28.01.2010: Industry responds to the crisis with diversification and downsizing in 2009

Diversification has been the most common reaction of the European micro, nano and materials companies to the economic crisis, in addition to intensified customer acquisition efforts (figure 3). Almost half of the companies (49%) have expanded their business, 82% of them by developing new products, 55% by entering new markets with existing or new products. However, in 2009, the companies have more often taken restrictive measures than in the year before, for example, reduced labour costs (39% in 2009, 35% in 2009) or saved on R&D investments (30% in 2009, 14% in 2008).

Source: of the European Micro, Nano and Advanced Materials industry, December 2009