IVAM - Economic Data

18.12.2023

Supply chain problems, increasing shortage of skilled workers and sustainability requirements: Microtechnology in the face of national and global crises

The consequences of global crises in the form of supply chain problems and rising energy prices are a major challenge, especially in the high-tech sector. Recruitment is increasingly becoming a management problem at national level. These are the results of IVAM's annual survey of economic data from companies and research institutions in the field of …

22.06.2022

IVAM Survey 2022: Corona Crisis - Climate Change - Developments in the EU

Climate change is on everyone's lips - yet much remains to be done. The consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly visible in everyday life through extreme weather phenomena or rising food prices due to poor harvests. That is why the demand also on companies and institutes to operate sustainably or to contribute to improving …

16.04.2020

IVAM Survey 2020: Climate change discussion spurs innovation in microtechnology

Climate change, which has been the subject of intense debate over the past year, is also leading to increased development of sustainable technologies in the microtechnology sector. Innovations from developers and suppliers are in demand, especially in the field of automotive drive technology and in power engineering.In this year's economic data survey, the IVAM Microtechnology …

02.04.2019

IVAM Survey 2019

Microtechnology industry confident: positive economic development and market trends to continue In the microtechnology industry, the positive economic development of recent years continues: the majority of European companies have raised turnover and staff in 2018 and expect a further increase throughout the next few years. Forecasts of a weakening global economy, international trade conflicts and …

01.04.2019

Turnover and staff numbers in the microtechnology industry keep rising

In the microtechnology industry, the positive economic development of recent years continues: the majority of European companies have raised turnover and staff in 2018 and expect a further increase throughout the next few years. More than 80 percent of European microtechnology companies expect sales to increase over the next three years, two-thirds of companies plan …

31.03.2019

China’s importance as trading partner is growing

A steadily growing share of European microtechnology companies is aiming for China as a trading partner. Within the next three years, China is supposed to become the most important business region outside the European Union and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) for a fifth (20.3%) of companies. Currently, China is the major trading partner …

30.03.2019

Medical technology and healthcare benefit most from microtechnology

The market that benefits most from developments, products and systems in the microtechnology industry today – the medical technology and healthcare industry – will keep its leading position in the foreseeable future. More than half of European microtechnology companies presently serve this market. For a fifth (20.1%) of companies, it is currently the most important …

26.03.2019

IVAM Survey 2019 – Brexit Special

Brexit uncertainty dampens mood of European microtechnology industry The microtechnology industry in Europe expects virtually no positive impulses from Brexit, neither for the industry nor for individual businesses. Industry representatives assume mostly negative economic effects. The results of a survey conducted by IVAM shortly before the exit date more than anything else reflect the uncertainty …

05.04.2018

IVAM Survey 2018

Positive developments in the European microtechnology industry that have become apparent in previous years continue this year, in some cases intensified. This has been confirmed by this year's economic data survey by the IVAM Microtechnology Network. These developments include a continued upswing in staff numbers and turnover and very good forecasts in both areas for …

04.04.2018

Skills shortage does not keep microtechnology industry from hiring

Despite the acknowledged shortage of skilled workers in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), the number of employees in the microtechnology industry is steadily rising. In 2017, 63.3% of the companies in Europe involved with microtechnology have increased their workforce. This is a significantly higher proportion than in previous years. In last year’s …

03.04.2018

Microtechnology industry constantly increases turnover

A continuously growing proportion of the European high-tech industry has been able to increase turnover over the past four years. In 2017, well over half (62%) of the surveyed microtechnology companies have increased their turnover. Medium-term expectations are also very positive: nearly 80% of companies expect their turnover to increase over the next three years. …

02.04.2018

Microtechnology industry’s export will increase

The European microtechnology industry expects to significantly increase its export activity in the medium term: 63.3% of companies expect exports to increase over the next three years. In previous years, the increase in exports was comparatively modest. On average, 35-40% of companies achieved an increase in exports between 2014 and 2017. Nonetheless, microtechnology is an …

01.04.2018

Export and cooperation predominate in international activities

In total, 85.5% of the European microtechnology companies export. Export is the prevalent way of acting on an international level in the microtechnology industry. Most companies that do not export (almost 15%) are suppliers of components whose customers export the final product. Research institutions are predominantly active at international level in the form of technological …

31.03.2018

Europe is main export region – China to become second most important export market

The EU and EFTA region is and will continue to be the most important export region for the largest proportion of the European microtechnology companies. Currently, 40.5% of companies focus on exporting within Europe. This share is supposed to increase to 43% over the next three years. In the overseas export business, the US is …

30.03.2018

Significance of medical technology market unfailing

The medical device and healthcare market is and remains the most important target market for the highest proportion of microtechnology companies: for 21% of companies, medical technology is currently the most important market – for 27.2% of companies, it will be the most important market in three years’ time. New impulses in medical technology and …

29.03.2018

EU regulations impede rather than facilitate business operations

Only a small proportion of European microtechnology organizations appreciate how EU regulations facilitate trade and collaboration within the EU single market: only 14% say that EU regulations and directives partly have a facilitating effect on their business operations. More than half (58%) of the responding organizations feel that EU regulations and directives are impeding their …

28.03.2018

Microtechnology industry affected by a variety of EU regulations

The European microtechnology industry covers a broad range of technology fields including micro components, MEMS, nanotechnology, advanced materials, and optical technologies. Consequently, the industry is affected by a variety of EU regulations and directives, such as RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances), REACH (Registration Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), or the Machinery Directive. Recently, regulations …

27.03.2018

EU regulations: Documentation and implementation overburden microtechnology industry

A major complication from the point of view of the European microtechnology organizations are the high documentation and reporting obligations that EU regulations or directives entail. More than half (56.9%) of the companies and institutes say that the documentation and reporting obligations impede their business operations. Almost half (49.2%) of the organizations are challenged by …

26.03.2018

SMEs demand simplified EU regulations

A clear majority of representatives of the European microtechnology industry thinks that EU regulations are too extensive and complex for small companies to be able to comply. Almost three quarters (72.3%) of microtechnology organizations call for simplified regulations for SMEs. 40.4% of microtechnology industry representatives say that a more homogeneous implementation in all EU countries …

07.03.2018

Mixed feeligns about delayed government formation in Germany

Representatives of the microtechnology industry in Europe are partly concerned and partly relaxed about the impact the long government formation process in Germany after the elections in 2017 might have on the European Union. As part of its annual economic data survey, the IVAM Microtechnology Network has asked industry representatives whether they believe that the …