Press releases

Press release | 06.09.2022 There is no silver bullet for strengthening regional propensity to start a business

Successful start-up ecosystems are characterised by a good transport and telecommunications infrastructure, a high population density, a high proportion of foreign citizens, and numerous qualified employees. IfM Bonn researchers found this out and published results in their study: "Start-up activity …

Press release | 10.08.2022 German Federal Government appoints Friederike Welter and Guido Bünstorf to the Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation (EFI)

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 …

Press release | 25.07.2022 In the pandemic year 2020, SMEs assert their economic importance

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.

Press release | 12.07.2022 There are more hybrid self-employed entrepreneurs than previously assumed

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 number had increased to 3.39 million. By 2016, their number had also …

Press release | 02.06.2022 Digitisation in SMEs is progressing very slowly

The proportion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with online sales of at least one per cent of total turnover has risen by two percentage points compared to 2020 (2021: 19 %).

Press release | 16.05.2022 Der Mittelstand nimmt eine wichtige Rolle bei der Regionalentwicklung ein

Während der Corona-Pandemie wirkte der Mittelstand stabilisierend auf die Gesellschaft und die Wirtschaft: Viele mittelständische Unternehmen suchten ihre Beschäftigten trotz ökonomischer Schwierigkeiten zu halten und entwickelten in kürzester Zeit alternative Geschäftsmodelle.

Press release | 13.05.2022 Staatliche Unterstützungsmaßnahmen können nicht jedes Unternehmensrisiko abfedern

Sollten im Zuge des Kriegs in der Ukraine staatliche Unterstützungsprogramme für den Mittelstand erforderlich sein, sollten diese nach Ansicht der Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler des IfM Bonn berücksichtigen, ob die Notlage der Unternehmen auf einer existenzgefährdenden Ausnahmesituation …

Press release | 05.05.2022 Researchers find no negative consequences for construction projects despite a high number of future business closures in the construction industry

Every second owner of a business in the construction industry will retire in the next 10 years; that is, 163,000 companies. This is a key finding of the study "Company Succession in the Construction Industry" published today by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and …

Press release | 14.04.2022 Number of business insolvencies at a historic low

Almost 14,000 companies filed for insolvency in 2021, around 12% fewer than in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several factors explain this low level. The temporary suspension of the obligation to file for insolvency for companies that experienced a decline in turnover because of the …

Press release | 04.04.2022 Despite the ongoing pandemic, more there were start-ups in 2021

While the pandemic continued to pose significant challenges to some sectors of the economy in 2021, such as businesses with customer-facing and providers of personal services, the number of start-ups rose by 1.4% to 336,000 in 2021. Nevertheless, the numbers did not yet reach the pre-pandemic level.

Press release | 29.03.2022 Needs of the German Mittelstand amid the social-ecological transformation of market economy

"Together with the Mittelstand companies, we want to achieve the goal of climate neutrality. That is what we are working towards. We will facilitate that companies can use their self-produced renewable electricity. This will reduce their costs and help them achieve the goal of using 80 per cent …

Press release | 23.03.2022 How state support works in the crisis

The various Covid19 support packages have had the anticipated stabilising effects on many solo self-employed workers and small entrepreneurs. Direct payments such as the Überbrückungshilfe and the possibility of furlough for employees subject to compulsory social insurance have opened up room for …

Press release | 15.03.2022 Skills shortage poses a challenge to Mittelstand enterprises in the manufacturing sector

The skills shortage will be the biggest challenge for companies in the manufacturing sector in the future. Digitalisation, competitive pressure, and the capacity to innovate follow on the list.

Press release | 04.03.2022 Only every fifth family business led by a female boss

Just under 600,000 of the 3.2 million family businesses in Germany are run by women. This is about every fifth family business. Compared to the number of women in the workforce (46.7%), women-led family businesses are therefore significantly underrepresented.

Press release | 18.02.2022 Market-based approaches preferred in environmental policy

The majority of companies in the manufacturing sector are aware of the risks emanating from climate change. Accordingly, they consider aspects of climate protection in their business decisions: in a survey conducted by IfM Bonn in 2021, more than half of the company representatives stated that they …