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News
N° 74. Special Edition
GMV fighting
COVID-19
Covclear Covclear, to ensure a safer return to work Covclear is a mobile control app created and developed by GMV to make sure offices will be a safe workplace while minimizing the risk posed to the health of employees or other persons who are working in open workplaces in an environment of maximum safety and protection. Born originally from the company’s own need and developed in collaboration with medical- and privacy-experts, Covclear is fruit of GMV’s previous experience and expertise in the development of mobile apps and technology. To find out more: marketing.global@gmv.com gmv.com
N° 74
Special Edition
CONTENTS
Published 4 LETTER FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER
GMV
Editorship-Coordination
5 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
6
Marta Jimeno, Marta del Pozo.
THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC: A WATERSHED IN MANKIND’S C21ST
Area Heads LIFESTYLE
Antonio Hernández, Miguel Ángel Molina,
José Prieto, Javier Zubieta. - Showing the space sector’s solidity and strategic importance
Jorge Potti, General Manager Space
Writing
Antonio Abascal, Jorge Alonso, Luis Javier - The strategic importance of aeronautics-, defense- and security-activities
Álvarez, Mar Andrés, Alfredo M. Antón, Antonio Manuel Pérez Cortés, General Manager of Defense and Security
Manuel Araujo, Luis Fernando Álvarez-Gascón,
Isabel Bachiller, Jesus David Calle, María Jesús - The Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) sector in times of COVID-19
Calvo, Maole Cerezo, João Miguel Cintra, Pablo Miguel Ángel Martínez Olagüe, General Manager Intelligent Transportation Systems
Colmenarejo, Enrique Crespo, Marta Cueto,
Neusa de Almeida Cunha, Marco Donadio, Diego - Towards a more innovative, digital and sustainable recovery
Escobar, Pedro Fernandes, Jaime Fernandez, Luis Fernando Álvarez-Gascón, General Manager of Secure e-Solutions
Teresa Ferreira, Raquel Fernández, Alberto
de la Fuente, Pablo García, Roberto García,
Alberto Nicolás Gentil, Javier Gómez, Jonás
15 THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR UP AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
Gómez, Carlos González, David González, Pedro
- María Neira, Director of the Public Health, Environment and Social Determinants of Health
González, Kevin Grant, Sergi Güell, Cristina
Hernández, Rachel Jenkins, Marta Jimeno, Department of the World Health Organization (WHO)
Rafał Krzysiak, Fátima López, Antonio Lozano,
- Carlos Castillo-Salgado, Professor of Epidemiology and Director of the Global Public Health
Arturo Martín, Belén Martín, Miguel Ángel
Martínez, Carlos Jesús Moreno, Héctor Naranjo, Observatory of Johns Hopkins University
José Neves, Antonio Pastor, Manuel Pérez,
- Julio García Pondal, Medical Director and acting manager of the Hospital Universitario
Eric Polvorosa, Jorge Potti, Marta del Pozo,
Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda
Ignacio Ramos, Enrique Rivero, Irma Rodríguez,
Leticia Rodríguez, Javier Sanz, Daniel Sánchez, - Juan José Pérez Blanco, General manager of the concessionaire company Hospital
Fabrizio Saponaro, Tatiana Teresa, María Victoria
Majadahonda, S.A. and director of operations of the IFEMA COVID-19 Hospital
Toledano.
- Humberto Arnés, CEO of Farmaindustria
Art, design and layout
Paloma Casero, Verónica Arribas.
29 TALENT IN THE TIMES OF COVID-19
MORE INFORMATION - A chance to look back and learn lessons for the future
marketing@gmv.com Ignacio Ramos Gorostiola, Chief People Strategy & Infrastructure Officer
+34 91 807 21 00
- GMV Talent
Magazine Nº. 74. Second quarter of 2020
© GMV, 2020 40 GMV AT PRESENT
3 GMV NEWS 74
Letter from the
general manager
JESÚS B. SERRANO
“The war slipped in silently, without wishes for a quick recovery for everyone
knocking first. Its greeting was an who has suffered from the illness and is
implosion and we collapsed. Life, still getting over it.
bypassing time, was hung up on a peg.
Our identity floated off into a white We at GMV are well aware of our huge
sea. Then we were always behindhand. responsibility towards our clientele
Distance irrupted, inundating all, leaving and the public at large. Prioritizing the
no space. Uncertainty choked us while health of our staff, we have managed
onlookers gawped. And we got lost to stifle the pandemic’s impact on our
in a swamp of imposed choices and operations. Teleworking has been set up
begging for it all to stop. We were left for practically the whole staff, except
floating every day in the inertia of all for essential services in our offices. This
these tears. Like puppets. There was was made possible by the commitment
no pattern, no rules or truce. We simply and responsibility of each and every
floated. Drifting. When we got to the one of GMV’s personnel, as well as the
other shore the undertow told us spring flexibility and understanding of our
had gone.” clients where mobility restrictions did
inevitably impinge on our operations.
What better way of rendering a
well-deserved tribute to healthcare It’s possible that in the distant future
professionals than the worlds of a young everything will be virtual with no
doctor at the start of her career, who personal interactions at all. In the short
has suffered the pandemic in the front term, however, although there will be
line? In the name of GMV we would like a before and after of this pandemic, I’m
to hail all healthcare personnel who sure personal interaction will still be
have risked their own lives to save crucial in our personal and professional
others and have lived in the maelstrom lives. We’ll therefore have to live with
of the pandemic, suffering daily in the virus, carrying out our personal
empathy with their patients at work and and professional activities with due
their relatives at home. application of necessary protection
measures to reduce the risk of contagion
Last day of June 2020. The figures are for ourselves, our relatives, friends and
harrowing: over ten million COVID-19 workmates.
cases and over half a million deaths
worldwide. If the death of a single We at GMV will be more than
relative, a single friend or acquaintance ever determined to spearhead the
is painful, how much pain must have development of hi-tech innovation,
been generated by the death of over deeply proud of what we do, because
five hundred thousand people? Not to situations like this bring out the huge
mention the pain and suffering of the importance of working towards a
millions of people who have suffered knowledge-based society.
the disease. My heartfelt condolences go
out to all clients, employees, partners, Jesús B. Serrano
collaborators and suppliers who have
lost a loved one in this pandemic and my
4
Letter from
the president
MÓNICA MARTÍNEZ
The COVID-19 pandemic poses an of all patients, be it of COVID-19 or of
unprecedented challenge that can other illnesses, the next challenge is to
be overcome only with a responsible recover our lost freedoms, pick up all of
attitude from the whole society. A new our activities and restore those human
and therefore unknown illness that can interactions that are impossible online,
be slight or even asymptomatic in some doing so without causing another
cases and lethal in others has forced us coronavirus spike.
all to take drastic measures. We’ve had
to accept curtailment of basic freedoms The solution to the pandemic lies in
in our personal and professional lives, science, with an unparalleled amount of
while economic activity has ground to resources now being spent worldwide
a halt. to speed up development of a vaccine
and treatment for the disease.
