Airbus flights transported millions of masks from China to the company HQ in
Toulouse, France. Hundreds of thousands of these masks were then transferred to Getafe, Spain.
Seventy percent of the masks were donated to the French and Spanish governments, while the
rest are being distributed to Airbus teams in France and Spain.
The company, which is partnering with the World Economic Forum’s COVID Action Platform,
continued this support through regular flights between China and Europe to deliver millions more
masks to hospitals and public services across France, Germany, Spain and the UK.
Image: Airbus
Technology and engineering businesses are collaborating with Airbus in response to the UK
government’s call for help. A consortium of companies, which includes Rolls-Royce and Ford, is
aiming to deliver 10,000 medical ventilators to help save lives.
In Spain, Airbus has repurposed 20 3D printers to produce thousands of the visor frames that are
a crucial component in protective facemasks. Thousands of these frames have already been
donated.
Brewer fights coronavirus

pandemic by turning alcohol
into hygiene products
Image: AB InBev
Leading global brewer AB InBev is harnessing its key ingredient as a weapon in the fight against
COVID-19. Working with partners, the company is both packaging the disinfectant alcohol alone
or transforming it into hand sanitizer.
The brewer, which has been making beer for over 600 years, is donating both disinfectant alcohol
liquid and over 1 million bottles of hand sanitizer and disinfectant to hospitals and front-line
health workers in more than 20 countries.
The South African Breweries (SAB), which has been owned by AB InBev since 2016, is providing
alcohol to help manufacturers produce more hand sanitizer. SAB’s trucks are transporting the
product to the most remote parts of the country.
SABreweries
@SABreweries
This is our commitment to strengthening our country’s fight

against Covid-19. #SABforSA #FightCOVID19
38 6:26 PM - Apr 12, 2020
25 people are talking about this
In Europe, 50,000 liters of disinfectant alcohol are being produced using the surplus of alcohol
generated when making alcohol-free beers. An extra 26,000 bottles of hand sanitizer are also
being provided to pharmacies and front-line workers across Europe.
AB InBev, which has 170,000 employees based in nearly 50 countries, is also teaming up with
local governments in Colombia, Peru and Ecuador to support communities hardest hit by the
pandemic. The company’s fleets of trucks are helping deliver essential food and medical supplies
to areas in need.
In Mexico, Grupo Modelo, which was acquired by AB InBev in 2012, is expanding their Academia
de Meseros Modelo to help 4,000 waiters upskill using on-line training.
Sanofi, GSK working

together to develop COVID-
19 vaccine
Image: Sanofi Pasteur / Norbert Domy
Two of the world’s biggest vaccine makers, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Sanofi, are collaborating
on a COVID-19 vaccine. The pharma giants are aiming to get a treatment on the market in the
next 12 to 18 months.
Sanofi will contribute its S-protein COVID-19 antigen, which is based on recombinant DNA
technology, or the practice of joining together of DNA molecules from different species. For its
part, GSK will contribute its proven pandemic adjuvant technology to the collaboration.
Sanofi
@sanofi
#SanofiActs against #COVID19
Sanofi joins forces with @GSK, a fellow leader in vaccines, to

develop an adjuvanted vaccine for #coronavirus, using
innovative technology from both companies. Read more here:
sanofi.com/en/media-room/…
248 6:29 PM - Apr 14, 2020
An adjuvant is added to some vaccines to enhance the immune response, and has been shown
to create a stronger and longer lasting immunity against infections than the vaccine alone.
“As the world faces this unprecedented global health crisis, it is clear that no one company can
go it alone,” Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson said.
The companies have said they would make any vaccine that is developed through the
collaboration affordable to the public and through mechanisms that offer fair access for everyone
around the world.
$8 billion needed for Covid-

19 research and
development: Wellcome
Trust launches Covid-Zero
Initiative
Image: World Economic Forum / Valeriano Di Domenico.
The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board, an expert group convened by the World Health
Organization and the World Bank, estimates that an initial $8bn is needed to research, develop
and deliver treatments, tests and vaccines.
Tens of billions more will be needed over the coming year to produce and procure the new
medicines as soon as they are developed. Much of this funding will need to come from
governments, and the European Commission is galvanizing donors through a virtual pledging
conference on May 4.
Wellcome Trust, a Strategic Partner of the World Economic Forum and co-founder of the COVID
Action Platform, has invited corporations and investment funds, as well as individual business
leaders with philanthropic capacity, to play a part in this society-wide effort and donate funds
through a new initiative called COVID-Zero.
Wellcome
@wellcometrust
A global pandemic needs a global response.
Everyone must have access to vaccines, diagnostics and

treatments if we want to overcome #COVID19 together.
Find out more wellc.me/2V6pVbW
26 6:01 PM - Apr 19, 2020

