KMU

Abstract

The Austrian Institute for SME Research is an independent non-university research institute in the field of economics and social sciences. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are a core area of our research activities he Austrian Institute for SME Research was founded in 1954 and is an independent non-university research institute in the field of economics and social sciences. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) constitute a core research area. The Institute is a private, non-profit association, which provides analyses and data on recent and future topics to facilitate economic policy making and business decisions. The research results of the Austrian Institute for SME Research address policy makers, advocacy groups, advisory bodies, and other research institutions at regional, national and international levels, as well as company managers and the interested public in general. The findings should contribute to a positive development of the Austrian and European economy and society. The Institute has a team of highly qualified staff members and can build on more than 60 years of experience and continuity. Many years of expertise, objectivity, interdisciplinarity, a variety of methods, compliance with scientific standards, cooperation with national and international research institutions and integration in central (inter-)national research networks are key quality features of the Austrian Institute for SME Research and ensure that the research results of the Institute draw upon the state of the art in all fields of study. The Institute’s fields of Expertise include: entrepreneurship and innovation, economic sectors and industries, regional analyses, labour market and skills, evaluations and impact analyses as well as balance sheet ratios and benchmarking.