
This chapter outlines the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The first focus is on the nature and importance of SMEs in Europe. The categorization of SMEs in the 1990s as well as today’s classification will be explained. This is followed by a detailed table of the new thresholds determined for SMEs within the European Union (EU). After that, both the necessity and the benefit of the new definition of SMEs will be pointed out. With reference to their pivotal role, some hard facts concerning SMEs and their aims will be revealed. Definitions of SMEs in Germany have been provided by the Institut fuer Mittelstandsforschung Bonn (IfM Bonn) and by the Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau (KfW). After introducing NEWCO International GmbH, the case study of this survey, it will be shown how it links to the definition of SMEs in Germany. At last, the difficulties faced by SMEs as well as the advantages of SMEs will be explained before a final summary is given.
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