Funding for Management Consultancies for SMEs is a grant from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) that subsidizes the cost of professional management consulting services for small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany.

The program covers up to 80% of eligible consulting costs, with a maximum subsidy of €2,800, helping Mittelstand companies access expert guidance on strategy, operations, digitalization, and competitiveness.

Eligible applicants are micro-enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises in the commercial sector, and freelancers that meet the EU's SME definition, with a registered office and business operations or a branch office in the Federal Republic of Germany. The program supports Germany's Mittelstand in embracing new challenges and remaining innovative.

The German Mittelstand as a model for success | BMWE Please support the Ministry’s public relations work: We need your consent to be able to measure your user activity on our website using etracker. A pseudonymised evaluation of this data by etracker helps us to improve our website. You can revoke your consent at any time for the future.

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Strictly necessary (cannot be deselected) Strictly necessary (cannot be deselected) Consent to the use of JW Player for video streaming Consent to the use of JW Player for video streaming Consent to the use of JW Player for video streaming The German Mittelstand as a model for success The success of German business is driven by its SMEs , a group to which more than 99 per cent of all firms in Germany belong.

These companies account for more than half of our economic output and almost 60 per cent of jobs. Approx. 82 per cent of apprentices in Germany do their vocational training in an SME .

Germany's small and medium-sized companies (SMEs), also known as the 'Mittelstand', are the country's strongest driver of innovation and technology and are renowned across the world. Companies that want to keep their competitive edge must be at the forefront of new developments.

A study on SMEs commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action shows that innovative SMEs will continue to drive the success behind the 'Made in Germany' trademark.

Provided that they embrace new trends, particularly digitisation , and that they find ways of recruiting the skilled labour they need, even in times of a skills shortage, SMEs have every opportunity to remain successful in their chosen specialised niche markets. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action wants Germany's SMEs to embrace new challenges and remain vibrant, strong, and innovative.

This is why the ministry is working on many levels to strengthen the Mittelstand's competitiveness, its capacity to innovate, and its ability to create jobs. Strategies for the digital transformation Opens PDF "SMEs Digital" in a new window.

in Germany that are created by SMEs Percentage of German firms that belong to the Mittelstand Percentage of total sales in Germany that are generated by the Mittelstand Percentage of apprentices in Germany that are employed by SMEs Diverse, dynamic, pioneering SMEs are a recipe for success Germany's small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) play a defining role in the country's economy.

Our economic model derives its strength not from a small number of dominant players, industries, or industrial regions, but from the fact that we have a wide range of companies – small, medium-sized and large – that are based in locations all across Germany, specialise in all sorts of different sectors, and often form close networks with one another. Germany's SME sector, the 'Mittelstand', is extremely diverse.

Family-owned companies that were established generations ago, trendy start-ups, traditional crafts firms, self-employed people and service providers, retailers and freelancers, pioneering high-tech companies, regional suppliers and global players. The size of our SMEs ranges from one person to several hundred employed across the globe.

The Mittelstand has many well-established brands, but also newcomers and lesser-known brands that still deliver the same standard of quality, precision and innovation. It is this high level of diversity that makes it so strong. The Mittelstand – a strong partner for large corporations.

The Mittelstand acts as a strong partner for large corporations, across the entire value chain. Mittelstand companies are often highly specialised and produce the type of up and downstream products that enable large corporations to create innovative and complex products, services and systems solutions The German Mittelstand is internationally strong.

Some 44 per cent of German companies export their goods or intermediate goods to other markets, thereby contributing to the success of the German economy. At least one in two German firms that turn over 2 million euros or more per year are exporting companies. Even small companies benefit from venturing on foreign markets.

This is attested by the fact that even very small firms generate an average of over 20 per cent of their turnover from exports. SMEs are a driver of innovation and technology. Among European SMEs , German Mittelstand companies have been found to be very strong on innovation.

