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Press releases

Press releaseEconomic slowdown affects number of business start-ups

A total of approximately 360,000 new businesses were founded in Germany in 2024. Around 258,000 of them were started in the commercial sector, 7,040 in agriculture and forestry, and 94,900 in the liberal professions.

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Press releaseThe federal government must now pave the way for the future

"According to a recent short survey, the vast majority of managing directors in Germany’s Mittelstand sector are calling on the new federal government to ensure reliable and consistent policy frameworks – and to refrain from excessive regulatory steering. This applies in particular to the ecological …

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Press releaseLess than half of all start-ups survive the first 5 years

Approximately 360,000 new enterprise were founded in Germany in 2024. It’s not just the number of start-ups that matters for an economy, but also their long-term survival.

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Press releaseThe risk of insolvency was the highest in the transport and logistics sector in 2024

The risk of insolvency increased across most economic sectors in 2024, but the highest rate was in the transport and logistics sector: 14 out of 1,000 VAT-liable companies filed for insolvency.

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Press releaseBureaucracy 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.

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Press releaseArtificial 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.

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Press releaseMore 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 …

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Press releaseWomen 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.

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Press releaseInnovationen 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 …

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Press releaseSMEs: 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.

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Press releasePractice 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.

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Press releaseEconomic 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.

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Press releaseFriederike 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.

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Press releaseThe 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 …

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Press releaseThe 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.

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