KfW SME Innovation Report 2016

The share of innovative SMEs in Germany has dropped sharply to 22 %, the lowest level since 2004. Innovation expenditure in the SME sector has remained steady in the past years, however. Innovation efforts are thus concentrated in fewer and fewer enterprises. Several factors have contributed to the long-term trend towards fewer innovators. These include reduced start-up activity, the demographic trend and weak business expectations as well as uncertainty resulting from political and economic imponderables.

KfW SME Innovation Report 2016(PDF, 2 MB, non-accessible)

Press release