More than 42 per cent of German SMEs brought a product or process innovation onto the market in 2014, compared to an EU average of just over 30 per cent. Indeed a huge number of high-tech German SMEs , which are often family-owned, are classed as 'hidden champion', i.e. as world market leaders their respective niche markets or in supply chains for large companies. Mittelstand companies have a Mittelstand mindset.

The one thing all Mittelstand companies have in common is a special business culture that stems from the fact that these firms are managed by their owners themselves. This means that the management carries full responsibility for the firm and also shoulders all of the risk.

It also means that decision-making is fast and does not involve a large hierarchy, which has the advantage of allowing firms to respond swiftly to changes in the market. Mittelstand companies are known to favour continuity and aim for long-term success. This means that they are highly responsible in their dealings with staff, customers and business partners.

It also means that these firms are strongly attached to their region. They interact with their customers and cater to their needs, which also means that they are among the first to learn about and respond to changes in the market. Internationally, the German Mittelstand has become a brand of its own .

Among the world's hidden champions, the number of German firms is extraordinarily high. These are companies that work very closely with customers around the world and supply them with highly specialised products and services that are often at the cutting edge of technology. What makes a hidden champion is top quality products, processes that add a great deal of value, and a strict focus on core capabilities.

Diverse, dynamic, down-to-earth and innovative. These are all characteristics of the German Mittelstand that have helped these companies weather many crises, remain competitive, and create a large number of jobs. Mittelstand firms tend to pursue a long-term human resources policy and invest in their staff, even when faced with a tough global economic environment.

Indeed it is to the Mittelstand that we owe much of the economic and social stability we enjoy in Germany, including our low unemployment rates among young people. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action wants to enable Mittelstand companies to continue to play this vital part in our economy. This is why our economic policy is designed to create an environment in which these companies can thrive.

The ministry is following a modern SME policy that seeks to create a positive start-up and business environment and encourages companies to adopt strategies for long-term success.

European Union: Your Europe Making our everyday life easier and reducing the burden on business ´Future of the German Mittelstand`Action Programme Demographic change, the energy transition, digitisation – these are just some of the challenges our SMEs are facing. But the same challenges also open up tremendous opportunities. There are entire fields of business that have sprung up around demographic change and the energy transition.

Digital solutions can help companies streamline their processes, increase their productivity, and become part of international value chains. The German Mittelstand is known for delivering both continuity and dynamism. This means that it has what it takes to successfully tackle the challenges and structural changes which lie ahead.

SME policy is part of the portfolio of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. The ministry seeks to develop a modern, forward-looking SME policy that provides incentives for companies to pursue strategies that deliver long-term success. 10 focal areas in the ministry's SME policy Promoting entrepreneurship Start-ups and company hand-overs are of immense importance for the German economy.

More than 300,000 new businesses are set up in Germany every year. The businesses create additional economic drive and new jobs. Today's innovative startups will one day form part of our Mittelstand .

And whenever a company is successfully passed on from one generation to the next, this helps safeguard tried-and-tested business models, retain expertise, and secure jobs. The GO!

start-up campaign (in German) seeks to kindle a spirit of entrepreneurship in Germany, especially among groups that have so far been underrepresented in the startup scene, such as women (through an initiative for women entrepreneurs ) and potential entrepreneurs with a migrant background (through a mentoring programme). Anyone interested in setting up a business in Germany can find all the information they need on the www.

existenzgruendungsportal . de website. Our ‘nexxt‘ corporate succession exchange brings together company owners who want to hand over their business with potential takers.

The EXIST programme, which was made even more attractive last year, seeks to promote entrepreneurship at universities, not least by providing scholarships for young start-ups in science. The ministry also operates ‘German Accelerators’ in Boston, Palo Alto and New York that provide active support to young start-ups as they go international and help them gain a foothold on the US market.

Strengthening the financing of start-ups and growth Access to suitable financing is a key requirement for SME s to be able to invest and remain innovative, which in turn allows them to remain competitive. Germany has a strong culture of loan-based SME financing. For this reason, the ministry closely looks at the impact of financial regulation on SME financing for SME s, its availability, and the exact conditions.

