IfM Bonn News

Press release | 27.03.2025 Bureaucracy costs are a considerable burden for smaller companies in the industrial SME sector

A follow-up study from the machinery and equipment manufacturing sector shows that the overall burden of regulation (including EU bureaucracy) is higher for small companies than the gross return on sales.

Press release | 25.03.2025 Artificial intelligence is increasingly gaining acceptance in small and medium-sized enterprise

The number of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) using artificial intelligence (AI) procedures increased by 8 percentage points to 19% between 2023 and 2024.

Participation in external events | 24.03.2025 How bureaucracy can be reduced

Policymakers have initiated a number of measures in the past to reduce the bureaucratic burden on companies. Nevertheless, entrepreneurs perceive an increase in requirements.

Press release | 13.03.2025 More business start-ups than closures in the service sectors, fewer in trade and construction sector

Die Anzahl der Existenzgründungen überstieg in 2024 in den meisten Wirtschaftsabschnitten die Anzahl der Schließungen. Ein solch‘ positiver Saldo, der eine Zunahme im Unternehmensbestand anzeigt, war im vergangenen Jahr vor allem im Bereich der wissenschaftlichen, technischen und freiberuflichen …

External publications | 10.03.2025 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.

YouTube | 10.03.2025 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?

Press release | 05.03.2025 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.

Press release | 26.02.2025 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 …

Press release | 26.02.2025 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.

IfM Publications | 18.02.2025 Estimating potential vulnerability of climate risks

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

Press release | 18.02.2025 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.

Press release | 14.02.2025 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.

Guests at the IfM | 12.02.2025 Entrepreneurship and Creativity

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

External publications | 06.02.2025 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?".

Press release | 03.02.2025 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.