Foreword on sustainable industrial policy Klaus-W. West The ecological transformation requires sustainable industrial policy. This type of industrial policy has been largely shaped by different approaches based on an awareness of human ability to develop knowledge to facilitate change. 1 It involves consistent development of new ground, a capacity for conversion and transition, and an ability to connect, and to learn at a regional level. This type of industrial policy is distinguished by its 3-dimensional balance. It brings ecological, economic, and social interests into balance. The industrial policy that we are talking about is a basic element of social democracy. Key questions regarding this industrial policy are “how to”(greening, digitalisation, competitiveness), “where”(value chains, regions) and“who”(govern­ments, companies, unions, scientists). Ecological trans­formation cannot be limited just to the question of “How to”. This type of industrial policy has a European per­spective. We take a look at experiences from neo-in­dustrialisation in Germany and re-industrialisation in Spain. 2 The potential for a Transición ecológica y polí­1 See: Meier, C.: Die Entstehung des Politischen bei den Griechen , Suhrkamp, 1983, p. 435-500. 2 See: West, K. W.: Perspectivas para una política industrial sostenible en España , published by FES Spain,(forthcoming). tica industrial in Spain becomes visible. The European Community needs more than a policy of temporary transfer and joint debts. The coronavirus crisis and the significance of institutions that are capable of taking action No-one could have predicted the coronavirus pandemic. When it came, we did not have a bank of experience to allow us to handle it quickly and effectively. Germany was highly successful in limiting the deadly conse­quences of COVID-19. That country’s experiences with the crisis have set a standard for improved functional capability of central institutions. In Germany, crisis management based on scientific information started in time. 3 At an early stage German policy made it clear that its aim was to prevent deaths caused by COVID-19, and implemented rules for con­tact lock determinedly. A key requirement for this was a fast and widely available test. Inpatient facilities, and particularly intensive care units, received support rela­tively quickly, and the outpatient sector, which is a spe­3 See: Graf, J., von Butler, A., Reinhart, K.: Tödliche Lücken , Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung(FAZ) 27/05/2020. 55