Innovative is different. The verdict of the "Expert Commission on Research and Innovation" (EFI) is rather harsh for small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany. (EFI) is rather harsh for small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany.
Few digital concepts are used, according to the EFI. The lack of framework conditions for new business models is responsible for this. In addition, the focus of the digital agenda is on industrial processes, if at all.
The reasons cited for this reluctance are the high costs of innovation, the great economic risk, the lack of skilled workers and internal sources of finance. The lack of support for research and development is also criticised.
In comparison to the rest of Europe, Germany is in the middle of the field, according to the EFI's assessment. France, Sweden and Finland are further ahead.
It is often the older medium-sized Companies that are not only falling behind in the current wave of digitalisation, but have often also missed previous steps. For example, it seems natural that SMEs of a certain size use ERP software such as SAP Business One.
However, it is assumed that this is not the case for one third of all SMEs.
So there is still a lot to do ...
More on this topic in the article "Are German SMEs missing out on digitalisation?".
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