EES EU Live (07/2023)

July 4, 2023, 5.00 - 6.00 p.m.

EES EU Live (07/2023) - The Digital Senators' Briefing  

"Europe is running out of entrepreneurs! Challenges and answers using the example of Germany with a European perspective"

According to a study (2022) by the European Commission, only 46% of young people aged 15-30 in the EU would think about starting their own business or becoming self-employed. This is over 15% less than in 2018 and almost 20% less than in 2014.

In Germany, fewer people actually became self-employed in 2022 than in the previous year, unfortunately a constant trend. KfW speaks of "bad news for the German economy". According to the report, the number of full-time start-ups fell to 222,000, around six percent less than in 2021. In the sideline sector, however, the decline was even greater: With a total of 328,000 start-ups, twelve percent fewer people opted for sideline self-employment, according to the survey. The start-up rate in 2022 was 108 start-ups per 10,000 people aged 18 to 64. In 2021 it had been 119.

The current year 2023 only seems to consolidate this trend in Germany. In an international and European comparison, start-up activity in this country leaves much to be desired anyway.

What must politics, business and society as a whole do to stop this development so that start-ups, entrepreneurship and self-employment become attractive again? What needs to be done in Germany and what should Europe do?

Speakers:

Christoph KLENNER, Technology entrepreneur for travel, tourism and lifestyle, investor / business angel; former Secretary General of EU Travel Tech.

Moritz DIEHL, Chairman of the Bavarian Business Juniors

Dr Andreas LUTZ, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Founders and Self-Employed People in Germany (VGSD)

Mark VON DER MEDEN, Managing Director Herbalife Germany, Austria and Switzerland