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Investment dynamics and focus

EIBIS 2021 shows an improving investment outlook. While the share of EU firms having invested in 2020 declined, EU firms are more positive with respect to their 2021 investment plans, with more EU firms expecting to increase rather than decrease investment. The investment cycle is turning, from a low base: EIBIS data shows low investment in 2020 (79% of firms investing) but firms now expect to increase investment in 2021, a sharp turn-around from the previous year.

COVID-19 impact

COVID-19 had a strong impact on EU firms, with 49% of EU firms suffering a drop in sales due to the pandemic, compared to 21% that were able to increase sales. Investment was also impacted, with 26% of EU firms reporting they had reduced their planned investment due to COVID-19.

Despite this, almost half (46%) of EU firms say that they have taken action(s) or made investment to become more digital due to COVID-19. This is, however, less than in the United States, where 58% of firms state the same.

Investment needs and priorities

COVID-19 undeniably has a long-term impact on needs and priorities. Again, digitalisation stands out, with the vast majority of firms indicating that they expect COVID-19 to lead to an increased use of digital technologies in the long term (55%).

Nearly half (49%) of all EU firms report that they were operating at or above full capacity during 2020, less than in EIBIS 2020, where it stood at 61%. In addition, 14% of firms report investing too little, largely in line with EIBIS 2020.

Looking ahead to the next three years, the share of firms that have no investment planned declined slightly in EIBIS 2021 (9% vs. 13% in EIBIS 2020). While investment in replacement remains the main priority, capacity expansion has become more important, overtaking investment in new products or services (32% and 26%, respectively).

Innovation activities

More than a third (36%) of EU firms developed or introduced new products, processes or services as part of their investment activities, lower than in EIBIS 2020 (42%), but still higher than in EIBIS 2019 (33%).

In total, 61% EU firms have implemented at least one advanced digital technology, largely in line with EIBIS 2020 (63%) and remaining below the share in the United States (66%).

Drivers and constraints

On balance, firms are optimistic about investment conditions in the next year, with sentiment indicators for the economic climate and internal finance availability switching back to positive as the recovery is felt.

Recovery has brought a marked uptick in firms seeing skills availability, energy costs and transport infrastructure as constraints, while the impact of uncertainty has eased.

Investment finance

Access to finance conditions remained very benign. Only 5% of firms across the European Union could be considered financially constrained in 2020, largely in line with EIBIS 2020.

As a result of the crisis, 16% of EU firms increased debt and 5% received new equity from their current owners and 2% of EU firms received new equity from new sources. Around half (51%) of EU firms had received some form of policy support since the start of the pandemic in response to COVID-19. Subsidies or support that did not need to be paid back is the main form of financial support (36%). 17% of firms received guaranteed credit and 16% received deferral of payments.

Climate change and energy efficiency

Climate change and the reality of the climate transition is beginning to be felt by firms. Around 58% of EU firms see themselves as affected by physical climate change risks. EU firms are starting to internalise the risks associated with the transition to net zero, with risks seen on the downside and the perception of opportunities fairly balanced (around 30%). 41% of EU firms still do not expect the transition to a net zero economy to affect them.

On average, 43% of EU firms have already invested to deal with climate change and around 37% invested in energy efficiency in 2020. The share of firms planning climate-related investment has now risen from 41% to 47%. In the United States, on the other hand, only 28% of firms have already invested and only 40% are planning climate-related investment, which may be a signal that the EU leadership on climate is paying off. In addition, 46% of EU firms monitor targets for carbon emissions and energy consumption, a factor associated with investment, and reflecting the regulatory push for accountability.

Firm management, gender balance and employment

Overall, EU firms did not experience a change in employment during COVID-19. This contrasts with the United States, where employment fell, on average, by 2%.

Regarding management practices, two-thirds of firms in the European Union link individual performance to pay, less than in the United States (79%). Instead, more than half (54%) of EU firms use a strategic monitoring system, a much higher proportion than in the United States (39%). When it comes to striving for gender balance, the proportion of firms in the European Union and the United States is balanced, at 60%.