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IfM Bonn News

IfM Publications SME Barometer: Growing gap between Germany and other EU countries

The current SME barometer of the IfM Bonn shows that the gap between the economic situation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany and in other EU countries grew significantly during 2024.

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YouTube IfM video "The current biggest challenges for Mittelstand companies"

What challenges do managers in medium-sized companies currently face and will they face in the future?

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Press release Women apply less often for loans or venture capital for their businesses than men

Young businesses exclusively managed by women apply more rarely for bank loans than those led by men or mixed-gender teams.

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Press release Innovationen in der Wasserwirtschaft

Die Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation (EFI) hat heute ihr neues Jahresgutachten an die Bundesregierung übergeben. Darin betont sie die Bedeutung von Innovationen für die deutsche Wasserwirtschaft, um den kommenden Herausforderungen begegnen zu können. „Obwohl Deutschland ein wasserreiches …

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Press release SMEs: Fewer exports of goods in 2023, but more imports

Among the 267,000 companies in Germany that exported goods in 2023, 258,000 were small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Their exports generated a turnover of € 277 billion – around € 13 billion less than in 2022.

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IfM Publications Estimating potential vulnerability of climate risks

Which factors influence how managers in Germany perceive the threat of climate risks for their companies?

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Press release Practice checks are a useful approach to reducing bureaucracy

According to a survey of the IfM Bonn eight out of ten business owners see their enjoyment of entrepreneurial activity disappear due to the current bureaucratic burden.

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Press release Economic policy after the election: less state control, a simplified tax system and improving the education system

The clear majority of managing directors in the Mittelstand companies hope that the new federal government will provide good and reliable framework conditions – and fewer controlling directives.

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Guests at the IfM Entrepreneurship and Creativity

How can creativity and entrepreneurship be combined upholding the values of sustainability and community?

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External publications Do public childcare services promote start-ups?

Does public childcare provision have an impact on women’s and men’s start-up activities in Germany? Dr Rosemarie Kay, Dr Teita Bijedić-Krumm, Dr Siegrun Brink and Dr Sebastian Nielen explore this question in their chapter "Public childcare – a neglected element of entrepreneurship ecosystems?".

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Press release Friederike Welter confirmed as President of the IfM Bonn

Friederike Welter, Professor of Economics in Siegen, has been confirmed as President of the IfM Bonn for a further six-year term.

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Participation in external events More investment in Mittelstand companies

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Friederike Welter pointed out that investment activity in Mittelstand companies could be promoted by sorting out the labyrinth of investment subsidies and thinning them out.

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Podcasts Podcast of the IfM Bonn on the AI challenge for Mittelstand businesses

What opportunities does artificial intelligence (AI) offer small and medium-sized enterprises? What framework conditions favour its application in companies?

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Participation in external events Only a paradigm shift will permanently reduce the administrative burden

The administrative burden increased by 14 percentage points between 2018 and 2022, according to studies by the IfM Bonn.

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Guests at the IfM Venture capital and sustainability

Venture capital business are increasingly integrating sustainability criteria into their investment decisions. That is why the topic is also becoming a greater focus of research.

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