The Bonn-based IfM, an institute for research on small and mid-sized businesses, found that some 410,000 firms were established last year. Meanwhile the number of insolvencies was 397,000 – a difference of 13,000.
In particular, small industrial companies employing up to 20 workers were most successful at overcoming the economic downturn, IfM President Johann Eekhoff told the paper.
According to a recent poll of some 1,500 mid-sized businesses, one-third expect the economy to recovery and await an increase in orders by autumn of 2010 at the latest, the report added.