Speaking to leaders during a recent COVID Action Platform call, Wellcome Trust director Jeremy
Farrar said COVID-Zero was an opportunity for companies to advance the science which will
eventually reduce business disruption. Since launching COVID-Zero, Wellcome has opened
discussions with business donors keen to invest millions of dollars. Mastercard and Citadel are
among those who have already stepped up to fund research and development, the Trust said.
Donated funds will directly help efforts to find drugs and improve tests, through CEPI, the
organisation which develops vaccines against epidemic threats, and through the WHO, which
plays a critical coordinating role. There are few better investments any business can make today.
“Those with the vision and imagination to finance this research will be able to say to their
employees, to their customers, to their communities, that they did more than treat all their
stakeholders well during the greatest global crisis since 1945,” said Mark Henderson of
Wellcome. “They will also be able to say that they were a critical part of the solution.”
To get involved with COVID-Zero, please contact the team.
World’s biggest soap

company delivers free
sanitizer, soap, bleach and
food worth €100 million to
areas in need - at speed
Unilever has donated free sanitizer, soap, bleach and food worth €100 million to the world’s
neediest - with half of its donation being delivered at speed through the World Economic Forum’s
COVID Action Platform.
In an interview with the Forum, Rebecca Marmot, Chief Sustainability Officer at Unilever, said it
leveraged its product portfolio to fight the COVID crisis, using the platform to partner with like-
minded companies.
Unilever Chief Sustainability O cer Rebecca Marmot on their work with the …
Unilever Chief Sustainability Officer Rebecca Marmot on their work with the COVID Action
Platform
Marmot said speed and agility were two of the most important factors the COVID Action Platform
offered, to get the donations to the areas most in need.
Until there is a vaccine for COVID-19, soap remains the best first line of defence, the company
noted. Unilever has launched initiatives in the US, India, China, UK, Netherlands, Italy and other
countries around the world, with teams manufacturing and distributing millions of bars of free
soap.
Giving advice and guidance to other companies, Marmot encouraged businesses to look out for
their employees and their mental health, and to be aware of the true influence they can have in
using their brands to reinforce government safety messages.
Organizations globally are invited to partner with the World Economic Forum’s COVID Action
Platform, which ensures global cooperation among governments, international organizations and
the business community in response to the spread of COVID-19.
These plasma therapies

could treat high-risk COVID-
19 patients
Image: REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
Biopharmaceutical leader Takeda is working with the CoVIg-19 Plasma Alliance to accelerate the
development of a plasma-based treatment which could treat people suffering from coronavirus.
The treatment can only be produced at scale if the alliance can access plasma from people who
have recovered from COVID-19 or who have been vaccinated against the virus, once a vaccine is
developed. These donors who have recovered from coronavirus have developed antibodies that
could mitigate the severity of illness in COVID-19 patients and perhaps even prevent it. Once
these antibodies are transferred to a new patient, it is likely that person’s immune system will
respond to the infection and consequently boost their recovery.
Takeda
@TakedaPharma
Industry alliance brings together Takeda and other world-leading

plasma companies, @BPLPlasmaLLC, @BiotestPlasma,
@CSLBehring @LFB_Group and Octapharma, to accelerate
development of a hyperimmune immunoglobulin medicine in the
fight against #COVID19. bit.ly/39LSdO7
64 5:02 PM - Apr 6, 2020
As the necessary plasma is unlikely to come from current plasma donors, Takeda will start by
producing the therapy in an isolated area at its site in Georgia.
“Plasma-derived therapies are critical, life-saving medicines that thousands of people with rare
and complex diseases rely on every day around the world,” said Dr. Chris Morabito, Takeda’s
Head of Research and Development, Plasma-Derived Therapies Business Unit.
Takeda is currently in discussions with national health agencies and healthcare partners in the
US, Asia, and Europe to step up the pace and push the research forward.
Across West Africa

companies are convening to
fight COVID-19 pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact around the world, with the outbreak
now also beginning to spread in Africa. As of 9 April, the number of cases on the continent had
surpassed 10,000. As the virus spreads, experts are seeking way to reduce the impact on
vulnerable communities in West Africa, a region where healthcare capacity is limited but major
lessons were learnt during the 2014 Ebola outbreak.
Dr Matshidiso Moeti
@MoetiTshidi
#COVID19 cases in #Africa have risen to more than 10,000.

