Bitkom gives politicians a poor report card

The Digital Association has examined 25 plans of the black-red federal government with regard to start-ups. Politicians have fully implemented 15 of them, while nothing has yet happened with three.

The digital association Bitkom has taken stock of the federal government's plans to strengthen start-ups in Germany. Overall, 15 of the 25 promises have been fulfilled. These include a reduction in bureaucracy for young start-ups, the introduction of the Tech Growth Fund and the Future Fund filled with ten billion euros.

Seven of the black-red government's plans are still in progress or have not yet been fulfilled. This category includes the Fund Location Act. Bitkom praises the doubling of the tax-free amount for employee shareholdings, but also writes: "The self-imposed goal of completely solving the "dry income" problem as a major hurdle for employee shareholdings in start-ups was missed."

Three projects have even been tackled by the federal government. These include Bitkom's announcement of the introduction of a start-up period similar to family care leave. The subsidies for household-related services have also not been implemented. There is also still no contact person for data protection issues.

Bitkom is disappointed with the outcome. Especially in view of the extremely fast-paced start-up scene, the coalition program should have been completed after two years at the latest, claims Bitkom President Achim Berg. "It must be acknowledged that the federal government has prevented the feared death of start-ups during the undoubtedly difficult coronavirus period."

Berg does not believe that much will change in the future. "Not much will happen in terms of start-up policy in the next six months due to the federal elections," says Berg. "This makes it all the more important to pick up speed quickly afterwards and, among other things, involve start-ups more in public tenders, improve the financing situation for start-ups at all stages of development and massively reduce the bureaucratic burden for start-ups and company management."