Press releases

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.

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.

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.

Press release | 04.12.2024 The main challenges in 2024: shortage of skilled workers and increasing competitive pressure

The topic of "skilled employees/demographic development" remains the main challenge for all companies. But the results vary depending on the size and sector of the company and its level of digitalisation. The shortage of skilled workers is particularly significant for larger companies and those in …

Press release | 15.10.2024 The Enterprises who use artificial intelligence benefit from it

What opportunities does artificial intelligence (AI) offer for the Mittelstand? What framework conditions favor its application in companies? These questions were discussed today in Berlin by international entrepreneurship researchers together with representatives from SME policy and economy.

Press release | 09.09.2024 NUI Regional Ranking: Leverkusen replaces Munich District at the top

The city of Leverkusen has replaced the Munich district at the top of the NUI regional ranking after five years. The district-free cities of Baden-Baden, Rosenheim and Offenbach am Main, as well as the district of Starnberg, follow in the further places.

Press release | 03.09.2024 Still more main branch business start-ups compared to closures

In the first half of this year, more main branch businesses were established in Germany (46,000) than were closed (34,000). These include startups with a commercial register or craft roll entry, or with one or more employees.

Press release | 28.08.2024 The Maternity Protection Act does not apply to self-employed women

Around 27,000 self-employed women have born a child each year. Unlike women in regular employment, they are not entitled to maternity benefits under the Maternity Protection Act, as it does not apply to them. However, they can voluntarily secure their income during the maternity leave periods before …

Press release | 12.08.2024 The economic contribution of small and medium-sized enterprises remains high despite the current crises

More than 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 private sector businesses in Germany.

Press release | 30.07.2024 Micro enterprises find it increasingly difficult to recruit apprentices

In the competition for apprentices, micro enterprises (with fewer than 10 employees subject to social security contributions) are increasingly falling behind. Despite a slight increase in the total number of apprentices to over 1.5 million, there were 3.4% fewer apprentices employed in these micro …

Press release | 22.07.2024 Reform of public procurement helps reduce bureaucracy, whereas the legal form of a limited liability company (GmbH) with tied assets is seen critically

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. …

Press release | 02.07.2024 The Bavarian initiative can only be a first step in the redesign of public procurement

"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".