Our goal is to ensure that large listed companies do not receive preferential treatment over SME s; the interests of SME s must be taken into account. The ministry has deployed several instruments allowing it to add some €2 billion of venture capital to the market. These instruments include the ERP/EIF Growth Facility (in German) , which is worth €500 million and the ERP/EIF Fund of Funds whose volume has been increased to €1.

7 billion (including funding from the European Angels Fund). We are also working to improve the fiscal environment for venture capital and to facilitate the listing of young, fast-growing companies on the stock exchange. Find out more.

Securing skilled labour, bringing refugees into vocational training and work One of the most important challenges for German companies today is to ensure that they have the skilled labour they need. Firstly, Germany as a whole is facing tougher international competition to attract the brightest minds; secondly, SME s have to compete with large companies as they seek to recruit skilled workers.

This means that a modern SME policy must be designed to better harness the potential that exists within our country, and to also attract skilled professionals from abroad.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action has joined forces with the Federal Employment Agency, businesses, unions, and the Länder and entered into the Alliance for Initial and Further Training to strengthen the attractiveness of dual vocational training and boost public acceptance for it.

Under the ‘Perfect Match’ programme, SMEs are given advice as to how they can find apprentices that fit in well in the relevant profession and in their company. Employers' and employees' organisations are closely involved in the regular work to update training regulations so that they prepare apprentices for new challenges waiting for them in the job, including the need for digital skills.

There is also a programme that seeks to raise intercultural awareness amongst apprentices. This programme is called 'vocational training without borders'. Find out more .

There are several programmes designed to attract skilled professionals and students from abroad and to provide information about living and working in Germany ( www. make-it-in-germany. com website, the 'Living and working in Germany' hotline ).

Find out more . The ministry has teamed up with several partners, including the ' firms for the integration of refugees' network (in German), to provide information and advice that will help place refugees in work and vocational training. Around 150 refugee recruitment advisors based within the regional business chambers and organisations support companies that are offering work experience, vocational training and jobs to refugees.

Pressing ahead with efforts for better regulation and less red tape Any economy that wants to be competitive needs to ensure that it is governed by modern, effective regulation and that its administration is working efficiently.

This is to ensure that companies, startups, and those who have recently taken over an established firms can focus on their core business and spend as little time as possible dealing with administrative work and bureaucratic procedure.

By implementing a brake on bureaucracy (in German) , which follows the principle of 'one-in, one-out', drafting legislation for Cutting Bureaucracy Acts I and II (in German) , and by modernising public procurement, the ministry has drastically reduced the cost of compliance for companies (by some €2 billion in total). The modernisation of procurement law will also make it easier for SME s to secure public contracts.

The SME test (in German) has been introduced to ensure that the financial impact of new regulation and legislation on SME s is assessed before any such measures are taken. Find out more . Harnessing and shaping digitisation The ministry is supporting digitisation within the skilled crafts sector, not least by running 25 centres of excellence for 'Mittelstand 4.

0' (in German) that are based all across Germany. The Mittelstand 4. 0 centres of excellence (in German) located around Germany offer assistance in the form of expertise, demonstration centres (in German) , networks for the sharing of experience, events (in German) and practical examples (in German) .

Within its funding activities, the ministry has made it a focus to support SMEs as they introduce modern information and communications technologies, digitise and network their processes, and become part of Industrie 4. 0. These funding activities are subsumed under the heading of ' SME s going digital’.

There are also dedicated programmes to raise awareness of issues including data protection and data security. Find out more (in German) . A company's future competitiveness depends on its present ability to innovate.

As we address societal changes and global challenges including climate change, the digitalisation of all parts of our lives, and demographic change, we need to develop innovative responses and sustainable solutions – something that our SME s are extremely good at. The ministry is working to support businesses' capacity to innovate by creating a pro-innovation environment and market-driven funding programmes.