GMV is not immune to this situation, Technology, well used, is the solution to
but we’ve managed to get over this limit the damage until then and to come
first stage without too many problems out of this crisis all the stronger.
and have even been able to continue
growing as a firm and take on new staff. Mónica Martínez
This success is due to a host of factors.
Our IT prowess enabled us to broaden
existing teleworking arrangements
and roll them out for the whole staff.
Early preparation owing to our risk
management culture, together with an
unflagging effort by our IT team enabled
us to get these systems up and running
even before the lockdown hit. This same
culture has pushed us to uphold a solid
financial position that now enables us
to manage delays in cash-flow, partly
due to travel restrictions making it
impossible to complete certain project
milestones, partly due to the difficulties
some of our clients are going through.
But the main factor that has been
key to our success in weathering the
storm is the determination of GMV’s
exceptional team to keep their projects
going, adapting their ways of working
and communicating to suit.
Once the prime goal of reducing the
crippling strain on health resources is
achieved to enable optimal treatment
5 GMV NEWS 74
ARTICLE
Last December a local SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in the Chinese city HOW IT ALL BEGAN; WHAT
of Wuhan proved to be the start of a worldwide epidemic and WE KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS
Sars-CoV-2 (COVID-19) was first
healthcare crisis affecting all five continents, taking a terrible
detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan
death toll and bringing the world’s economy to a grinding halt. on 1 December 2019. It bears at least
Current forecasts, moreover, are continually lengthening the a 70% resemblance to the Severe
likely recovery time once the pandemic is over. Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
epidemic in 2002-2003. On 9 January
2020 the first COVID-19 death occurred
Disbelief and consternation, hospitals teetering on the brink in Wuhan; by 19 January 201 cases had
of collapse, shortage of stocks and respirators, inefficient been detected in three countries: China,
testing systems, shaky epidemiology models and studies, Thailand and Japan. Cases came to light
in Europe in late January with deaths
healthcare personnel and front-line employees affected, in Europe by mid-February. By the end
balcony applause, purblind politicians, rampant fake news, of February over 85,000 cases had
researchers rushed off their feet, vaccines promised in been detected and the virus was now
present in all continents. On 11 March
record time, lockdown, social distancing, the importance
the World Health Organization declared
of wearing facemasks, teleworking, reconciliation of home the outbreak to be a pandemic; on
and working lives, online education. The COVID-19 pandemic 14 March Spain, taking its cue from
has temporarily changed our lives and made us think hard other countries, enforced a national
lockdown. By the end of June the
about the future. And even though the situation is now worldwide toll was over 10,450,628
less frenetic, until a vaccine or effective virus treatment is cases and more than 510,632 deaths in
available, we are still a long way from the end. 193 countries.
6
The coronavirus pandemic: a watershed in mankind’s C21st lifestyle
The coronavirus
pandemic: a watershed
in mankind’s C21st
lifestyle
There are still many unanswered Bangladesh, Canada and South Africa, public transport and much traveling
questions about COVID-19. The while China, the original epicenter of abroad.
incidence and death-rate picture is so the pandemic back in December 2019,
patchy that the scientific community has officially recorded over 83,000 The age structure seems to be another
has not been able to reach a reliable cases. important factor in COVID-19 incidence,
consensus. as well as the particular sociability
Attempts to solve the undercounting mores of each country: some cultures
As of late June the most severely of cases are still hit and miss, varying tend to keep a greater distance while
affected country in the world was the as records are updated and the illness others favor closer physical contact of
United States, with over 2.6 million continues to evolve, especially outside hands, faces and bodies.
cases and more than 127,000 deaths, western countries. This patchiness
followed by Brazil, which has topped is even worse if we factor in the Bearing all this in mind, the most
one million cases and 58,000 deaths, asymptomatic or almost unnoticeable affected countries should be the ones
and Russia, with nearly 646,000 cases infections. with the highest age profiles, large
and a relatively low death figure of built-up areas with high population
9300. Bearing in mind the virus’s main density, high mobility levels and a
transmission vectors, its spread tendency to physical closeness. This
Next in line come India with over depends heavily on certain factors does tally with Spain and other western
566,000 cases and the UK, with over such as population density and travel European countries but it doesn’t
314,000. Peru, Spain, Chile and Italy flows with areas that have developed always prove a perfect fit elsewhere.
have all recorded about 250,000 cases, high rates. This would account for the Japan, for example, the country with
while Iran, Germany, Turkey, Pakistan lower incidence in low-population- the oldest population, high population
and Mexico are approaching the density, less-connected countries and density and interconnections with China,
200,000 threshold. Below the 100,000 the higher rate in large conurbations the eye of the storm, has recorded very
threshold are France, Saudi Arabia, with high dwelling occupancy, crowded few deaths.
7 GMV NEWS 74
ARTICLE
And although social-distancing, the on lessons learnt from their own and and subsequent 7.3% recovery; Mexico,
widespread wearing of facemasks and others’ experience, so, in a way, all are with a 10.5% drop and 3.3% recovery
use of mobile Apps have all served as learning from each other in a continual afterwards; the UK with a 10.2% fall to
protection measures, it is highly likely feedback of experiences, successes and claw back 6.3%; or Brazil, with a 9.1%
that there are other salient factors too. failures. downturn and subsequent 3.6% rise.
