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Firm Size and Sector Gaps in Enterprise AI Adoption: Germany and the EU-27 in 2025

Author

Listed:
  • Ideal Syka

    (i6eal / Syka Ventures UG (haftungsbeschränkt))

Abstract

This research note uses harmonised Eurostat ICT-usage statistics to describe enterprise artificial-intelligence adoption in Germany relative to the EU-27 in 2025. The population covers enterprises with at least ten employees and self-employed persons in covered non-financial NACE activities. AI use is reported by 25.97% of German enterprises, compared with 19.95% in the EU-27, placing Germany eighth among member states. Adoption rises sharply with firm size in Germany, from 23.06% among enterprises with 10–49 employees to 56.99% among enterprises with 250 or more. Germany exceeds the EU-27 aggregate in each of eight displayed activity groups, with the largest difference in information and communication (75.38% versus 62.52%). The comparisons are descriptive, not causal. Survey flags, missing values and denominators are retained, and a reported German enterprise-definition break in 2025 limits longitudinal interpretation.

Suggested Citation

  • Ideal Syka, 2026. "Firm Size and Sector Gaps in Enterprise AI Adoption: Germany and the EU-27 in 2025," i6eal Research Notes in AI Economics and Digital Policy 2026-01, Syka Ventures UG (haftungsbeschränkt), i6eal, revised 03 Aug 2026.
    • Handle: RePEc:evi:irnote:2026-01
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    File URL: https://i6eal.de/research-notes/files/i6eal-rn-2026-01.pdf
    File Function: Original version, 31 July 2026; deposited with DNB
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    File URL: https://i6eal.de/research-notes/files/i6eal-rn-2026-01-issn.pdf
    File Function: Revised metadata version, 3 August 2026; ISSN added, analytical content unchanged
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • M15 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - IT Management

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