IfM Bonn News

There is recurring public concern that hybrid self-employed may not be sufficiently socially protected due to the different social security systems for paid employees and the self-employed.

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Do individual characteristics of the Big Five personality patterns have an impact on the development of innovation in structurally disadvantaged regions? Leonie Reher, Dr Jörg Thomä and Dr Petrik Runst analyse this question in their policy brief "Patterns of personality: An explanatory approach to …

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According to the researchers at IfM Bonn, the Federal Government's goal to simplify, expedite, and digitize procurement law is a step in the right direction: The planned Growth Initiative aims to reduce bureaucratic effort for both clients and contractors in future procurement procedures. …

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When companies engage in own research and development, are internationally active and seek to maximise their market share, the chances of becoming a hidden champion increase.

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"In principle, we welcome that the Bavarian state government aims to simplify public procurement in municipal construction by expanding the upper limits for direct awards" explained Sebastian Schneider, one of the authors of the IfM study "Mittelstand-Friendly Design of Public Tenders".

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What opportunities exist for craft businesses to use artificial intelligence (AI) in their day-to-day work? How can this make things easier for companies?

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Companies increasingly feel unable to implement all of the existing bureaucratic regulations imposed by the state – but also by self-regulatory organisations in industry, standardisation institutes or within value chains.

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Are machine learning methods more suitable than conventional statistical methods to predict IPO withdrawal?

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Own resource constraints and the desire to gain an early knowledge advantage over competitors are primary motives why Mittelstand enterprises, with regard to the circular economy, initiate - and implement - innovative projects together with startups, research institutions, or other businesses.

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Is it possible to shift the trend towards reducing bureaucracy? And if so, how? Sebastian Schneider presented on this question at the 1st Packaging Machinery Conference in Munich in mid-June.

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India is a fast-growing economy that needs a particularly skilled labour force.

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What impact had the COVID-19 pandemic on the development of micro-entrepreneurs? What gender-specific differences can be identified at the beginning?

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The health and social care sector – particularly hospitals and larger care facilities – as well as the transportation sector were most frequently affected by bankruptcies in 2023. This is shown by the proportion of insolvent companies relative to the total number of companies.

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Dr Sebastian Nielen held the presentation "Forced versus unforced innovation: different economic impact in times of crisis?" at the Innovation and Product Development Management Conference in Dublin at the beginning of June.

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Können die Begriffe Mittelstand und Familienunternehmen synonym verwandt werden? Ab welcher Beschäftigtenzahl gehören Unternehmen dem Mittelstand an? Was bedeutet die Abkürzung "KMU"?

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