Tackling this pandemic requires a decentralised response.
Communities must be empowered and get the
resources/expertise needed to tackle outbreaks locally.
afro.who.int/news/covid-19-…
609 2:46 AM - Apr 8, 2020
Companies active across West Africa are sharing information and co-ordinating their responses
through the West Africa Private Sector Coronavirus Platform (WAPSCON19) which is focusing on
the livelihoods and health of the wider community as well as keeping employees healthy and safe
and businesses running. The leading steel and mining company Arcelor Mittal, is convening
private sector players, including Sierra Rutile in Sierra Leone, to play an active role in supporting
the region.
The structure of WAPSCON19 allows each country to contribute and key members in Liberia and
Ghana have already volunteered to chair discussions. One senior private sector executive per
country will lead the work nationally, and host calls and initiate cooperation with other businesses
operating in the same country. The exercise aims to create local capacity to respond to the threat
of Covid-19, under the umbrella of “country hubs”.
If your organization is ready to play a leading role in fighting coronavirus request access to the
COVID Action Platform here.
Mastercard, Wellcome, Bill &

Melinda Gates Foundation
launch a COVID-19
Therapeutics Accelerator -
scaled up through the COVID
Action Platform
A new project on the World Economic Forum’s COVID Action Platform, the COVID-19
Therapeutics Accelerator, is a commitment from Mastercard, The Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation and Wellcome Trust, of up to $125 million in seed funding to speed-up the response
to the COVID-19 pandemic by identifying, assessing, developing, and scaling-up treatments.
Mastercard, a Strategic Partner of the Forum, announced the initiative, which will also involve the
World Health Organization, governments, and the private sector, as well as global regulatory and
policy-setting institutions will evaluate and accelerate new and repurposed drugs and biologics to
treat patients with COVID-19.
Currently, there are no broad-spectrum antivirals or immunotherapies available for the fight
against emerging pathogens, and none approved for use on COVID-19.
This global challenge not only represents a risk to the health and safety of populations all
over the world, but also poses a potential disruption to the economic vitality of millions of
people, businesses, and organizations worldwide.
— Mike Froman, Vice Chairman of Mastercard
The Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust are each contributing up to $50 million, and the
Mastercard Impact Fund has committed up to $25 million for the initial work of the accelerator.
The project will ensure an end-to-end focus, from drug pipeline development to manufacturing
and distribution. The project has already awarded an initial $20 million in grants to three
institutions. By sharing research and resources and coordinating investments - this
multistakeholder partnership can accelerate research and solutions to COVID-19.
Companies can find out more about the project and how to engage via the World Economic
Forum’s COVID Action Platform. If you’re already a Partner or Member of the Forum, find out
more on TopLink.
Wipro rolls out COVID

response focused on
humanitarian aid
Image: World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell
Global information technology and business services company Wipro Ltd and Azim Premji
Foundation have together committed ₹1125 crore (approximately $147.4 million) towards
mitigating the health crisis which has arisen from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company, which is headquartered in Bangalore, India, pledged to roll out a wide-ranging
response to the virus on-the-ground, with a focus on immediate humanitarian aid. The company
also specified they are committed to augmenting healthcare capacity and treating those affected
by the deadly coronavirus.
"These resources will help enable the dedicated medical and service fraternity in the frontline of
the battle against the pandemic and in mitigating its wide-ranging human impact, particularly on
the most disadvantaged of our society," Wipro said in a statement which characterised the
COVID-19 pandemic as the most significant threat confronting modern society.
Standard Chartered injects

big liquidity into the fight
against COVID-19
Image: Standard Chartered Bank
International banking group Standard Chartered launched a $50 million global fund to help people
affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Group has already provided $25 million to support emergency relief in countries where the
number of COVID-19 cases has soared and healthcare facilities are under significant pressure.
The additional $25 million will help communities and businesses recover from the economic
impact of the pandemic.
In addition, the Group is committing up to $1 billion in loans, import/export financing and working
capital for certain companies fighting COVID-19, and support industry leaders who are adapting
production resources to help fight the pandemic. Companies in the pharmaceutical industry and
healthcare providers are set to benefit most from these funds, but Standard Chartered will also
support non-medical companies that have responded to the crisis by adding capability to their
manufacturing plants. Goods within this scope include ventilators, face masks, protective
equipment and sanitisers.
Coca-Cola re-deploys
resources to make face
shields for those on the
COVID-19 frontline in North
America
Across North America, the Coca-Cola Company is re-deploying its resources to meet the needs
of those on the frontline of the COVID-19 fight.
In Boston, the company has provided logistics and supply chain support to a not-for-profit, to
help produce face shields for frontline health workers.
Coca-Cola also facilitated and transported large-scale donations of PET plastic sheeting to make the shields.
More broadly, the Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded $13.5 million in grants to not-for-profit
organizations responding to the coronavirus in North America and Canada. The latest grants
support economically disadvantaged communities – with one grant enabling 200 food banks to
feed vulnerable populations. Other grants are funding childcare for emergency health workers,
mental health and counselling, and other emergency aid resources.
We are using the resources of our company and

