Economic Data

02.04.2019 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 …

09.03.2017 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 …

08.03.2017 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 …

07.03.2017 Trade in European microtechnology products still predominantly takes place within Europe. The EU and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) are the most important sales and export regions for more than half of the European companies.   The USA is the most important overseas market, still. This is likely to change over the next three …