Press releases

Forschungstätigkeit des IfM Bonn fördert das Bewusstsein für mittelstandsrelevante Themen

Mit welchen Herausforderungen sehen sich die mittelständischen Unternehmen aktuell und in Zukunft konfrontiert? Wann sind Unterstützungsmaßnahmen seitens der Politik für den Mittelstand sinnvoll und wichtig – …

IfM Bonn: Economic development in the construction industry could weaken start-up activity

In 2022, start-up activity increased in the liberal professions by 5% compared with the previous year. In contrast, start-up activities in the commercial sector stagnated (-0.3 %), especially among farmers …

Roundtable of the German Mittelstand discussed how companies could master the current challenges

"Mittelstand companies are facing various challenges. Simultaneously, they are already actively shaping the transformation to a digital and sustainable economy through their ideas, innovations, and …

SMEs´ innovation activity has a positive impact on the economic situation of companies in time of crisis

The earlier companies reacted with innovations to the economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the better they survived the crisis. It hardly mattered whether they initiated business model, …

Die wirtschaftlichen Folgen des russischen Angriffskrieges gegen die Ukraine und der Energiepreiskrise treffen das Baugewerbe aktuell sehr stark. Die Bauwirtschaft hat bislang wenige Krisen von einer solchen Dimension meistern müssen. Diese begrenzte Krisenerfahrung kann sich nach einer vom …

Majority of hybrid self-employed can make reasonable provisions for old age

Most hybrid self-employed (90 %) focus their work on a dependent activity – for nearly every ten hybrid self-employed, self-employment is the primary activity. "The majority of hybrid self-employed is probably able to make …

• Chartbook "Hybride Selbstständige"

Entrepreneurs sell their family businesses increasingly in high age

In the liberal professions, the average disposal asset profit has risen continuously since 2001. The positive trend in agriculture and forestry began after the global financial and economic crisis in 2010. Whereas in the commercial …

• Daten und Fakten Nr. 32/2022

IfM Bonn: economic consequences of the pandemic mainly affected SMEs and family businesses

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and family businesses – also called German Mittelstand – were economically more affected by the COVID-19 pandemic than large and non-Mittelstand companies. Moreover, …

IfM Bonn: focus has shifted from "innovation and growth" to "energy supply" and "inflation"

Mittelstand company managers have named the increasing shortage of skilled workers as their biggest challenge for the second year running, followed by "climate change and sustainability", "energy supply and …

IfM Bonn's NUI region ranking shows the current commercial relocations

Once again, the district of Munich seems to be the most attractive place to set up a business or move a company there in 2021, according to the current NUI (New Entrepreneurial Initiative) region ranking. The city of Baden-Baden …

• PM-21-10-2022-NUI-Regionenranking.pdf

Researchers recommend that policy-makers always consider the idiosyncrasies of SMEs

"Small and medium-sized enterprises play an important part in the ecological transformation. Many of them are already investing in sustainable technologies and in renewable energies," explained Parliamentary State …

• PM-11-10-2022-International_Round_Table_on_SME.pdf

For the first time, IfM Bonn has analysed regional start-up ecosystems in terms of commercial and freelance start-ups

Successful start-up ecosystems are characterised by a good transport and telecommunications infrastructure, a high population density, a high proportion of foreign citizens, and …

Today, the German Federal Government appointed Prof Dr Friederike Welter (IfM Bonn/University of Siegen) and Prof Dr Guido Bünstorf (University of Kassel) to the Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation (EFI). Bünstorf and Welter strengthen EFI's competence, especially in regard to …

• PI-10-08-2022-PI-EFI-Appointment_Welter_Buenstorf.pdf

German Mittelstand consists of small, medium-sized, and large family-owned companies.

Calculating based on the European Commission's definition of SMEs, there were around 3.35 million SMEs in Germany in 2020. That makes 99.3% of all companies in the private sector.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, …

• PM-25-07-2022-KMU_behaupteten_ihre_volkswirtschaftliche_Bedeutung.pdf

IfM Bonn study shows the unique features of this employment form

Both the total number of hybrid self-employed entrepreneurs as well as their share of the workforce increased significantly since 2001. In 2001, there were 2.46 million hybrid self-employed entrepreneurs registered. In 2016, this …