The first scientific studies have been
putting forward explanations such ECONOMIC IMPACT For Germany the IMF is predicting a
as different virus strains or genetic Assessing the impact of a crisis smaller fall of 7.8% and a subsequent
traits rendering the population more is no easy matter. There is little bounce back of 5.4% the following
vulnerable. previous information to go on and the year; the US is looking at an 8%
geographical spread and timing is not shrinkage and 4.5% growth in 2021 and
Another crucial element, of course, clear yet. Japan is thought likely to suffer a 5.8%
is the public health response and dip followed by 2.4% growth. In all IMF
healthcare capacities. A lack of Now that, hopefully, the most critical is forecasting a worldwide contraction
experience in dealing with pandemics, pandemic phase is over, most of the of 4.9%, much higher than last April’s
belated social distancing or pundits’ economic predictions are prediction of a 3% fall and a whopping
mobility-constraint measures and poorly distinctly downbeat. 5.4% rebound the following year.
equipped hospitals are other key factors.
The International Monetary Fund The COVID-19 pandemic has therefore
African countries have recorded low (IMF) has recently published its World had a much more adverse effect than
virus death rates. This could be due Economic Outlook, downgrading its April originally expected in the first half of
to a more favorable blend of the forecasts when it was predicting, for 2020, so IMF is now downgrading the
abovementioned factors plus other example, that Spain’s GDP would dip by pickup scenarios. It is now warning
variables that might also be important 8% this year as a result of the COVID-19 that the impact on low-income
here (climate, population levels, crisis, rebounding by 4.3% in 2021. households could be particularly acute,
genetics) or, conversely, to the fact undermining the steady progress made
that the illness is still spreading. Other Now IMF is predicting for Spain the since the nineties in reducing extreme
possible explanations are greater world’s biggest shrinkage, plummeting poverty and inequality around the
experience in dealing with epidemics or 12.8% this year. According to this IMF world.
simply faulty recording of cases. report, only Italy would suffer a similar
fall: 12.8% this year to pick up by 6.3% Although acknowledging that some
Amidst all this uncertainty the following year. France is close countries, especially in Europe, have
governments are basing their policies behind these two, with a 12.5% slide managed to rein in the consequences
8
The coronavirus pandemic: a watershed in mankind’s C21st lifestyle
by setting up an effective gig economy, necessary wherewithal to deal with businesses going, so across-the-board
IMF is nonetheless pointing out that any second wave, while also asking digitization (including digital health
the hours lost in Q1 were tantamount richer countries to help others with technologies, which have come in
to 130 million jobs, according to figures fewer healthcare resources, even with really handy during the pandemic for
of the International Labor Organization cash handouts if necessary. monitoring, identifying and guiding
(ILO), expecting this figure to top 300 citizens’ health) would now seem
million in Q2. And just important as the depth of to be essential in these new times.
the dip is its duration in time. This, in Furthermore, technology like robotics,
The IMF in fact is continually updating turn, will depend on the duration of artificial intelligence and big data now
its predictions, always with the caveat the epidemic itself, the contagion rate, needs to be taken up by all sectors,
that COVID-19’s trend cannot be herd immunity levels and the alacrity with cybersecurity to the fore as a
second-guessed. Countries still fighting in developing vaccines or effective guarantee of trustworthiness. The
to control virus spread will need to treatment. so-called “new normality” is here to
keep lockdown conditions in force stay for a while and the demand for
longer, with an inevitable additional TRANSFORMATION OF digital working schemes is soaring.
cost to their economic activity. PRODUCTIVE MODELS
The world has now seen a digital Countries’ recovery will have to be
As for countries with falling infection acceleration that was unthinkable only underpinned by a new reliance on
rates, IMF explains its more pessimistic three months back, and some fleet- strategic and forward-looking sectors,
outlook in terms of the following footedness has been called for adapt knitting together the industrial fabric
factors: a slower pickup than originally to this new situation. and generating quality jobs. Specific
envisaged as social distancing plans will have to be implemented,
measures are maintained, activity hit Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, factoring in the new features of
harder than expected in Q1 and Q2 pundits were flagging up problems in digitization, mobility and sustainability.
of 2020 and an additional brake on countries’ productive models. If we
productivity as companies that have now factor in the pandemic’s effects, THE AFTERMATH AND
weathered the storm increase their therefore, these shortfalls need to SUSTAINABILITY
workplace health and safety protocols. be urgently addressed, turning this Environmental concerns are looming
new situation, if possible, into a large in this crisis. There seems to be a
IMF is also urging all countries, transformation opportunity. general consensus that this pandemic
including those that have ostensibly is closely bound up with the ongoing
passed the peak infection rate, to make Many sectors have suddenly had to destruction of ecosystems, illegal
sure their healthcare systems have the take up digital tools to keep their trafficking of animals and globalization.
9 GMV NEWS 74
ARTICLE The coronavirus pandemic: a watershed in mankind’s C21st lifestyle
world where natural catastrophes
seldom occur. Sars-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
has therefore come as a harsh reality
check, betraying the underlying
vulnerability of today’s societies. For
the first time in many generations a
real threat has been hovering over us
on a daily basis. We need to become
aware of the economic, social and
healthcare challenge that is still
awaiting us.
We are dealing here with an
unprecedented situation and the
psychological scars it might leave
are hard to predict. Post traumatic
stress disorder would seem most
likely for those who have been
hardest hit by the pandemic but no
one is immune. Factor in too the high
number of deaths of loved ones and
the impossibility on many occasions
of bidding them farewell properly, and
post-pandemic depression scenarios
Ironically, one of the most striking time many voices are being raised seem even likelier.
effects of the economic slowdown, urging us to take advantage of the
with the concomitant fall in activity, transformation opportunities offered by Of course we’ve learnt a lot from
energy demand and travel, has been an the “new normality”. this crisis. The experience has been
upturn in many environmental indices. harrowing but there is reason for
Nature seems to be on the mend; toxic Special mention here must go to the optimism too. The scientific community
emissions and GHG emissions have contribution made by environment- is making an unprecedented effort to
both dropped; noise levels have fallen monitoring space infrastructure. The decipher the virus and find out the best
too, with beneficial effects for human Copernicus program, for example, way of combating it. Probably never
health and urban ecosystems. Although led by the European Commission, in before in the history of humankind
desirable, however, this flash-in-the- collaboration with the European Space has so much information been shared
pan effect has been achieved at a Agency, is now inputting environmental between teams from different
heavy cost for a society already hit data and tools of vital importance countries or such a huge collective
hard by a health crisis. for making further headway in effort been made. This is good news
COVID-19 research and monitoring the because the long-term solution can
Conversely, one of the lockdown atmosphere of virus-affected areas. come only from shared knowledge and
effects has been a relegation of The information given by such systems concerted effort.
