Families are the better bosses 1. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot In the long run family-owned enterprises generate more revenue and are more profitable than companies owned by many individual shareholders. This is a fact confirmed by a competent source: it is the finding of a recent study conducted by the Credit Suisse bank. According to the study, the shares of European companies, which are owned …
Join the Innovation Prize 2007 competition now 1. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot As of today small and medium-sized entities (SMEs) may apply for the Innovation Prize 2007 endowed by the Initiative Mittelstand. The competition is to identify those innovative products which distinguish themselves by a particular usefulness and high functionality for all kinds of small and medium-sized entities. Winners will be awarded with numerous prizes relating to …
CeBIT co-operation forum for companies and researchers 31. January 2007 by Thomas Jannot The CeBIT exhibition has always been instrumental in bringing together business and research. Thus, the Innovation Relay Centre (IRC) Future Match is the perfect solution to companies and research institutes specifically looking for technical co-operations in Europe. In the course of the CeBIT exhibition this forum will enable people to make first personal contacts with …
New test reveals penchant for theft and fraud 31. January 2007 by Thomas Jannot Bad times for bad guys: a penchant for corruption, theft and fraud at the workplace can be measured according to the Department of Forensic Psychology at the Technical University in Darmstadt. This is the finding of several tests carried out in co-operation with the University of Regensburg and the »Team Psychologie & Sicherheit» consulting firm …
Asset Backed Securities as a way of non-bank financing 30. January 2007 by Thomas Jannot As soon as 30 years ago Asset Backed Securities (ABS) were introduced in the USA as financial instruments. As late as 1998 they also appeared on the financial markets in Germany. The fact that ABS open up new opportunities for financing which does not depend on banks has recently been recognized in particular by housebuilding …
PC and video games market amounting to 1.77 billion Euros 30. January 2007 by Thomas Jannot The market for computer and video games and paddles hit a new record high in 2006. In Germany turnover increased to 1.77 billion Euros which is 13% more than in 2005 (1.57 billion Euros). This is the finding of the »Digital games in Germany – trends and perspectives for 2007» study conducted jointly by the …
Electronic business booming in Germany 29. January 2007 by Thomas Jannot According to a statement by the Federal Association of Information Management, Telecommunications and New Media (BITKOM) electronic business is booming in Germany. 46 billion Euros were spent by Germans on goods and services in the year 2006 on the internet. This represents an increase by 44% as compared with the previous year, says BITKOM. The …
Small companies and retail market suffering from Basel II 29. January 2007 by Thomas Jannot In the course of an online-survey conducted at the end of December 2006 the German Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) questioned more than 1100 companies about their opinions on the consequences of Basel II. Some of the findings are available now according to which in particular small companies and the retail business …
Protection of intellectual property to be increased 26. January 2007 by Thomas Jannot German companies are suffering always more and to an ever greater extent from counterfeit products. This problem is addressed by a new bill adopted last Wednesday by the Federal goverment which is to transpose a corresponding EU directive. This bill not only facilitates the fight against forgeries, but it also reduces the malpractice of sending …
EU wants to reduce administrative burdens on companies 26. January 2007 by Thomas Jannot By the year 2012 the EU Commission wants to reduce administrative burdens on companies by 25%. In a presentation on Wednesday the Commission introduced an action plan which aims at reducing reporting requirements in 13 selected areas. These include issues like company law, employment relationships, fiscal law, statistics, agriculture and transportation.