The state wants to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) more, to help them realize research projects more often and mor easily. This is the result of the panel discussion of the AiF (German abbreviation for: Federation of Industrial Research Associations) at the end of September in Berlin.
QASS-CEO Ulrich Seuthe, after being invited by the AiF, has joined the discussion “Medium-sized enterprises as an innovation driver – how can politics help?”. The discussion were moderated by AiF-president Yvonne Karmann-Proppert and AiF-chief executive Thomas Kathöfer. Amongst the panel members were two members of the German Parliament, René Röspel and Heinz Riesenhuber (former Federal Research Minister and Father of the House), and last but not least the director Robert Heggemann of the Heggemann AG
Both entrepeneurs emphasise the importance of promoted research projects for the competitiveness of small and medium-sized companies, especially in view of proceeding globalisation, Industry 4.0 and the demographic change.
The leading question of the discussion: Does it make sense to grant tax support for private research activities in addition to the research fundings that are already in existence? The tax support for research shall not go at the expense of current development subsidies. All panel members agreed with this point.
