Chapter 2: Cryonics in practice

Imagine it’s the year 2300. Your body is cryopreserved upside down in a cryogenic storage dewar at the European Biostasis Foundation's (EBF) long-term storage facility. You have been patiently awaiting the moment of revival for more than 200 years now. Cryonics has almost made it: sensational discoveries in nanotechnology have given it the boost and investment it needs to evolve. By now, most diseases are curable and various revival technologies are being tested. Unfortunately, however, a disastrous economic crisis a few years ago put Tomorrow.bio to the test. If you were not in complete biological pause, this would probably upset you. You cared about Tomorrow.bio, the Berlin-based cryonics company that had taken care of your cryopreservation in the first place. What will happen to you as Tomorrow.bio is, sadly, closing down? Will you be left to defrost now that you have come so close to your goal? Or perhaps the founders of Tomorrow.bio had already considered, over two decades ago, the possibility of bankruptcy and created a system that wouldn’t endanger their cryopreserved members?

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Is Tomorrow.bio prepared for bankruptcy?

The short answer is yes: Dr. Emil Kendziorra and Fernando Azevedo Pinheiro, founders of Tomorrow.bio, have considered the possibility of a future shutdown of their company. When you work in such a unique field, learning to think long-term is essential. Even if you love your company and know that you will put in all the effort to make it successful, you can't predict the future. An economic crisis, war, or internal discontent within the company could drive it into bankruptcy.

Sooner or later, it happens to most societies. Some perhaps manage to last several hundred years. A millennium is difficult but still achievable (the longest lasting society, the Japanese construction company Kongō Gumi, opened in 578 CE). Yet, when you are responsible for the life of your cryopreserved members, you have to find a solution before the problem arises (even if it never does). Tomorrow.bio's solution is a partnership with EBF.

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Tomorrow.bio & EBF, a partnership built to Llast

In short, Tomorrow.bio deals with day-to-day tasks, for which we need a more flexible and adaptable spirit. The member care, marketing, and, above all, the cryopreservation procedure is in the hands of Tomorrow Bio.

On the other hand, EBF deals with tasks for which we need to be more stable and secure. EBF is a non-profit organization based in Switzerland. It deals with biostasis research and the indefinite storage and possible future revival of Tomorrow's members. Switzerland is one of the most stable and liberal countries around the world, both economically and socially. Additionally, its legislation ensures that EBF remains dedicated to its mission. A perfect state for the long-term.

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So what would happen if Tomorrow.bio closed down?

Let us return to the scenario we pictured earlier. You are cryopreserved and Tomorrow.bio, for one reason or another, closes its doors. What will become of you?

The answer is simple. You will remain cryopreserved until future technology is able to cure the diseases that led to your legal death and revive you. Nothing will change. Once in the hands of EBF, you are safe for the long term.

There is, however, one exception. Think of your great-grandson who is signed up with Tomorrow.bio and still alive. Obviously, if the company closes, we will not be able to cryopreserve him when necessary. In this case, your great-grandchild will have a choice. Either he will terminate the contract, or he can transfer it to another cryonics provider. Who knows, maybe in 200 years there will be several he can choose from in Europe. In any case, since bankruptcy does not happen overnight, all members of Tomorrow.bio will be informed in advance of this eventuality. We will do our best to ensure that people who wish to be cryopreserved will be, either with us or with another organization.