How Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Are Coping with Current Challenges

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Friederike Welter spoke about the challenges and opportunities facing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in early May at the Federal Metal Industry Association’s conference in Berlin. She reported on the latest IfM survey, which found that some SMEs in the manufacturing sector are already exploring the security and defense sector as a new market. At the same time, however, these companies also recognize that regulatory requirements, for example, are stringent.

In her keynote address, the professor also explained why there has been virtually no “de-risking” from China among SMEs to date: “Companies are well aware of the geopolitical risks involved in trade with China and are also looking for competitive solutions. Nevertheless, there are a number of practical obstacles. In addition to a lack of alternatives, these primarily include the cost disadvantages that would be associated with moving away from China,” said Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Friederike Welter.