IVAM - Economic Data

06.03.2015

IVAM Survey 2015

The European microtechnology industry has recently been more eager to invest than in previous years. In the economic data survey of the IVAM Microtechnology Network, almost a third of the participating companies stated that they have invested more in 2014 than in the year before. In 2015, 35.8% of the European microtechnology companies are inclined …

05.03.2015

Microtechnology industry more eager to invest

The European microtechnology industry has recently been more eager to invest again. Almost a third of the companies have invested more in 2014 than in the year before. This is a higher percentage than in the past years and also above the European average. The microtechnology companies are inclined to spend even more money …

04.03.2015

More and more European microtechnology companies enter markets in China and Eastern Europe

The European microtechnology companies are still trading mainly within Western Europe. Outside the European home market, the US market continues to be the strongest, but markets in China and Eastern Europe have become considerably more important for the industry since 2013. Business with Russia has not abated despite the economic sanctions; a higher proportion of …

03.03.2015

Automotive industry back among top markets for microtechnology – medical technology continues to lead

The medical and healthcare sector is of growing importance for the microtechnology industry. More than half of European companies are supplying this market. For nearly a quarter (24.4%), it is the most important target market – two years ago it was just about 16%. The automotive industry has recently experienced a growth spurt around …

02.03.2015

European Microtechnology companies reserved about TTIP in its present design

The proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the European Union and the US is causing mixed feelings in the European micro- and nanotechnology industry. The companies appreciate the potential benefits of the free trade agreement, but they still disapprove of it in its considered design. TTIP might gain a better reputation with …

01.03.2015

TTIP: Microtechnology companies welcome reduction of trade barriers but criticize IP and investment protection

TTIP: Microtechnology companies criticize IP and investment protection The possible benefits of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) most often mentioned by the European microtechnology companies are an elimination of tariffs and a reduction of administrative barriers. SME that have already entered the US market are more often looking forward to more transparent …

06.03.2014

IVAM Survey 2014

For the German companies dealing with microtechnology, nanotechnology, advanced materials and optical technologies, business in 2013 has developed just as the industry had predicted earlier that year: at a constant level. But things are supposed to get better in 2014. The companies do not expect an enormous growth, but they are more positive than they …

06.03.2014

Mood of the German micro- and nanotechnology industry significantly brightens in 2014

In early 2013, the disposition of the micro- and nanotechnology companies in Germany had reached a low point. Although not much has happened to improve their economic situation during 2013, the mood has now significantly brightened. More than two thirds of companies expect their economic situation to improve during 2014; only 5 percent think they …

05.03.2014

2014 promises an economic upswing for the German micro- and nanotechnology industry

Orders, production and sales figures are expected to rise noticeably in 2014 in the German micro- and nanotechnology industry. Areas excluded from an optimistic outlook are staff and financing: just a quarter of companies intend to hire more staff. Only one tenth of companies expect increases in the field of financing. Nevertheless, 30 percent of …

04.03.2014

2013 went as expected for micro- and nanotechnology companies

For the German companies dealing with microtechnology, nanotechnology, advanced materials and optical technologies, business in 2013 has developed just as the industry had predicted earlier that year. Staff numbers remained stable in 2014, financing decreased For the German micro- and nanotechnology companies business in 2013 has been on a constant level in most …

03.03.2014

Medical technology remains major target market of the micro- and nanotechnology industry

Another aspect that has been consistent in 2013 is the market orientation of German micro- and nanotechnology companies: the medical technology and health industry remains the major target market for the highest proportion (20 percent) of companies. Mechanical engineering and R&D are following as second most important markets. Source: IVAM Survey 2014

02.03.2014

Horizon 2020: high-tech SME still a little sceptical about funding opprotunities

Will Horizon 2020 give a boost to innovation in the German micro- and nanotechnology industry? The surveyed companies are still a little sceptical in this regard. Only 23 percent of companies think that their opportunities to obtain EU funding have improved with Horizon 2020. Many small high-tech enterprises presume that the application still takes too …

01.03.2014

NSA scandal causes insecurity concerning the safety of company knowledge

The NSA surveillance scandal has caused a great insecurity among the micro- and nanotechnology companies regarding the safety of their company know-how. 54 percent do not even make a guess at whether their company's know-how is safe from spying. A quarter of companies believe that they are sufficiently safe from spying. 21 percent are convinced …

27.03.2013

Unsettled economic situation leaves mark on microtechnology industry

At present, the mood of the microtechnology, nanotechnology and advanced materials industry is quite subdued, as the economic data survey of the IVAM Microtechnology Network confirms. In 2012, the business situation of the companies has gone slightly downhill compared to the year before, but also compared to the expectations in the beginning of the year. …

27.03.2013

IVAM Survey 2013

A year ago, the microtechnology, nanotechnology and advanced materials industry looked out to the year 2012 with quite positive expectations. As it turned out, the Euro debt crisis and the unstable economic situation have left their mark on these industries, too. The latest economic data survey of of the IVAM Microtechnology Network confirms that …

26.03.2013

Microtechnology industry lacks funds for investments

While orders and staff numbers have slightly risen and production has remained stable for a large proportion of the microtechnology, nanotechnology and advanced materials companies in Europe in 2012, sales figures have dropped. The lack of funding for the strategic business development, expansion or investment in innovation is still an essential problem. Only 7 % of …

25.03.2013

Microtechnology industry expects slight upwards trend for 2013

After the unstable economic situation has left its mark on the microtechnology, nanotechnology and advanced materials companies in Europe, the industry expects a slight upwards trend in 2013. A little more than half (56 %) of companies expect to perform better in 2013 than in 2012. Source: IVAM Survey 2013

24.03.2013

Employment numbers remain stable in 2013

Employment numbers are going to remain stable largely stable in the European microtechnology industry in 2013: only one in four companies plan to hire more staff. In contrast, there are 11 % that expect to reduce staff in the course of the year. Orders and sales are supposed to improve in 57 % and 56 % of …

23.03.2013

Global competition curtails export

For the European microtechnology industry, foreign trade has developed modestly in the last business year, thus continuing the trend of previous years. Throughout Europe, the export rates of the microtechnology, nanotechnology and advanced materials industry have remained rather stable in 2012. For the German companies, export quotas have slightly declined again another year in a …

22.03.2013

BRIC countries are becoming more attractive foreign markets

A growing number of microtechnology, nanotechnology and advanced materials companies in Europe will attempt to enter the markets in China and other BRIC countries as well as in countries that have recently been reclassified from emerging markets to industrial nations on short or medium term. Brazil, Russia, India and China as well as Israel, Taiwan …