The Coca-Cola Foundation to make a difference by
providing much-needed assistance to organizations
that are positioned to mobilize quickly and provide
essential humanitarian relief.
—James Quincey, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company, a Strategic Partner of the World Economic Forum, has also donated
grants globally, namely to China and Italy. The company, like many others, is continuing to
monitor the crisis in order to offer additional support as needed.
Top tech firm pledges $225

million in battle against
COVID-19
Image: REUTERS/Adnan Abidi
Global technology leader Cisco Systems is committing $225 million to help fight the COVID-19
pandemic.
The funds will support healthcare, education, government responses and relevant technology.
Cisco is distributing a portion of this commitment through the United Nations Foundation’s
COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, which is supporting the World Health Organization’s work
on managing the COVID-19 outbreak.
As the global workforce adjusts to working remotely, Cisco technology is securing over 2.2 million
people online, including those on the front lines of the crisis. Its video conferencing platform
Webex has facilitated virtual meetings for the French, Canadian, German and Colombian
governments as they coordinate policy responses to manage the coronavirus crisis.
“Cisco must, and will, do even more to help others respond to this global pandemic,” said
Chairman and CEO Chuck Robbins. He has joined over 30 CEOs from various technology
companies in Silicon Valley to pledge support for local organizations providing support to
vulnerable communities.
‘These vaccines are the exit

strategy’ - CEPI calls on
business leaders to dedicate
funds to solve COVID-19, not
just cope
The CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Richard Hatchett, has
called on business leaders to allocate a small proportion of the funds being used to cope with
COVID-19 to also help solve the pandemic.
In a high-level COVID Action Platform Virtual Meeting hosted by the World Economic Forum,
Hatchett said for businesses the shift in funding would be “the best investment your companies
will ever make.”
COVID Action Platform - Richard Hatchett
World Economic Forum's COVID Action Platform Virtual Meeting
CEPI was launched in 2017 at the Forum's Annual Meeting. The organization has invested nearly
$30 million in eight COVID-19 vaccine projects to date. These included four rapid response
programmes and four programmes as a result of a Call for Proposals, which invited funding
applications for proven technology that could be used to rapidly develop a vaccine against
COVID-19.
There are no guarantees of success, but early estimates suggest that safe and effective vaccines
may be available for broader use within the next 12-18 months. With further funding, CEPI would
be able to speed up its efforts to develop a vaccine ready for use.
CEPI estimates that it will cost the world collectively $2 billion to advance three vaccine
candidates through to large-scale clinical trials. To date, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway and
the UK have provided around $660 million towards this goal - but more support is crucial.
In addition to further funding, partnerships are crucial to scaling up vaccine development.

Businesses are invited to work together on the COVID Action Platform, partnering with a range of
multistakeholder organizations including CEPI, the World Health Organization and the World
Economic Forum to help solve the coronavirus crisis.
Funding for ventilators,

testing kits, and a new
quarantine facility provide
free care to COVID-19
patients in India
Infosys, Strategic Partner of the Forum, has dedicated INR 100 crore in funding for hospital
capacity treatment, ventilators, testing kits and protective gear for frontline health workers to
mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 across India.
Infosys Foundation has also partnered with Narayana Health City in Bengaluru to launch a 100-
room quarantine facility for COVID-19 patients. The facility will benefit patients in need in the
most vulnerable sections of society - with regular monitoring from doctors, nurses and essential
medication provided free of charge.
The Foundation is also working to ensure better access to food and nutrition for the
underprivileged in India, who are among the hardest hit by the crisis. Twenty-one day food
packages currently being distributed include staples like rice, lentils, cooking oil and other
essentials.
Infosys Foundation says these are unprecedented times that require every section of society to
rise to the challenge. At the time of writing, there are more than 2,000 cases of COVID-19 in India.
50 million meals and local

humanitarian support -
PepsiCo responds to
coronavirus
PepsiCo - a Strategic Partner of the World Economic Forum and member of the COVID Action
Platform - is directing a $45 million COVID-19 response initiative to communities hardest hit by
the pandemic. From funding medical needs that include protective gear for health workers,
testing and screening services, as well as distributing 50 million meals to at-risk populations, the
company is providing essential donations around the globe.
Credit: Banco de Alimentos Quito
In North America, PepsiCo is increasing access for out-of-school children to food, funding
medical services and providing financial support for out-of-work restaurant workers.
In Europe, efforts are centred on the distribution of meals, healthcare equipment and
transportation to support the most vulnerable groups in society, while boosting local health and
relief systems where countries are in lockdown and hospitals are struggling with capacity.
Meal distribution, strengthening local food bank capabilities and helping to alleviate hunger in
vulnerable communities is the focus in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific
Rim.
The Forum is galvanizing the business community for collective action in response to the
coronavirus crisis through its COVID Action Platform. Companies globally are invited to join the
platform and scale their response efforts to the pandemic.
World Economic Forum