environmental concerns due to the is in general precise, timely and easily
healthcare emergency. The surge in accessible in the ongoing effort to In the future maybe other pandemics
single-use plastic, moreover, could act improve environmental management, await us. Other challenges, health-
as a further drag in the fight against mitigate climate change and guarantee based or otherwise, might also lie in
pollution. safety. store for us. Without the support of
science and technology we are unlikely
The economic downturn sparked off FUTURE to be able to cope with them. And the
by the pandemic is starving the UN’s Wars, nowadays, tend to happen carrying out of hi-tech, forward-looking
Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development well beyond our borders; we are also initiatives is precisely GMV’s strong
Goals of resources. At the same lucky enough to live in a part of the suit.
The information given herein is general in character. We have striven to make sure it is accurate and up to date at the time of writing but we cannot
guarantee there have not been other further changes by the time you are reading it.
Sources: Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering, official health ministries, World Health Organization, IMF, Elcano Royal Institute for
International and Strategic Studies (Real Instituto Elcano de Estudios Internacionales y Estratégicos), KPMG.
10OPINION
Jorge Potti
General Manager Space
biggest industrial group, behind only the
great French, Italian and German groups. In
Spain 1 out of every 4 engineers working in
the space sector does so in GMV.
The widespread shock and worldwide
crisis sparked off by COVID-19 should not
have a negative impact on the space
sector in the medium or long term. Quite
the contrary. This crisis has brought
out the strategic importance of the
space sector, underlining its essential
role in the provision of services such as
communications, the environment, geo-
information, transport, healthcare and
security. All the world’s great economies
have unanimously reaffirmed the strategic
value of the space sector. Its ongoing
contribution to society, its innovativeness
and value-creation capacity all bode well
for the future.
For GMV the space programs of the
European Union and the ESA are crucial.
Showing the space sector’s solidity and We look to them as a benchmark and
they inspire us to our greatest feats of
strategic importance technological development. At the end
of 2019 Seville hosted the ESA’s Council
at Ministerial Level. It turned out to be
he space sector, albeit special industry support measures set up a notable success, chalking up record
T less exposed than other
industrial sectors, has hardly
come unscathed through
by ESA, the European Commission and
EUMETSAT, among others. Add to that our
teams’ technological savviness, boundless
subscription levels for the whole set of
member states and many of the countries
where GMV does business. At the moment
these months of pandemic. Some creativity, upbeat commitment and we are eagerly awaiting EU’s ratification
programs have fallen behind schedule; unflagging endeavor. Over 90% of our staff of a space program of equal stature for
some launch bases and factories have are now working from their homes but the 2021-27 period. This would establish
been shut down; production has run we have nonetheless managed to keep a comforting window of certainty for us
into difficulties; supply chains have been up our normal rate of production, hitting to create cutting-edge technology, swell
broken; events have been cancelled; project deadlines while carrying out a brisk our value chain, break into international
payments have fallen into arrears commercial activity. And we have never markets and up our investment level to
and financial markets have creaked at stopped recruiting; GMV has continued to suit.
the seams. GMV has faced up to this grow throughout this whole period.
situation with great resilience and We at GMV reaffirm our unflinching
responsibility. Our number-one priority We at GMV are ever mindful of the commitment to our employees and our
– the safety of our staff and society as responsibility that goes with our society. We will continue spearheading
a whole permitting – has been to keep leadership and specific weight in the technological development to help Spain’s
our operations going, our products on whole set of Spain and Europe’s space companies create new jobs, wealth and
delivery and our services running. industry. We currently have 1,300 people nurture the welfare and security of all our
working in the space sector, representing fellow citizens.
We have got through these months with 3% of the European industry’s upstream
the support of our clients, particularly the workforce. This makes us Europe’s 6th Space still has a brilliant future ahead of it.
11 GMV NEWS 74OPINION
Manuel Pérez Cortés
General Manager of Defense and Security
might be irreparable. In the specific
case of defense, it would also imply
a loss of national sovereignty. These
are strategically important industrial
sectors; their exporting and innovation
capacity also galvanize the whole
economy.
Essential measures include
continuance of the major defense
programs such as the F-110 frigates,
already underway, or the VCR 8x8
vehicle, as well as the aeronautics
trainer or the decided commitment
to the FCAS/NGWS project. These
programs are not only necessary for
armed forces’ operation; they also
have a huge knock-on effect and job-
generating capacity. This has to go
hand in hand with a reinforcement of
defense R&D.
Another key factor in this reactivation
process is the European Development
The strategic importance of Fund (EDF), which the European
Commission’s has trimmed back for
aeronautics-, defense- and security- the coming years. Fundamental here is
the Ministry of Defense’s support for
activities the participation of Spanish companies
in these funds as well as the increase
in the money earmarked for this
taff-wide teleworking in the force-majeure justification of participation. Especially gratifying
S a company like GMV, at
first brought in due to
any breaches to signed contracts.
The Ministry of Defense, from the
here is the fact that, according to the
recently announced results of the
external circumstances, word go and from the very top level, EDIDP 2019 program, GMV is one of the
has turned out to be a hugely potent offered GMV help in meeting any few European firms selected to work
and efficient way of continuing our of its needs in this extraordinary in 4 projects.
activity. The technological resources situation. Equally noteworthy was the
made available by GMV have flexibility of international aeronautics It’s hard to read the future. But there is
guaranteed business continuity in and defense-and-security agencies no doubt that the aeronautics, defense
the areas of aeronautics, defense and we traditionally work with, like and security industries will not be
security plus continual online contact FRONTEX, EDA, the European External immune to the economic crisis sparked
between all staff members, clients Action service (EEAS) and the NATO off by the coronavirus pandemic. Some
and partners. Communications and Information effects are already evident in the
Agency (NCIA). supply chain, production centers and
Clients and government authorities exportation. GMV, however, has been
have also risen to the challenge, Up to now GMV’s aeronautics, defense investing for decades in R&D and the
tackling the constraints we have and security activities have suffered development of various technological
all had to tussle with. They have no great disruption. Even so, if the skills; this has enabled it to win pole
pulled out all the stops in order to lockdown-exiting strategy fails to position in these sectors and build up a
offer instant support and recognize reinforce these sectors, the effects worldwide trade around them.
