Evaluation of the Promotion of R&D Activities in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Abstract

In the time period from the end of the 1970’s to the end of the 1980’s, particular attention was paid to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the framework of state innovation policy in the Federal Republic of Germany. The amount of subsidies allotted reached its peak in the mid 1980s. The most important measures, based on the amount of aid and the number of sponsored enterprises, were the “R&D Personnel Costs Subsidies Programme” of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and the “Promotion of Research Personnel Growth” which was launched later by the Federal Ministry for Research and Technology. Between 1979 and 1988 almost 20,000 small and medium-sized enterprises were sponsored under the “R&D Personnel Costs Subsidies Programme”, involving a total amount of DM 3.2 thousand million. Small and medium-sized enterprises which had taken on new R&D personnel between 1.9.1984 and 31.12.1987 wore entitled to apply for the “Growth promotion” programme. About 6,000 enterprises were sponsored under this programme, most of which had also taken part in the “R&D Personnel Costs Subsidies Programme”; the programme volume is estimated at c. DM 230 million (cf. table next page).