guides businesses in their
response to COVID-19 –
encouraging bold leadership
and solidarity
As countries continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses need to respond to
urgent concerns from their workforces around safety and support.
Most employers are putting in place new measures for their workforces rapidly – often with no
previous comparable experiences.
Image: Andrew Neel/UNSplash
To help guide chief human resource officers and other business leaders through this unfolding
crisis, the World Economic Forum published The Workforce Principles for the COVID-19
Pandemic in collaboration with Willis Towers Watson.
“This crisis presents an opportunity to take bold actions and show leadership and solidarity,” said
Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director, World Economic Forum. “Responsible employers can apply
these principles and guidelines to better balance short-term crisis measures against the medium-
and long-term objectives.”
These actions can include protecting salaries and benefits, as well as providing learning
opportunities to make progress against reskilling and workforce-transformation objectives. Such
an approach enables organizations to earn the trust of employees and unlock the discretionary
effort needed to move the organization forward in turbulent times.
Local investment for the

United States ramps up as
the infection rate climbs
As the United States braces for the impact of coronavirus, with the infection rate climbing,
biotechnological company Amgen, which is engaged with the World Economic Forum’s COVID
Action Platform, is directing US $12.5 million to support relief efforts to address critical needs in
US communities impacted by COVID-19.
Amgen has also stepped up its dissemination of critical medical information during the
coronavirus crisis in its COVID-19 information centre, which features resources including videos
answering questions about whether to wear a face mask out in public and information addressing
anxiety related to COVID-19 and asking experts for help. Their audience is patients, the public,
medical professionals and local communities.
Amgen
@Amgen
Should I wear a face mask? It's the question on everyone’s mind

as the world manages through the #COVID19 pandemic.
Amgen’s Dr. Steven Galson, who previously served as Acting
U.S. Surgeon General, shares information that you may find
helpful. Click on the link below to watch.
Watch: Should I wear a face mask?
wwwext.amgen.com
25 9:44 PM - Apr 1, 2020
The company’s US $12.5 million donation is being invested at a local level - on response funds
awarded to non-profit organizations and those working at the frontline of the outbreak in
communities in the US.
LEGO prioritizes the critical

needs of children during the
coronavirus crisis
LEGO, a partner of the World Economic Forum, has launched two initiatives to support children
around the world during the COVID-19 crisis - from the most vulnerable in refugee camps and
war-torn countries, to children experiencing quarantine in urban areas.
The LEGO Foundation will donate US $50 million to ensure children, particularly those most
affected by the COVID-19 crisis, continue to have access to learning through play. They will reach
children in emergency situations with essential supplies, ensuring education and play across
communities most in need.
The second initiative is a new website which encourages families worldwide to connect to play-
based learning across social media. The hope is that families and children can connect online via
their free site to share creativity and play ideas, learn from LEGO designers and help children to
continue building life-long skills such as problem solving, critical thinking and developing new
forms of fun while away from school. The initiative also aims to alleviate stress on parents during
this unprecedented event.
UNESCO reports most governments around the world have temporarily closed education
institutions - affecting more than 80% of the world’s school population.
Support for frontline

healthcare workers & a
commitment to supply one
billion vaccines globally
After launching a commitment of $250 million over 10 years to frontline healthcare workers at the
50th Annual Meeting in Davos 2020, Johnson & Johnson have announced an additional $50
million to support frontline healthcare workers fighting coronavirus.
The funds will be invested to support doctors, nurses, midwives and community health workers
treating patients worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. Supporting health workers is a
legacy of the company - in the early 1900s, Johnson & Johnson helped limit the spread of the
Spanish flu by introducing the epidemic mask.
Serving doctors, nurses and health workers is who

we are and what we do—and has been since 1886.
Those at the front lines are our colleagues, family
members, customers and partners—so we join the
millions around the world who put them front and
center right now, to support them as they provide
care amidst Covid-19.
—Michael Sneed, Executive Vice President, Global Corporate Affairs & Chief Communication Officer, Johnson &
Johnson
The company has also this week (30 March) announced its goal to scale up manufacturing
capacity to supply one billion vaccines worldwide for emergency pandemic use, with the first
batches of a COVID-19 vaccine potentially available for emergency use in early 2021.
Companies worldwide are investing funds, innovating, and providing resources and manpower to
fight COVID-19. Read about a range of multistakeholder projects launched via the Forum’s
COVID Action Platform.
P&G to produce 45,000 litres