12OPINION
Miguel Ángel Martínez Olagüe
General Manager Intelligent Transportation Systems
clients of the two main markets
we work in, public transport and
the automotive industry, have been
severely affected by the pandemic,
some of them seeing a 95% revenue
drop. The impact on many of our
clients is also likely to be long-lasting,
well beyond the health crisis itself,
since pre- COVID-19 mobility levels will
be difficult to recover. Some changes
like teleworking or videoconferencing
have been more widely taken up
and are now here to stay, reducing
the future mobility demand. On the
other hand, the severe economic
crisis is going to hit this demand hard
worldwide.
The medium- to long-term impact
of this shrinking mobility demand
on the ITS industry in general and
on GMV in particular is very hard to
predict at the moment. The truth is
that we are now witnessing a big
The Intelligent Transportation slump in our clients’ new initiatives;
if this lasts throughout the rest
Systems (ITS) sector in times of of the year, the 2021 effect will be
big. It is obvious that our clients
COVID-19 currently have bigger things to
think about than modernization and
phasing in new systems, but these
ue to the type of ITS activity deemed to be an essential routine activities should pick up once
D activities GMV carries out,
the pandemic lockdown
service and never interrupted at
any time was the maintenance of
the pandemic has passed. Our range
of products and services, moreover,
had a bigger impact on our public-transport smart systems. is necessary for their ongoing
our department’s operations. True it Despite all these constraints, thanks operations, cost reduction and even
is that some activities like software to the effort and inventiveness of our confronting the pandemic itself with
development or electronics design, for staff, we have managed to keep up to greater security. Take the case of
example, lend themselves perfectly schedule in most of our projects and our public-transport fare payment
well to teleworking mode. Other services. systems, which are cutting out
activities, however, like integration, the use of cash and thus reducing
production- or laboratory-testing In the short term the ITS industry has the risk of virus-spread by coins
or equipment repair call for on-site not been especially badly affected. and notes; another good example
presence of workers; these have been These are development, implementation would be ecodriving systems, which
affected at times or even shut down or system-maintenance projects, reduce both running costs and the
completely. Also severely constrained sometimes involving multiannual ecological footprint. Likewise, in a
were our activities carried out on contracts that have not been different area, city access control
clients’ sites, like delivery, installation cancelled due to the COVID lockdown, systems, which are going to be
and testing of in-vehicle onboard though they may have suffered necessary to manage the private
equipment. The only face-to-face temporary delays. Nonetheless, the vehicle’s mobility demand.
13 GMV NEWS 74OPINION
Luis Fernando Álvarez-Gascón
General Manager of Secure e-Solutions
sector, ICT in particular, will not be
the worst affected. The demand for
telecommunications services has soared
by over 50%, largely bound up with
the massive takeup of teleworking
(over 80% of companies, according to
some pundits), with a strong boost to
collaboration and cybersecurity services.
The sector, however, will not be immune
to the economic difficulties of its
clients. Over 40% of ICT companies have
issued downbeat expectations for this
year, while global forecasts point to a
slump in demand, albeit less than in the
economy as a whole. The devil is in the
detail; there are bound to be losers and
some big winners.
In any case I would argue that the
economy as a whole will take up
technology more intensively in
groundbreaking applications and
business models adapted to a new
context. Digitization and sustainability
Towards a more innovative, digital and are the main thrusts of companies for
the future. All sectors will be moving
sustainable recovery towards greater automation and a
transformation of employment. Artificial
intelligence, the cloud, 3D printing, IoT,
e’re still pinching ourselves management. All these are factored together with other sustainability-
W to see if the difficult
weeks we’ve just lived
through and the uncertain
into our business project.
GMV has come through the first round
related technologies, all taken up more
intensively, are going to enjoy a huge
leg-up, with cybersecurity and privacy
time now looming are not all just of the pandemic with flying colors. to the fore. Governments will have a
a bad dream after watching some The two basic pillars have been crucial role here, not only in terms of
science-fiction film. Our generation the behavior of our team and the the modernization of public services but
is facing a crisis of unprecedented performance of our client-centered also by launching major public-private
proportions. Other generations, much business-continuity strategies. Neither transformation initiatives in line with
worse off than us in terms of the one nor the other is the result of the pursuit of great social objectives like
arsenal of knowledge and collective improvisation. The short-term impact Agenda 2030.
discernment at their disposal, had their on the business of Secure eSolutions
own challenges to confront and came has been marginal, impinging only All sectors will now experience an
through OK. For that reason I believe on operations involving international accelerated digital transformation
we should look to the future with journeys. but healthcare in particular must be
some confidence. prompted by this pandemic to advance
Imagining the future is difficult amidst decidedly towards a concept that GMV
This experience raises a number a systemic crisis that will pan out one has been pursuing and developing for
of immediate issues: the value of way or another depending on decisions some time now, namely telemedicine
science, the importance of industry taken at various levels. I make bold and intensive use of data and artificial
and essential services, the potential of to suggest that the major political intelligence for the development of
information as a basic problem-solving initiatives, particularly Europe’s, are cutting-edge therapies. A promising
asset… and the importance of risk well thought out. The technological future beckons for GMV.
14The healthcare sector up
against the coronavirus
crisis
The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic is not the first of its sort we have had
to cope with, but it is one of a kind. The concentration of people in built-up
areas and the need to travel have spread the virus practically around the
world in no time at all.
In this special edition GMV is lucky enough to be able to quiz five standout
healthcare experts, to mine their thoughts about the various aspects of this
virus and the unprecedented healthcare crisis.
