IfM Bonn News

Participation in external events | 12.12.2023 Recruiting skilled labour in times of digital transformation

Which opportunities does digitalisation offer for recruiting skilled workers? What challenges do SMEs face in this context?

Press release | 11.12.2023 Only a few Hidden Champions use artificial intelligence (AI) so far

Although Hidden Champions use artificial intelligence (AI) applications and processes more frequently (18.8%) than other companies in the manufacturing sector (8.9%), they do not yet appear to be exploiting the potential of AI. This is the result of a survey conducted by IfM Bonn among companies in …

Participation in external events | 05.12.2023 Why SMEs are also increasingly required to report

Dr Jonas Löher explained at the regional conference of SME consultants in Essen at the end of November how sustainability reporting obligations affect the day-to-day operations of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Participation in external events | 01.12.2023 Europe-wide harmonisation of national posting rules

Michael Holz presented the results of the study "Influence of administrative burdens on the cross-border posting of employees by SMEs in border regions" at the European Committee of HANDWERK Baden-Württemberg meeting at the end of November.

Press release | 30.11.2023 Small and medium-sized enterprises are disadvantaged when participating in public tenders

"In principle, it is to be welcomed that the German government wants to amend public procurement to make it more efficient and sustainable. However, the consequences for small and medium-sized enterprises should also be considered," explains Dr Nadine Schlömer-Laufen, project leader at the Institut …

Awards | 27.11.2023 IfM President appointed to the Ludwig Erhard Foundation

Prof Dr Dr h.c. Friederike Welter (IfM Bonn/University of Siegen) has been appointed as a member of the Ludwig Erhard Foundation. The foundation promotes regulatory principles in politics, business and society and manages Ludwig Erhard's archive.

Press release | 22.11.2023 Doing business under difficult conditions

"We are focusing on the reduction of administrative burdens for businesses. Cutting red tape is especially important for SMEs. They have limited time and resources compared to larger companies when it comes to the fulfillment of information- or reporting requirements.

Participation in external events | 21.11.2023 What motivates adolescents to start a business?

How and why do adolescents start a business? Dr Jonas Löher gave answers to this question in his presentation "The Motivational Background of Teenpreneurs: The Case of Germany" at this year's "Research in Entrepreneurship and Small Business" (RENT) conference.

Press release | 20.11.2023 INSM study: Bureaucracy is becoming a brake on growth / 58 per cent of companies want to invest less due to bureaucracy

A recent study conducted by the Institut für Mittelstandsforschung (IfM) in Bonn on behalf of the New Social Market Economy Initiative (INSM) shows that the burden of bureaucracy has now become a key obstacle to investment. Most companies are investing less in Germany because of bureaucracy.

Podcasts | 20.11.2023 New IfM podcast "Fit for change?"

The COVID-19 pandemic challenged companies first, followed by the economic consequences of Russia's war against Ukraine in February 2022. The Mittelstand enterprises are also faced with the task of pushing ahead with both the Digital and Ecological Transformation.

Participation in external events | 15.11.2023 The way to sustainable entrepreneurship

What aspects need to be considered at the European Union level concerning the target of sustainable entrepreneurship? How far does the European Commission's SME relief package already offer concrete approaches?

Guests at the IfM | 07.11.2023 Popularity in the entrepreneurial world

Dr. Simone Schmid (University of Siegen) presented initial research findings on the perception and relevance of popularity from an entrepreneurial perspective at the IfM Forum at the beginning of November.

IfM Publications | 31.10.2023 Changing payment for labour due to the online gig economy

In traditional labour markets, higher education usually leads to higher pay - but not in the online gig economy.

Participation in external events | 31.10.2023 Bureaucracy reduction needs a new legal culture

How can bureaucracy be noticeably reduced for companies? Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Friederike Welter discussed this question at the 6th Regulatory Policy Colloquium of the Impulsstiftung in Eltville at the end of October.

Press release | 25.10.2023 Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain an important economic sector in Germany

Nearly 3.4 million companies in Germany are classified as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) according to the European Commission's definition of SMEs. This is more than 99 % of all companies in the business sector. With more than 2.4 trillion euros, SMEs generated more than 31 % of the total …