of hand sanitizer weekly
As demand for hand sanitizer around the world has increased, Procter & Gamble (P&G) has
responded by installing new production lines in five manufacturing sites around the world. When
fully operational, the company will produce 45,000 litres per week, and most of this supply will go
to hospitals, health authorities and relief organizations.
One of the world’s leading consumer goods companies, P&G is also providing product donations
and financial support to communities fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has
committed contributions of product and in-kind support that exceed $15 million.
P&G is also donating products from 30 brands in more than 20 countries to communities around
the world so families can access cleaning products as well as health and hygiene supplies.In
addition to direct support, P&G is providing cash support to a range of disaster relief
organizations including the International Federation of Red Cross, which is co-chairing The World
Economic Forum’s Humanitarian Investing Initiative.
$800 million commitment

from Google helps WHO,
governments, small-to-mid
sized businesses and
frontline health workers
Google has stepped up its response to the coronavirus pandemic, pledging a total of $800 million
to support small- and medium-sized businesses, governments, health organizations and health
workers fighting COVID-19.
After announcing an initial $25 million in advertising grants last month, the company has now
increased its grant commitment to $250 million - specifically for the World Health Organization
(WHO) and more than 100 government agencies globally to provide critical information on how to
prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Sundar Pichai
@sundarpichai
We’re committing $800M+ in new #COVID19 response efforts,

incl $340M in @GoogleAds credits for SMBs worldwide, $250M
in ad grants for @WHO & 100+ govt orgs globally, a $200M

investment fund for NGOs & banks to help small businesses
access capital, and more blog.google/inside-google/…
COVID-19: $800+ million to support small businesses and cris…

How we're supporting SMBs, health organizations and governments,
and health workers.
blog.google
8,850 11:01 PM - Mar 27, 2020
2,895 people are talking about this
As part of their total commitment, $20 million in advertising grants will be given to community
financial institutions and NGOs to run public service announcements and provide other resources
for small-to-medium-sized businesses. Another initiative is a $200 million investment fund, which
will support NGOs and banks worldwide to give small businesses access to capital.
Google has also created a website dedicated to COVID-19 help and resources - ensuring safety
and prevention tips reach people in need. The company says coronavirus is taking a devastating
toll on lives and communities. Its commitment will help address some of the challenges globally.
Nestlé provides emergency

help - donating food, medical
nutrition products, bottled
water & CHF 10 million to
countries in greatest need
Nestlé has stepped up its humanitarian efforts in the response to COVID-19 by partnering with
the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to provide
urgent help to emergency services, caregivers, and to strengthen health systems.
The company, a Strategic Partner of the World Economic Forum and member of our COVID
Action Platform, will donate food, medical nutrition products and bottled water to bring relief to
those most affected by the pandemic.
Our response to COVID-19
"The COVID-19 pandemic is a global problem and consequently we are offering help on
the ground everywhere, drawing on our extensive presence and experience in 187
countries. We applaud the relentless efforts of the millions of Red Cross and Red
Crescent volunteers and admire their determination to make a difference on the ground."
— Mark Schneider, CEO of Nestlé
Nestlé has immediately made a donation of CHF 10 million for countries most in need, and will
deploy available logistics capacities to support the needs of IFRC in countries around the world.
Millions of face masks

donated to the frontline in
the US and Europe
Tim Cook, Chief Executive Officer of Apple has announced this week that the company has
sourced, procured and is donating 10 million masks to the medical community in the United
States, and millions more for the European regions hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tim Cook
@tim_cook
Proud to share we’ve been able to source 10M masks for the US
and millions more for the hardest hit regions in Europe. Our ops
teams are helping to find and purchase masks from our supply
chain in coordination with governments around the world.
76.9K 1:20 AM - Mar 26, 2020
16.5K people are talking about this
Along with frontline health employees, Apple has recognized and thanked essential workers
across the supply chain - from warehouse and delivery workers to those stocking supermarket
shelves - for their tireless efforts to deliver vital services in the face of COVID-19.
Other major tech companies globally have also pledged to donate face masks as a frontline
defence against coronavirus. It is one example of how organizations are mobilizing cooperation
and business support for the COVID-19 response.
HP CEO calls on companies

and business leaders to step
up their response to COVID-
19
After HP committed to donating millions of dollars in technology and support to help students,
families, and communities, President and CEO Enrique Lores issued a call-to-action to
companies and business leaders globally to step forward and play a more significant role in
overcoming obstacles during the coronavirus crisis, creating opportunities for the future.
It’s incumbent on business leaders everywhere to commit to supporting employees at