Such wide ranging themes as worldwide healthcare management; the
countries’ various responses to the pandemic; the behavior of the virus
itself; vaccine-testing, -research and -availability; the role of technology
in the fight against the pandemic; the challenges and improvement
opportunities of the health system, and the lessons learnt for dealing
with any future pandemics were analyzed by this illustrious panel, made
up by María Neira, Director of the Public Health, Environment and Social
Determinants of Health Department of the World Health Organization; Carlos
Castillo-Salgado, Professor of Epidemiology and Director of the Global Public
Health Observatory of Johns Hopkins University; Julio García Pondal, Medical
Director and acting manager of the Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro
Majadahonda; Juan José Pérez Blanco, General manager of the concessionaire
company Hospital Majadahonda, S.A. and director of operations of the IFEMA
COVID-19 Hospital; and Humberto Arnés, CEO of Farmaindustria.
15 GMV NEWS 74The healthcare sector up against the coronavirus crisis
María
Neira
Director of the
Public Health,
Environment and
Social Determinants
of Health
Department of
the World Health
Organization (WHO)
María P. Neira graduated in Medicine and
Surgery from Oviedo University. She
then specialized in endocrinology and
metabolic diseases at the Université
René Déscartes in Paris, France and
subsequently in human nutrition from
the Université Pierre et Marie Curie,
in Paris, France. She also holds the
international diploma in Emergency
Preparedness and Crisis Management
granted by the University of Geneva in
Switzerland. In her early career Doctor
Neira was the medical coordinator with
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors
without Borders) in refugee camps
in Salvador and Honduras. She later
joined the World Health Organization,
holding the posts of Director of the
Communicable Diseases Program What are the main activities of sanitation, air quality, pollution or
and Coordinator of the Global Task WHO’s Public Health, Environment chemical risk factors, ranging from
Force on Cholera Control. In 2002 she and Social Determinants of Health pesticides to chemical substances
moved to Madrid to take up the post Department? As director, your remit of daily use. We likewise keep a
of President of the Spanish Agency includes controlling, monitoring close eye on both ionizing and non-
of Food Security (Agencia Española and reporting on various diseases ionizing radiation, workplace health-
de Seguridad Alimentaria) of Spain’s on a worldwide level. How is this determining factors, occupational
Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs task carried out and through which health factors, the climate change,
(Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo de channels? etc. In short, we look at all health-
España). She held an undersecretary We (ourselves) like to classify determining factors across the
portfolio, holding responsibility for ourselves as the “armed wing of board and try to promote the most
drawing up and enforcing national food WHO’s primary prevention”, since favorable. As for instruments and
and nutrition plans. A few years later the department’s main activity tools, global public health is such
she returned to Geneva to continue is identifying which are the a wide-ranging concept that it is
her work with WHO; in 2005 she was environmental determinants of necessary to work with all available
appointed Director of the Public Health, good health or, on the contrary, the instruments, such as legal or
Environment and Social Determinants unleashing of a disease. We therefore regulatory instruments, looking for
of Health Department. focus on water quality, hygiene, the chance to change a law in a given
16María Neira
country and ascertaining the outcome disease control and prevention binding rulings for health crises
of this recommendation. Science also systems. It will also be necessary like the current one? Are mere
plays a crucial role here; we liaise to encourage healthier lifestyles, recommendations really enough?
permanently with a huge number identify vulnerabilities and build walls When this crisis is over, I think it
of scientists and experts, including and barriers against the spread of will then be necessary to look back
organizations like NASA and ESA, infectious diseases. and decide which global healthcare
whose data help us, for example, to architecture we want. WHO is
determine and detect a city or zone’s In light of results, has most currently made up by 194 countries
air quality. We use digital, awareness- governments’ response to the and has considerable scientific status
raising tools and basic communication sars-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic but little legal clout. We do have
tools. In sum, instruments and tools recommendations been worse in two instruments with a certain legal
to influence governments and exploit comparison to past alerts? purchase, namely, the International
our leverage by bringing together Every virus has its own story to tell. Health Regulations and the
various international experts to make I personally have experienced several Framework Convention on Tobacco
recommendations, turn them into in recent years and each one has Control, albeit with certain limitations
public-health recommendations and, its own special connotations. The in the latter case. In this new global
where possible, make them legally variations are manifold: the historical health architecture I believe we will
enforceable. moment, the geopolitical moment have to reinforce some of WHO’s
and even the media response. This mandates, such as the case of
After decades fighting against lead pandemic has been very different for inspection. For example, when a false
in gasoline, pesticides, high sugar- several reasons. First and foremost, medicament market is detected, WHO
content in processed food and due to the role played by social media, can issue an alert but can exert no
various illnesses, how does WHO which now exert an unprecedented legal authority over the matter. Or in
now tackle pandemics? What health
alerts have WHO issued?
Health alerts cannot be taken
lightly. They act as a last-ditch
«Health alerts act as a last-ditch
call-of-attention to extraordinary call-of-attention to extraordinary
events deemed to pose a health
risk to the public health of several events deemed to pose a health risk
nations, and calling for a concerted
international response. In WHO we to the public health of several nations,
fight on three main fronts. Firstly,
there are interventions to ensure a
and calling for a concerted international
healthy population and well-being, response»
including all health determinants and
how these can be reinforced to pre-
empt people falling ill. The second influence. Another major difference the specific case we are dealing with
front is universal health coverage, has been the proliferation of fake here, pandemics, these are a matter
healthcare itself and all the health news, or even the broadcasting of of international health security, so
systems, etc. And the third takes in information with good intentions but WHO could form part of the United
the whole gamut of emergency- and on a shaky scientific basis. In this Nations Security Council with the
epidemic-response or international pandemic there is a permanent state role, in these particular cases, of
health regulations, including not only of alert, and information is proving proposing a series of measures.
biological agents but also chemical crucial, for good or ill. Secondly, This look back would also have to
and radio-nuclear agents. We have to we are now at a juncture where take in the opposite case. There are
work on all three fronts; one cannot the leaders of certain political or some countries, and not especially
stand in for the other. In all, WHO has geopolitical blocs, such as China- small ones, that are looking to stop
issued six health alerts; when dealing USA, are politically conditioning the paying their WHO contributions.
with pandemics, although we try to response and management of the This would completely dilute WHO’s
continue working on each one, most health crisis. role, putting an end to globally
of our activity involves contention. organized response to questions
This pandemic is also going to require Just as there is a Court of Justice that, prima facie, it makes no sense
us to try to pinpoint the factors that of the European Union or the to confine within geographical or
have led us this juncture. A lot of International Court of Justice of the administrative borders. As I say, these
work will therefore need to be done in United Nations, both with binding are all questions that will need to be
order to prepare for a healthier future rulings, should there not also be properly analyzed after the pandemic
and analyze the current infectious- an organization with enforceably is over.
