H-BRS Institute conducts research on SMEs

"We establish links with practically oriented academics on behalf of companies and company founders from the region," explains Frank Maikranz, one of four founders and directors of CENTIM. Other founders and directors include Professor Klaus Deimel, Vice Dean of the Department of Management Sciences, and his colleague Alexander Pohl, as well as Karl W. Neunast from the Department of Computer Science.

The institute views itself as a partner in matters relating to entrepreneurship, company foundation and innovation as well as SME management – both within the university and the region as a whole. The focus is on practice-based tuition, application-oriented research as well further education and consultation.

The institute is expressly aimed at those who have an innovative idea for a business start-up, are in the set-up phase or wish to learn more about entrepreneurship. Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University aims to offer its students a grounding in entrepreneurial thinking and action and in the necessary steps towards company founding. Above and beyond this, its offer is aimed at SMEs that require support in developing products and services or in corporate management. The portfolio is completed by such topics as succession planning or strategic management in small and medium-sized enterprises.

CENTIM, which receives academic support from the Bonn Founders’ Forum (Bonner Gründerpodium), collaborates with, among others, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is planning to establish cooperative partnerships, for example with comparable research institutes, the University of Bonn or financial institutions.