every level of their organization in the unpredictable weeks and months ahead.
— Enrique Lores, President & CEO, HP Inc.
Along with the support for employees, HP Inc is designing and producing essential parts for
medical responders and hospitals, thanks to its 3D Printing team and Digital Manufacturing
Partner Network.
These parts include ventilator valves, breathing filters, face mask clasps, and innovations like plastic door
handle adaptors that enable easy elbow opening to prevent further spread of the virus.
If companies are struggling to know where to begin in harnessing their efforts to respond to the
crisis - they are invited join the Forum’s COVID Action Platform, to connect with other businesses,
governments and civil society to respond to the world’s greatest needs during the spread of
COVID-19.
Healthcare financing comes

to low-income countries
fighting a virus that doesn’t
respect borders
The public-private global health partnership GAVI, founded at the World Economic Forum in
2000, protects people's health by increasing access to immunization in poor countries.
What is an emergency vaccine stockpile and how can they prevent pandemics?
Today, GAVI is giving emerging economies the tools to fight Coronavirus by allowing certain low-
income countries to reallocate 10% of grants to their COVID-19 response.
This will allow countries to improve hygiene and infection control training for health workers,
boost infection control supplies, and increase laboratory testing until funds being allocated by the
global community for the COVID response are available.
“This disease doesn’t respect borders, which is why

it will take a truly global response to defeat it,”
—Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chair of the Gavi Board.
The organization is working with WHO, CEPI, World Bank, UNICEF and partners from across the
healthcare industry to accelerate priority candidate COVID-19 vaccines.
Since its launch 20 years ago GAVI has contributed to the immunization of 760 million children,
and saved more than 13 million lives.
Production of critical care

products increases, helping
patients diagnosed with
COVID-19
Royal Philips, a global leader in health technology and Strategic Partner of the World Economic
Forum, announced this week an increase in the production of critical care products and solutions
to help diagnose and treat patients with coronavirus.
From vital signs monitors and portable ventilators to medical consumables to treat a broad range
of respiratory conditions, a variety of products are needed to prepare for, respond to and ensure
the recovery of patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
Diagnostic imaging systems and hospital telehealth solutions from Philips will also assist in the
monitoring and management of patients in intensive care units – while also connecting caregivers
and patients at home.
Soaring numbers of new coronavirus patients are putting the world’s health services under strain,
and more medical experts, equipment and supplies are needed globally to fight the pandemic.
The first human trial of a

COVID-19 vaccine was
administered in mid-March
The first Phase 1 study for a COVID-19 vaccine began in mid-March. Forty-five volunteers are
expected to participate in the trial. The vaccine itself will not be available to the general public for
at least a year to ensure if it is both safe and effective.
The Phase 1 study received funding support from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness
Innovations (CEPI). CEPI was launched at the World Economic Forum in 2017. The organization
this week announced their seventh COVID-19 vaccine project in the fight against the pandemic.
CEPI brings together experts from government, business, health, academia and civil society to
accelerate the development of vaccines against emerging infectious diseases and to enable
access to these vaccines during outbreaks.
Davos 2019 - Press Conference: CEPI - Building a Global Coalition to End Epi…
Epi…
Davos 2019 - Press Conference: CEPI - Building a Global Coalition to End Epidemics
Davos 2019 - Press Conference: CEPI - Building a Global C...
Coalitions like CEPI are made possible through public-private partnerships. The World Economic
Forum is the global platform for stakeholder engagement, bringing together a range of leaders
from business, government and civil society to improve the state of the world. You can partner
directly with our Platform for Shaping the Future of Health and Healthcare to contribute to global
health solutions.
Using biology to accelerate

the search for potential
COVID-19 vaccine
As coronavirus disrupts communities and economies around the world, the race is on to develop
a COVID-19 vaccine and the world is watching.
Synthetic biology company Ginkgo Bioworks is bringing its research and development
experience into the fight against the pandemic and is speeding up the development of a vaccine
by bringing together different teams who are working on an inoculation.
Image: REUTERS/China Daily
The company, which is part of the Forum Vanguard community, has made a USD 25 million
commitment and is working with the Forum's Platform for Shaping the Future of Health and
Healthcare to engage companies and research labs that are developing drugs or vaccines.
This effort also includes support for sharing R&D information as quickly as possible once it is
discovered by academics and companies working on solutions to the pandemic.
A new plan takes COVID-19

