Hidden Champions - New Rules of the Game in the Age of China

Why is Germany's export per capita twice as much as France's, four times as much as the USA's, and six times as much as Russia's? It's not about the power of large, well-known companies. The success of German exports is linked to the activities of hidden champions – little-known medium-sized companies. Hidden champions strive to be the best in their field, combining narrow specialization with globalization and maintaining a leading position in the global market.

However, hidden champions are facing new challenges of the time. Fierce competition from China has forced many industries to relocate to China, which holds a leading position in various markets. German hidden champions have already opened over 2000 factories in China, but this has proven insufficient. Other stages of the value creation chain, such as research and development, also need to be moved to China. Hidden champions are highly innovative companies. However, digitalization creates new difficulties for them. Furthermore, hidden champions need to attract and retain qualified, loyal employees from different countries. For Russian medium-sized businesses, hidden champions are the ideal example to emulate when it comes to optimal strategy and stable success in the age of China's dominance.