17 GMV NEWS 74ENTREVISTA
The healthcare sector up against the coronavirus crisis
On 30 January, one month after the planet, had never been taken. importance in this pandemic.
the first alert about this new This was an unprecedented step. WHO has always been backed and
illness, launched by China, WHO The most highly developed and supported by major technology firms
declared a Public Health Emergency wealthy economies, facing a grave in the development, for example, of
of International Concern for the problem of mental health, knock-on information Apps and channels for
outbreak of the coronavirus sars- socioeconomic problems and health combating fake news. Mention must
CoV-2 (COVID-19) in the Chinese systems buckling under a terrible also be made of virtual platforms
city of Wuhan. Why this delay in strain. This was certainly no bagatelle. for holding meetings or press
launching a worldwide alert? Is it Such arrangements call for highly conferences. Technology, therefore,
possible that the magnitude of the cogent and well thought-out political has been fundamental for us and of
pandemic was underestimated? responses. Personally, I wouldn’t like course we believe in it. Hindsight
On 30 January, when the Public to have been in the shoes of any of now tells us that a tracking App at
Health Emergency of International the heads of government who had the start of the outbreak would have
Concern (PHEIC) was declared, the to bring in these lockdowns. The been a huge help. As is only logical,
number of confirmed cases outside decision must have been daunting. however, the original emergency
China amounted to 82 with no deaths. response focused on the most urgent
Issuing an international alert of this Given the very different figures aspects.
magnitude can never be taken lightly; in confirmed cases and deaths
it is based on a decision taken by a reported in the north and south Until now a public-health reaction had
committee of experts, which only a of Europe, would you say that the never been necessary in Europe and
week earlier had been very divided in south European countries have been pandemics and infectious illnesses
its opinions. Things always need to caught napping? Do you believe that were thought to be impossible.
be placed in their context; with the the application of advanced digital Our epidemics were the chronic
information to hand at that time it analysis technology, data science, illnesses, the misnamed “epidemics”
was difficult to be certain about what AI, Apps, etc, by the least-affected of diabetes or obesity. An epidemic
was going to happen. Even so, on countries has been a crucial factor in of an infectious disease seemed
30 January the PHEIC was declared, containing the spread? unthinkable in Europe. In Africa or
warning that this virus was different, It is difficult to know now what tools other countries, maybe, but not in
a coronavirus, and that China was Lombardy, for instance, had to hand Europe.
issuing alerts about the problem. when the number of cases began
Working on the information to hand to rise. In medicine, if the public Are we now prepared for the next
at this time the arrangements made health system is not able to cope, epidemic or health crisis?
were logical and consistent with the stress is then laid on the patient. There would have to be many
established procedure. This patient-centered approach changes in our lifestyles. First and
cannot possibly deal with a public foremost our relationship with
What about the response of other health crisis of this size. Of course ecosystems. Climate change, the
countries? patients need to be treated, but a loss of biodiversity, environmental
As for the reaction of other countries,
I think this aspect needs to be placed
in context too. It is true that during «Until now a public-health reaction
January we all saw news footage
every night of what was happening
had never been necessary in Europe
in Wuhan: how a hospital was and pandemics and infectious
built in a few day: people wearing
space suits and PPE fumigating the illnesses were thought to be
streets, border closures, etc. The
general reaction was to think this impossible»
couldn’t happen in Europe; this is a
very human reaction. It was looked series of more general measures also matters, etc, are no longer a concern
at as something happening far needs to be brought in, like isolation, of four geeky environmentalists
away in a state with a given type quarantines, massive testing and or Greenpeace. It’s now a health
of political regime. Only months contact tracing, etc. So I think it was question. If we really want to be
later, however, countries that had a mistake to center on the illness and better protected and less vulnerable
never previously considered taking its treatment. In Italy, for that very we have to shore up these human-
measures of this type began to follow reason, the response of Veneto is wildlife barriers and restore our
suit, aping China’s arrangements always quoted, where they focused healthy relationship with ecosystems.
exactly. In recent years such on public health. As for technology, Most of these epidemics come from
lockdown measures, paralyzing half there can be no doubting its crucial animals. The human-animal barrier
18María Neira
has broken down and ecosystems have hasn’t peaked yet or that have fewer to assimilate it properly. The different
become modified. The population- recourses, so that they can benefit situation in each country also has to be
density problem also needs to be from other country’s experience factored in. In Africa, for instance, stay-
solved. We can’t just keep on building and thus recover more quickly and at-home campaigns just wouldn’t work;
these huge conurbations where efficiently? What role is technology in many rural areas there are not even
millions of people are packed into a playing in the knowledge transfer any houses and rather than families
few square meters. This population process and data handling between so there are community clusters. And
density is a hotbed for the spread of many different countries? in some areas of India hand-washing
any infectious agent. Lifestyles favoring Meetings that once took months to instructions would make little sense
obesity and sedentary habits also organize and had to be held in major when they have no soap and hardly any
need to be changed; we now know convention centers have now been water. In these different circumstances
they lead to diabetes and high blood replaced by video conferences, webinars technology could obviously be a big
pressure and it is also been proven or virtual meetings between a huge help in terms of passing on information
that such individuals are more prone number of varied experts. These hardly but deeper-lying problems still need to
to any virus-based illness. From the require any previous organization so be solved. It could be said that we are
other side, better epidemic-response the information pass-on is practically dealing here with two different worlds,
and healthcare-preparation systems instant. Another notable advance is one from the “Middle Ages” and another
also need to be set up, while digital- the consolidation of teleworking. As developed and sophisticated world,
transformation work obviously needs to for how this experience and these so technology savviness needs to be
be kept up. advances might benefit other countries, taken into account and governments
this depends more on the human factor need to be advised about the aspects
How is information now being passed than technology itself. One thing is to to be tackled or priorities to be set in
on to countries where the virus pass on information; quite another is different countries.