advice across Africa
More than 600 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in 34 countries in Africa as of 19 March,
according to the World Health Organization. Responding to the rapidly changing situation on a
continent with specific healthcare challenges, a leading data intelligence firm has created a new
plan to disseminate guidance on COVID-19 among the 42 countries of the African Union.
Africa Media Leader Brie ng on COVID-19 - March 19, 2020
Africa Media Leader Briefing on COVID-19
Through a public-private partnership, the NGO Resolve to Save Lives and the African Centre for
Disease Control are working with IPSOS to gather data-driven insights which will allow them to
create tailored guidelines on preventative measures on COVID-19. The coalition was able to use
each partner’s expertise to make a plan within a week that could deliver this solution fast and at
scale.
Universities continue
teaching the next generation
of leaders
Centres of learning across the world, including those which are members of the The Global
University Leaders Forum (GULF) community, are responding to the coronavirus pandemic. Many
have moved classes online, reduced all but critical research, and are even planning for virtual
graduation ceremonies.
“Coursera Is”: Learners Re ect on What Coursera Means to Them
Coursera
In response to the situation, Coursera, partners of the Forum's Platform for Shaping the Future of
the New Economy and Society, is providing universities with free access to over 3,800 courses
from leading universities and companies. Through their online platform students can continue
their studies in areas ranging from Computer Science to Arts and Humanities. Videos,
assignments and readings are available in a range of languages and can be access via web,
mobile, or download.
Crisis-affected art museums,

research projects and youth
organizations receive a
boost in funding
The Carlsberg Foundation has launched funding for grants that will mobilize and support
researchers, art museums and youth civil society in the scientific, economic and human efforts
during this new era as society is challenged by the COVID-19 epidemic.
A significant investment was made to restart crisis-affected art museums in Denmark. Many art
museums are temporarily closed on instructions from the authorities in connection with COVID-
19, and the funding for art museums will assist with the implementation of programs that will
draw guests back to museums when they reopen.
The Carlsberg Foundations donate DKK 95m to accelerate efforts against co…
co…
Funds were also provided for an emergency pool for civil society youth organizations to launch
activities targeted at people who are particularly affected by COVID-19.
From supporting research on viruses to human behaviour, and donating to research the outbreak,
spread and cessation of historical epidemics – the funding is set to encourage other businesses
to invest in new ways to support the local and global economy during the coronavirus crisis.
Fashion and beauty brands

are shifting gears to make
masks and hand sanitiser
Factories that usually produce fashion and beauty products are shifting gears and joining the fight
against COVID-19.
Kering SA, the conglomerate behind luxury fashion labels Balenciaga and Saint Laurent, said it
would switch factory operations to producing surgical masks for French hospitals, with the
approval of health authorities.
Inditex, which owns fashion retailer Zara, said it was looking into ways to convert part of its textile
manufacturing capacity in Spain to make hospital gowns.
It was also planning to donate 300,000 masks and make its logistics and supplier network
available to meet demand of emergency medical supplies.
H&M has followed suit and has offered to donate and source supplies of protective masks,
gowns and gloves to countries most affected in the EU.
Luxury firm LVMH, which owns Louis Vuitton, Bulgari, TAG Heuer and many other brands, will use
its perfume production infrastructure to make hand sanitiser.
“LVMH will use the production lines of its perfume and cosmetic brands... to produce large
quantities of hydroalcoholic gels,” the company said in a statement.
Image: REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
And the company is not stopping there. LVMH, a partner of the Forum, has also pledged to work
with a Chinese industrial supplier to secure 10 million surgical face masks which will be
distributed to French health services.
The cloud is keeping

education going during the
COVID-19 crisis in Bahrain
With COVID-related school closures increasing globally, across the Middle East companies are
asking: how can the cloud power schools and universities to run their classes remotely?
Bahrain’s Ministry of Education has worked with the Kingdom’s Information & eGovernment
Authority to create a dedicated electronic education portal - used by students to view lessons,
download education materials, complete their homework online, and participate in discussions
with classmates.
As of mid-March, the total number of students using the portal was 146,498, and 15,681 teachers.
This, in addition to government-mandated use of the cloud, means Bahrain, with its cloud-first
vision, has ensured continuity of education nationwide during the COVID crisis.
The Tata Group pledges $200

million for affected
communities, free education
software and a COVID-19
patient tracker to fight the

virus
Tata Consultancy Services, Strategic Partner of the World Economic Forum and member of the
COVID Action Platform, has pledged funds, offered free education software and harnessed
research expertise in the fight against COVID-19.
The larger Tata Group has pledged more than US $200 million to protect and empower affected
communities - working closely with the governments in countries where they operate. The funds
will provide personal protective equipment for health workers on the frontline, respiratory
systems, testing kits, treatment facilities and training for health workers.
Tata is also working on a COVID-19 patient tracker for clinical trials and harnessing their expertise to explore
promising ideas for affordable and effective ventilators and medical kits.Their research and development is
focused on addressing the highest priority needs worldwide.
CEO and Managing Director of Tata Consultancy Services, Rajesh Gopinathan, has urged all
companies to be leaders in responding to the COVID crisis globally.
The company has also made their distance learning software platform available for free to
educational institutions. The mobile and web platform empowers educators to engage with
students in real time - sharing educational materials including videos, assignments and
assessments in an interactive way - with even the option to simulate live classroom teaching.
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5/24/2020 COVID-19: How companies are responding | World Economic Forum

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