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Press releaseSMEs in Germany are larger in comparison to the European average – and use more often Artificial Intelligence

In small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany, an average of 6.8 employees work, significantly more than the EU average of 3.5 employees.

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Press releaseEU internal market as a crisis anchor

The industrial Mittelstand companies follow the current geopolitical crises and conflicts with great concern and take first precautions: Indeed, China generally remains important to companies as a procurement market since the country holds a monopoly-like position for some raw materials.

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Press releaseOnly 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 …

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Press releaseSmall 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 …

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Press releaseDoing 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.

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Press releaseINSM 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.

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Press releaseSmall 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 …

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Press releaseWhat small and medium-sized enterprises need now

"In the current situation, SMEs need good and reliable framework conditions to play to their strengths again in (global) competition – and no sectoral and size-related support measures. The support measures would only cement the obsolete image of SMEs that cannot master economically difficult times …

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Press releaseCompanies in Germany are adapting to the consequences of extreme weather events

In the last 5 years, many entrepreneurs have experienced the consequences of climate change: extreme weather events have already impacted their entrepreneurial business activities. Companies from agriculture, energy and water supply, and the hospitality industry were particularly affected.

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Press releaseStart-up figures remain constant despite economic challenges in the first half of 2023

46,400 companies with a main branch were founded in the first half of 2023. This includes start-ups with an entry in the commercial or craft register – or with one or more employees. These numbers remained largely constant in comparison to the first half of 2022.

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Press releaseNegative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on SME financing were successfully absorbed

According to research by IfM Bonn, economic development in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) initially had a significant impact on access to external capital during the COVID-19 pandemic: In the initial phase of the crisis, access to finance became abruptly more difficult for some of the …

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Press releaseDigitalisation momentum slows down

More than one in three small and medium-sized enterprises (37%) in Germany rate their level of digitalisation as "very high" or "high". The share is higher than in the EU, where only 31% state such levels. In contrast, large companies in Germany are at a similar level of digitalisation compared to …

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Press releaseEvery 2nd enterprise in North Rhine-Westphalia has experienced impacts of climate change within the past 5 years

Enterprises in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) have experienced climate change impacts considerably more often within the past five years than enterprises in the other federal states. According to a survey of the Institut für Mittelstandsforschung (IfM) Bonn, extreme weather, heat or flood and low …

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Press releaseNUI 2022: District of Munich tops list for the fifth time in a row

Since 2018, the district of Munich has been at the top of those districts and independent cities in which new businesses are most frequently founded or to which commercial enterprises are relocated. The cities of Leverkusen and Rosenheim follow in second and third place, with the district of …

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Press releaseMore harmonisation of national posting regulations strengthens the EU internal market

Within the framework of the EU for the freedom to provide services, companies can temporarily post their employees in other EU member states. However, the posting companies must fulfil different bureaucratic requirements and use reporting portals for each EU country.

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