Crises are a catalyst for change - priorities are re-drawn and time, research and money are focused on finding solutions which drive innovation.
Take the First World War, where huge advancements were made in the field of medicine and society as women took on a greater role in the workplace.
Likewise, the Second World War prompted similar breakthroughs, ushering in the jet age.
While the coronavirus pandemic is dominating the headlines, the environmental crisis quietly lingers in the background.
Climate change is already driving innovation but it is within our energy and transport sectors that the opportunities are most thrilling.
According to the RAC Foundation, there are around 39 million licenced vehicles in Great Britain and, for the past three months, many of those have sat idle in driveways and depots.
Living in the city centre, like many others, I have appreciated the quieter roads and cleaner air. It has shown us an alternative future that many of us want to achieve and it's an ambition shared by our automotive industry.
The West Midlands is the heart of the 海角视频's automotive sector with a third of the country's car manufacturing based here, directly employing around 54,000 people.
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And, despite the bad news which seems to come almost daily, our automotive sector can still have a positive future if we take decisive steps right now.
It is a historic part of our regional identity - from the brands consigned to the Coventry Motor Museum through the style of the Morgan Motor Company in Worcestershire to the dynamism of Jaguar Land Rover.
But it also has a central place in our future identity as well.
Earlier this year, the Warwick Manufacturing Group opened its National Automotive Innovation Centre in Coventry - the largest R&D site of its kind in Europe.
This facility will spearhead the development of technology for the future including electric vehicles and autonomous piloting, alongside training for our workforce.
In order to remain competitive, clean electric cars of the future will need lighter, more efficient batteries - the heart of new auto technology.
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That is why the region is also home to the 海角视频's Battery Industrialisation Centre - a site dedicated to developing the 海角视频's battery technology.
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And it's why I am campaigning for a “Gigafactory” in the region, to ensure we have the capacity to support these essential technologies.
These new sites won't just support our burgeoning electric car industry but can have far wider applications - potentially revolutionising domestic energy production and storage.
One thing the coronavirus pandemic has shown us is the fragility of our supply networks. Relying on imports from other countries, many halfway across the globe, makes us vulnerable to disruption and local political issues.
Even in more stable times, importing heavy batteries contributes further to emissions that result in climate change.
Investing in domestic energy production, and the infrastructure to support it, will ensure a cleaner, greener and more reliable energy supply for the future.
Automotive companies, like JLR, are already investing in this future. Last year, it managed to halve emissions from its manufacturing sites, achieving carbon neutral status in the 海角视频.
This fantastic example of innovation shows what can be achieved. Now is the time for the Government to invest in this future as well.
I have been in discussions with the Business Secretary seeking swift action and to support the current industry and ensure it becomes a major investor in green transport technologies and thus one of Britain's success stories of the future.
If we do not act now to support the automotive industry, we will not see the benefits of its innovation.
While the 海角视频 considers whether or not to act, our competitors overseas are already driving ahead, developing sophisticated technology.
We don't want to be left idling on the starting line. Crises are often the catalyst for change and it is up to us to seize this opportunity.
Andy Street is mayor of the West Midlands