February 2019: Brexit, Outlook for 2019, Optometry Figures, and Much More

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Brexit Vote: No Deal Harms Exports by German High-Tech Companies

Now that the British House of Commons has rejected the Brexit agreement, the United Kingdom could leave the EU without a deal on March 29. SPECTARIS warns of significant consequences for the export-oriented high-tech industry and calls for solutions that are economically viable. The Brexit chaos shows no sign of ending: Whether it will actually come down to a “no-deal” scenario or whether the British will opt for a different path remains to be seen. For the industry association SPECTARIS, however, it is clear that a no-deal exit would be the worst possible option: “This would result in significant additional financial and time costs for our companies: customs declarations, tariffs, and rules of origin must be complied with. Delays in supply chains are inevitable, especially since the British side’s administrative preparations are questionable,” says SPECTARIS Managing Director Jörg Mayer. As a result of Brexit, for example, medical devices certified by a British notified body will lose their certifications. More

German Optical Industry: Expected Business in Asia and Eastern Europe Offsets the Impact of Brexit

The German optical industry reported stable business in 2018 and increased its revenue by 0.5 percent to 4.46 billion euros. Domestic revenue grew by 2.2 percent to 2.3 billion euros, while international revenue fell by 1.3 percent to 2.16 billion euros. The current trade barriers with the U.S. and Brexit were the main factors behind this decline in exports. Business within the EU remained strong: 81 percent of exports went to European countries, 5 percent to North America, and 6 percent to Asia. The export ratio of the German optical industry stood at 48.4 percent.  “Even though political and foreign trade developments in the U.S. and the U.K. are affecting our day-to-day business, we in the German optical industry are generally satisfied with 2018 and the successes we were able to achieve in our domestic market as well as in the other core European markets,” explained Josef May, Chairman of the Board of the industry association SPECTARIS, Josef May, at the start of Opti, the leading international optical trade fair, which took place in Munich from January 25 to 27. For the domestic market, the German optical industry expects sales to rise by about 2.5 percent in 2019, while export business is also projected to increase by approximately 1.5 percent, particularly due to growth in Asia and Eastern Europe. More

Nobel laureates call for a greater role for photonics in Europe

In an open letter to EU Commissioner Carlos Moedas, the three Nobel laureates Theodor Hänsch, Stefan Hell, and Gérard Mourou (pictured below, from left) call for the photonics industry to be given greater consideration—commensurate with its importance to Europe—in the upcoming European research framework program, Horizon Europe. The Nobel laureates from 2005, 2014, and 2018 are among the most outstanding representatives of the European photonics community. In both research and industry, the European photonics sector has proven over the past decades that it is one of the cornerstones of European high technology. This makes the current draft of the upcoming European research framework program, Horizon Europe—in which photonics is not listed among the nine priority areas for technological intervention in Europe—all the more baffling. The Nobel laureates’ letter to Moedas concludes with the following appeal: “We explicitly call on the European Commission to reconsider the current draft programming for the Industry and Digital Cluster within the future Horizon program and to include photonics as the tenth area of intervention—the tenth technology priority—in this industry cluster.” For its part, the industry association SPECTARIS has sent letters to the Federal Minister of Education and the Federal Minister of Economics, as well as to the European Commission, urgently emphasizing that the German government must continue to champion photonics as one of the top technology sectors in Germany and Europe.

Global Market Index: Analytical, Biotech, and Laboratory Technology Sectors Remain Strong

The Global Market Index, which is compiled quarterly, reflects revenue trends among international publicly traded companies in the industry. The current value of 209.3 indicates that revenues for the companies surveyed in the analytical, biotechnology, and laboratory technology sectors were 109.3 percent higher than revenues in the first quarter of 2006 (base quarter). This represents another double-digit increase over the previous year’s figure, specifically by 11.1 percent. In the first nine months of 2018, revenue for the companies under review was 14.6 percent higher than the comparable figure from the previous year. However, it is important to note that various acquisitions were made during this period, which artificially inflated the increase. 

TSVG: Faster Decisions in Benefit Assessment and a Ban on Bidding Are Important Steps

The SPECTARIS Medical Technology Association supports provisions in the Appointment Service and Care Act (TSVG) designed to expedite reimbursement decisions by the Joint Federal Committee (G-BA). Under these provisions, the G-BA must immediately decide on diagnostic and treatment methods submitted by manufacturers for testing if sufficient evidence is already available. “It has always been a priority for us to bring medical innovations into standard care covered by statutory health insurance more quickly. This prevents manufacturers who have developed effective solutions for patient care—and have already demonstrated this through studies—from being denied access to reimbursement,” says Marcus Kuhlmann (photo), head of the Medical Technology Association. SPECTARIS is generally open to the debate initiated by Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn regarding empowering his ministry to include new diagnostic and treatment methods in the scope of benefits covered by statutory health insurance. The association also views the proposed ban on competitive bidding in the provision of medical aids as explicitly positive, but sees a need for changes regarding telemedicine and the expanded powers of the Federal Ministry of Health. The legislature is thus responding, among other things, to tenders reported by SPECTARIS through which some health insurance plans have contravened the objective of the Medical Treatment and Medical Aids Supply Act—namely, giving greater consideration to quality aspects. More

Register now for free for the Foreign Trade Day at the Federal Foreign Office: Challenges in Free Trade and Digitalization

German companies in the medical technology, pharmaceutical, and laboratory technology sectors operate worldwide. A key pillar of their success is building networks in foreign markets. In the Federal Foreign Office, SECTARIS has an excellent partner for gathering market intelligence and securing political support for important projects. At the Foreign Trade Day on March 20, 2019, export-oriented companies can establish important contacts, raise issues regarding specific target markets, and obtain exclusive market information from a strong network of partners. The framework for these discussions is provided by the 2019 theme, which brings together two key concerns of the SECTARIS industries: the defense of free trade and appropriate framework conditions for digital products and processes. Participation in the Foreign Trade Day is free of charge for manufacturing companies from the target sectors, members of the participating associations, and public officials (from the Bundestag, ministries, embassies, etc.). Registration here (Photo: Fotolia.)

Recommendation: The Center of Excellence for Securing a Skilled Workforce Supports SMEs

The Center of Excellence for Securing a Skilled Workforce (KOFA) offers the following on its website www.kofa.de extensive free information for small and medium-sized enterprises to assist them in selecting, planning, and implementing appropriate HR measures. KOFA is an initiative of the Cologne Institute for Economic Research and is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. KOFA’s information resources cover the entire value chain, from situational and company analysis to employer branding, and on to finding, retaining, and training skilled workers. In addition to core HR topics, KOFA’s current focus areas include “Digitalization—Working in a Connected World,” “Inclusion—Hiring People with Disabilities,” and “Integrating Refugees.” KOFA’s offerings include, in addition to a wide range of publications , it also includes podcasts, videos, events and webinars on the topic of human resources. For example, the webinar “Vocational Training or College? – How Companies Can Support Young People with Career Guidance” will take place on February 21. KOFA also offers company visits to provide on-site support.

New Member

We warmly welcomeBraunwarth GmbH! The company specializes in highly flexible, unbreakable children’s sunglasses. A wide selection of over-the-glasses sunglasses, as well as regular sunglasses and sports glasses, rounds out their product line. You can find more information about our members here.