Furthermore, the ministry makes use of its Central Innovation Programme (ZIM) to provide grants for market-driven research and development programmes in the field of technology. The ministry also uses this programme, as well as the 'go cluster' programme , to foster the formation of innovation networks, which bring SME s and research institutes together. Find out more .

Using the opportunities afforded by globalisation The German Mittelstand is internationally strong. Some 44% of German companies export their goods or intermediate goods to other markets, thereby contributing to the success of the German economy. Even small companies benefit from venturing onto foreign markets.

As a whole, they generate a significant share of their revenue from exports. Experience also shows that SME s which export do better on the domestic market than their rivals. The ministry has put a whole range of flexible and demand-driven instruments at SMEs ' disposal.

This toolbox, which is called 'Mittelstand going global' helps SME s go international. The programme caters to forward-looking industries such as energy, environmental technology, healthcare and civil security, but also to other industries.

Under the programme, the ministry provides information about foreign markets via Germany Trade Invest (GTAI) , financing for Germany's bilateral chambers of commerce and industry, for German stands at international trade fairs, and for export credit guarantees. It also runs export initiatives, which see companies go abroad on fact-finding missions.

The ministry is also additionally working to facilitate trade and conclude bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements. Find out more . Playing an active role in defining European SME policy With more than 93% of exporting SMEs catering to the European market, the single European market has become hugely important for the German Mittelstand.

At European level, the ministry is a strong voice for SMEs and their interests. It is working to ensure that the single market works in SME s' favour, that gaining access to EU funding programmes is as straightforward as possible, and that unjustified barriers to trade are removed. At the same time, however, the ministry also advocates that structures that have proven to work must be retained.

This includes the private sector's ability to exercise self-governance, a concept that includes the fundamental principles of dual vocational training, the requirement for owners of crafts businesses to have a master craftsman's certificate, the system of mandatory membership in certain professional chambers, and the notion that employers and employees must act in a spirit of partnership.

For example, the Economic Affairs Ministry is continuing to constructively support the ongoing talks on the planned EU services package, because the goal of strengthening the internal market for services must not undermine justified interests (e.g. protecting health and consumers) in the Member States. For further information, please visit the services page (in German) .

The ministry takes care to notify German SME s of any relevant EU initiatives that may affect them (e.g. by means of the EU SME monitor), and encourages them to make use of EU funding programmes (including COSME) and to participate in procurement procedures. Find out more .

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are Europe’s driving force for growth and jobs Enlarge: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are Europe’s driving force for growth and jobs; Source: „2016 SBA Fact Sheet European Union“, http://ec. europa.

eu/DocsRoom/documents/21188/attachments/10/translations Infografik als PDF ( 2 MB ) Strengthening SMEs in less-favoured areas There is something quite unusual about the way SME s are spread across Germany. Unlike in most other countries in the world, SME s can be found everywhere in Germany, including in small towns, and not just in the capital.

The ministry wants to keep it that way, which is why it is using its targeted regional policy to improve the business environment in less-favoured areas.

Funding provided under the Joint Federal/Länder Scheme for the Improvement of Regional Economic Structures (GRW) is used to support investments by trade and industry, investments in local commerce-related infrastructure, measures designed to encourage networking and cooperation between local players, and measures designed to improve SME s’ competitiveness.

In addition to the GRW scheme, there are also other programmes that promote the formation of networks between SME s and between SME s and non-for-profit industrial research facilities that have been set up in less-favoured areas (e.g. Cleantech Initiative for Eastern Germany, INNO-KOM-Ost). Find out more .

Supporting the development of new fields of business deriving from the energy transition Germany’s energy transition offers major opportunities to small SME s in particular to expand into new markets, like energy services or improving the energy performance of buildings creating local jobs, e.g. in construction and the skilled crafts.

The ministry is providing advisory services and financing opportunities for SME s to enable them to break into these new markets. Furthermore, the ministry supports SME s as they undertake efforts to make their production processes more energy-efficient and introduce energy-efficient technology . Find out more.

Opens PDF "Flyer SMEs Digital" in a new window.