24.02.2011: Funding gaps remain

Although the financial crisis has been officially pronounced to be overcome a while ago, it remains difficult for the European high-tech companies to get sufficient financial means to invest in their own business and new developments and ultimately to boost the economic growth. For about 40% of companies financing has become more difficult in the past two years. Bank loans, in particular, are hard to come by, as many banks have apparently increased the barriers to lending and take longer to process requests. But funding opportunities have gone down in the last two years, too: Again, the companies complain about higher obstacles for application and the fact that programs were terminated.

Source: IVAM Survey January 2011