IfM Bonn News

External publications | 21.01.2022 What characterises the Mittelstand

Even if the government has initiated numerous instruments to reduce bureaucracy in the past, many Mittelstand companies feel that the bureaucratic regulations are too high. As a result, one in four entrepreneurs consciously decides not to comply with individual bureaucratic obligations.

Participation in external events | 20.01.2022 Distinguishing companies in the crisis

Are companies able to prepare themselves for crises? What distinguishes resilient businesses? Dr Annette Icks used the example of the Covid 19 pandemic to show at an event organised by the New Quality of Work Initiative in mid-January that good capitalisation helps to avert crises.

IfM Publications | 14.01.2022 No silver bullet for a crisis like Covid Pandemic

The economic consequences of the Corona pandemic have affected companies in different ways over the past months. The majority continued to operate largely unhindered by implementing and adhering to a social distancing rules. Parts of the economy even profited from the crisis. Yet, some businesses …

Participation in external events | 13.01.2022 Regional and entrepreneurial traditions

What makes regions entrepreneurial? What is the role of factors such as regional and entrepreneurial traditions? Prof Dr Friederike Welter looked at these questions in her presentation "Visioning and Narrating Place" at the beginning of January.

Press release | 06.01.2022 Successor wanted!

According to estimates by the IfM Bonn, around 190,000 companies will handover their business in the next five years because the owners are retiring from management due to age, illness or death. Almost half of the takeovers will occur in the business-related services sector and more than a quarter …

IfM Publications | 16.12.2021 What characterises the Mittelstand

The extant literature has generally measured and analyzed the Mittelstand as the equivalent of SMEs. Such an approach is erroneous because, while firm size is one important characteristic of the Mittelstand, there are a number of other salient characteristics which have been ignored or overlooked …

IfM Publications | 30.11.2021 Effects of income losses on entrepreneurial households

About half of the self-employed households can no longer maintain their standard of living if the self-employed income declines by 37%. This is the result of Dr. Stefan Schneck's analysis in view of the Covid 19 pandemic.

Guests at the IfM | 30.11.2021 Brittelstand is more regional in its activities

The so-called “Brittelstand” in Great Britain are owner-managed small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) that are appreciated worldwide for their product innovations and quality as well as for their service.

Awards | 19.11.2021 Successful RENT participation

Three IfM Bonn researchers were honoured at the 35th Research in Entrepreneurship and Small Business (RENT) conference in Turku/Finland: Dr Siegrun Brink, Dr Susanne Schlepphorst and Prof Dr Friederike Welter .

IfM Publications | 18.11.2021 Why succession is not always successful

There is great public interest in the topic of succession. Since there are no official figures on the number of business transfers that take place each year, the IfM Bonn regularly calculates the succession figures. KfW Bankengruppe calculates them on the basis of its SME panel.

Participation in special events | 16.11.2021 IfM-President at the SME Assembly 2021

At the European SME Assembly 2021, Hubert Gambs, Prof Dr Friederike Welter, Prof Dr Ute Stephan, Prof Dr Alfredo De Massis and Prof Dr Arnis Sauka discussed how small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) need to be supported on their way to a more sustainable economy.

Guests at the IfM | 16.11.2021 Informal entrepreneurship of Champeta music

What role does the informal economy play in emerging economies? Can particular market structures be observed? How does digitalisation affect informal entrepreneurship?

Participation in external events | 11.11.2021 Cooperation between Mittelstand and Startups

When Mittelstand businesses cooperate with innovative start-ups, both sides can benefit. In a best case scenario, the start-ups receive sector-specific know-how as well as access to resources and a broad network.

IfM Publications | 04.11.2021 Herausforderungen und Perspektiven für den Mittelstand

Wie hat der Mittelstand in Deutschland bzw. in Nordrhein-Westfalen bisher die Pandemiemonate überstanden? Wie gut ist er im Hinblick auf die kommenden Herausforderungen "Digitale Transformation“ und "Nachhaltiges Wirtschaften" aufgestellt?

IfM Publications | 03.11.2021 What the Mittelstand will really need in the future

The Mittelstand will face great challenges both from sector- and size-specific tasks and from the economic consequences of Covid 19, the digital transformation and sustainable business in the coming years.