The survival and growth of 'adolescent' high-tech firms in Germany and the UK, 1997-2003

Cowling M, Murray G, Fryges H, Licht G |   | Anglo-German Foundation for the Study of Industrial Society | Dec 2006

This report documents over a twelve year period (1991-2003) the continued fortunes of 600 independent New Technology-based Firms (NTBFs) which were founded in Germany or the UK between 1987 and 1996.

The findings on these firms, often known as 'high-tech start-ups', had significant implications for policy makers in the complementary areas of Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Significant criteria for success and failure were identified under these headings:

  • Survival chances of NTBFs
  • Factors of success and failure
  • Comparative performance of UK and German NTBFs
  • The improbability of 'spotting winners'
  • The importance of internationalisation as a 'cause and effect'
  • Where are Europe's new world-class firms?