IVAM Survey 2017

In early 2017, growth forecasts in Europe’s microtechnology industry are distinctively positive. More than 80 percent of the companies expect to increase sales in the period from 2017 to 2019. The number of employees is also expected to rise in more than three-quarters of the companies. However, securing skilled workforce remains a challenge for more than half of the microtechnology companies.

Increasing growth rates during the last four years are likely to have given rise to this optimism in the microtechnology industry: since 2013, the share of companies that have been able to increase their turnover and their number of employees has risen steadily. In 2016, more than half of the microtechnology companies (56.3 %) achieved an increase in sales. Almost half (47.7 %) of companies hired additional staff last year.

China expected to outrank the USA as major overseas market
The USA is the most important overseas market, still. This is likely to change over the next three years: during this period, China – currently one of the EU's fastest growing export markets – is expected to outrank the USA as the most important overseas trading partner for European microtechnology companies.
 
Medical technology still most dynamic market
In the past years, no other target market has stimulated the microtechnology industry as much as medical technology and health care. A constant appearance of new application areas is keeping this market highly dynamic. The trend towards personalized medical care as well as demographic developments and digitalization, but also health policy and cost pressure are driving technological progress in medical technology and health care.
 
Further results

• Personalization, demography and connectivity determine technical progress in medical technology
• Assisted and connected driving make the car industry exciting again
• Nationalistic tendencies in the US and Europe preoccupy the microtechnology sector
• Shortage of qualified staff still challenges microtechnology industry
• The digital transformation is no disruption to the microtechnology industry