IfM Bonn News

Participation in external events | 16.06.2025 French interest in the Mittelstand enterprises

What characterises the Mittelstand in Germany? Why is it such an importan economic factor?

Participation in external events | 13.06.2025 Where entrepreneurship happens

What role do spaces and places play in entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial activities?

IfM Publications | 10.06.2025 What motivates young people to start their own business?

A start-up basic income guarantee covering social benefits, protection against dismissal and benefits equivalent to the general basic income guarantee for up to one year, as well as simplified access to venture capital, could help young people to realise their start-up plans more often.

Participation in external events | 10.06.2025 Where the bureaucratic burden is currently highest

Among the measures that the German government would like to implement in the near future with a view to boosting economic growth is the reduction of bureaucratic burdens.

External publications | 04.06.2025 Why we need digital social innovations now

Our Society is currently facing big challenges like demographic change and coping with climate change.

External publications | 21.05.2025 Using innovation to overcome water shortages

The water industry in Germany is facing increasing challenges due to climate change and resulting regional and seasonal water shortages. This can lead to conflicts between consumer groups.

Press release | 20.05.2025 More courage for simpler building regulations

In recent years, Germany has tended to lose attractiveness as a location for investment projects. One reason is that commercial building permit procedures can sometimes take very long, making it difficult to accurately estimate total project costs.

Podcasts | 20.05.2025 Getting more competitive

Dissatisfaction with local conditions, recessive development in the manufacturing sector, the announcement of US tariffs – the German economy is currently in a difficult economic situation.

IfM Publications | 13.05.2025 SME Barometer: Slight brightening on the horizon

IfM Bonn's latest SME Barometer shows that 2025 started with a halt to the negative trend in turnover and investment seen among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the second half of 2024.

External publications | 12.05.2025 Entrepreneurship research in times of multiple crises

In recent years, entrepreneurs have been challenged constantly by new crises. This also has an impact on entrepreneurship research.

Participation in external events | 30.04.2025 IfM Bonn at the Federal-State Committee for the Mittelstand

It is uncertain how start-up activity in Germany will develop given the increased political risks in global trade. But at the same time, the measures taken by the new federal government and changes in international trade relations could give start-up activity a boost.

IfM Publications | 29.04.2025 Increasing bureaucratic burdens create uncertainty

The Managers at around one in three companies in the mechanical and plant engineering sector are unsure whether all relevant regulations are being implemented and whether their companies are fully compliant with the law.

External publications | 22.04.2025 Focus Entrepreneurship Education

The teaching of economics in schools has been called for many years. But what is the current situation regarding the teaching of entrepreneurial thinking and action?

Press release | 22.04.2025 Economic slowdown affects number of business start-ups

A total of approximately 360,000 new businesses were founded in Germany in 2024. Around 258,000 of them were started in the commercial sector, 7,040 in agriculture and forestry, and 94,900 in the liberal professions.

IfM Publications | 17.04.2025 Artificial intelligence in the craft sector in North Rhine-Westphalia

Only around a third of craft businesses in North Rhine-Westphalia currently use artificial intelligence. The main applications are chatbots, voice assistants, translation software and image and video editing.