IfM Bonn News

Health and safety is a top priority for companies – not least because fewer workplace accidents and absences due to illness have a positive impact on business productivity.

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"The decline in profitability that many businesses have suffered in recent years has led to the number of business transfers currently stagnating," reported Dr Rosemarie Kay in mid-March at the Federal-State Committee for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses in Wiesbaden.

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Women are more rarely applying for bank loans for their businesses than men or mixed-gender teams. "The reason for this is not that they find it harder to obtain bank loans.

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In view of the geopolitical challenges, small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany seem unable to emerge from crisis mode. In addition, companies are faced with the task of mastering the ecological transition.

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In tax consultancy firms, artificial intelligence (AI) is used to automate routine tasks such as bookkeeping and document processing. Some painting firms are using robots for standardised tasks, such as priming large surfaces.

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Could artificial intelligence help mitigate the shortage of skilled workers in companies?

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Although half of all working people in Germany are women, the proportion of self-employed women has stagnated at just over a third for years.

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At the end of 2025, turnover and profits of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have increased. By contrast, investment activity, which had increased over the course of 2025, showed a slight decline towards the year-end.

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Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) often use informal implementation strategies to comply with legal requirements. According to Professor Christian Hauser (University of Applied Sciences of the Graubünden), this should also be taken into account in scientific studies.

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How can commercial building permit procedures be simplified and accelerated? Michael Holz gave answers to this question from a scientific perspective at the end of February during an exchange of experiences at the Siegen Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

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Having a self-employed partner is associated with a higher frequency of disagreements and quarrels in relationships. The reason: Self-employed individuals do not only make professional decisions, but also interfere in their partners' private decisions.

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Digital transformation is advancing in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany: More than a third of SMEs had a "high" to "very high" level of digital intensity in 2025.

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The Expert Commission for Research and Innovation (EFI), including IfM President Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Friederike Welter, today presented its new annual report to Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

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The DG GROW Fellowship Year 2026 started with a kick-off meeting at the beginning of February.

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How can innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises be effectively supported? How can the digital transformation be brought to the attention of particularly small businesses?

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