19 GMV NEWS 74The healthcare sector up against the coronavirus crisis
Carlos
Castillo-Salgado
Professor of
Epidemiology
and Director of
the Global Public
Health Observatory
of Johns Hopkins
University
Dr. Carlos Castillo-Salgado is
chair-holding professor in
epidemiology in the Epidemiology
Department; he is affiliated also
to the departments of Population,
Family and Reproductive Health,
Health Policy and Management and
the School of Medicine of Johns
Hopkins University. He is currently
director of the Global Public Health
Observatory.
He graduated in law from
Guadalajara university, qualified
as surgeon at Mexico National
University and took a Master and
PhD of Public Health in Johns
Hopkins University. It is said that history’s great murderers however, are a different story. It is
are invisible. Despite this, have we mainly them who have downplayed
For over 20 years he was overlooked the power of viruses? their importance and brought in public
epidemiology expert and director Scientists and epidemiologists have health cuts.
of the PanAmerican Health paid close attention to the new viruses
Organization. He was a pioneer that generated the major epidemics The first step is clearly understanding
in the development of the new of the 20th and 21st centuries. They what these viruses are, how they are
epidemiology and innovations in crop up every 4 or 5 years on a world transmitted, how they behave and
global public-health surveillance. level: HIV-AIDS; SARS, Influenza, affect people. But what do we really
His scientific contributions include Ebola, MERS-Cov, Nipah virus, Dengue, know about the Sars-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
global public health surveillance, Chikunguña, Lassa Fever, Rift Valley F, virus? What makes it especially
measurement of health inequalities, as well as those of measles, typhoid dangerous in comparison to others
GISs in healthcare and the fever, cholera, hepatitis, polio virus better known to the public at large?
development of new health metrics. and many more. A huge advance of Viruses leaping from an animal
historical proportions is the virus species (zoonosis) to humans, with
He has received many prizes and genomic mapping capacity, facilitating person-to-person contagion, pose a
awards and is epidemiology member the development of vaccines and huge danger to global public health.
of the Medicine Academy of Mexico. effective treatment. World leaders, Human beings have no immunological
20Carlos Castillo-Salgado
memory of these new viruses, so have been collaborating closely with low, so the risk of pandemic spread
everyone is prone to infection. The Chinese scientists in the whole process is high. Which do you see as the
virus is highly contagious, and although required for generating the natural most suitable pandemic-contention
the majority of suffers have only history of COVID-19 and have jointly measures without going back to
slight symptoms, these then become published the results. Generation of lockdown?
asymptomatic carriers unwittingly the natural history of the HIV-AIDS Until a vaccine and effective treatment
are available and proven in practice,
the only suitable strategy is social
«Climate change and pollution are distancing, the wearing of facemasks
and hygiene measures. The opening up
important co-factors in the rise or of economies should not mislead us
into thinking that the contagion risk
resurgence of these new viruses» has been eliminated. The contagion
risks are still there and may yet
increase if the social-distancing
infecting many others. There are high virus took several years; COVID-19, measures are not properly enforced.
risk groups within the population such only weeks. This has enabled us to This is already occurring in areas, cities
as the elderly and people with chronic ascertain the main infection-risk and countries that have opened up too
conditions that would have a higher factors or the death risk posed by this soon, with new waves of contagion
risk of dying if infected unless they virus in view of the largely unprepared springing up in groups that have broken
receive immediate ICU treatment. Other health systems and laggard response social distancing rules.
viruses might be even more virulent by most countries around the world.
but effective vaccines mean their Some firms like ours have been able
effect is lower than a new virus like Which technological tools are you using to keep up much of our activity by
COVID-19. to study the evolution, development means of teleworking. Even so, many
and spread of epidemics and pandemics of our operations have been affected
This is in many aspects an unknown like COVID? In the USA, is the mining of by social distancing measures and
virus. Do we know yet which factors clinical and epidemiological data with traveling restrictions. How long
affect its development and trend? Are artificial intelligence and big data now should we expect to live in this “new
weather, geographical area, pollution standard practice to generate scientific normality”? What awaits us in relation
and age important variables? evidence and aid decision-making? to this and other possible pandemics?
These viruses have been affecting Teleworking, social distancing, wearing
animals for many years, producing There are now excellent facemasks and hygiene measures are
zoonosis (animal illnesses). But to epidemiological surveillance tools likely to be with us for some time,
make the leap to humans there is and methods for early detection and even when vaccine(s) and effective
usually a need for a complicated warning in real time. The International treatment are available. A recent
transfer between three species, usually Health Regulations of 2005 overhauled survey of the American population
a bird species to a porcine species and the way surveillance is carried out showed that 30% of respondents
then on to humans. This is possible and opened up new opportunities for would not have the vaccine even
only with a massive simultaneous the introduction of new tools and when it becomes available. This
interchange between these three the use of artificial intelligence and will balk the generation of herd
species. In the past this transfer real-time distribution networks of immunity. For some time to come
from zoonosis to human infection epidemiological information. The main yet the control and prevention of
would have taken 100 years. Due to problem was the downplaying of this this pandemic will depend on the
globalization and production processes epidemic by politicians and limitation of zeitgeist behavior, prejudices and
and close intermingling of millions of the active and continuous participation false news. Recommended reading
humans with these two species, this of epidemiology and pandemic experts, here is: https://www.pewresearch.
transformation can now occur in 4-5 especially during the early stages, as org/fact-tank/2020/05/21/most-
years. Climate change and pollution well as starving these new systems americans-expect-a-covid-19-vaccine-
are important co-factors in the rise or and tools of funding. within-a-year-72-say-they-would-get-
resurgence of these new viruses. vaccinated/
After a lockdown period of varying Equally enlightening is this account
Do you think that if western doctors severity from country to country, of Republican voters’ view of the
had been able to study this virus in its reining in the exponential virus COVID-19 vaccine when available:
place of origin, China, they would have spread, these measures are now being https://www.cnet.com/news/over-40-
been better prepared for preventing eased off. There is as yet no efficient of-republicans-wrongly-believe-bill-
its worldwide spread? treatment and the vaccine is still a gates-will-use-covid-19-vaccines-to-
Western doctors and scientists long way off while herd immunity is implant-microchips-in-them/
21 GMV NEWS 74You can also read
