IHK demands clear relief: This is how 2026 should get better for companies

At the turn of the year, the East Westphalia Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Bielefeld (IHK) links its outlook for 2026 with a clear expectation of politics: relief and investment incentives should not remain mere announcements, but become tangible in everyday business. At its core, the Chamber sees three key levers – energy costs, a more efficient administration, and tax conditions that make investments easier.

The IHK sees itself as the voice of the regional economy. According to its own information, it represents around 115,000 companies in East Westphalia-Lippe – from small businesses to industrial SMEs. Accordingly, the list of demands is less about fundamental debates and more about concrete conditions that influence investments, training, and location decisions.

Energy prices as a location factor – relief should unlock investments

The Chamber is most explicit on the topic of energy. High electricity costs are seen in many companies as a direct burden that not only squeezes margins but also influences investment and production decisions. The IHK therefore considers noticeable relief to be central in order to create more room for modernization and growth again.

In its positions, the Chamber is pushing, among other things, for reductions in electricity tax and grid fees. Considerations of an industrial electricity price are also being discussed as a possible bridge to keep energy-intensive value creation competitive in Germany – whether and how such instruments could take effect in 2026, however, depends on political implementation and design. For companies, the label is less important than reliability: predictable costs are considered a prerequisite so that investments are not postponed or relocated to other sites.

Modernization agenda: Less friction from bureaucracy and slow procedures

The second focus is on the state and administration. The IHK is calling for a modernization agenda that noticeably simplifies permits, applications, and documentation requirements. Behind this is a practical finding from everyday business: when procedures take months, documents have to be submitted multiple times, or responsibilities remain unclear, not only is time tied up – projects become more expensive, investments are delayed, and capacities are lacking elsewhere.

According to the Chamber, small and medium-sized enterprises are particularly affected, as they can provide less staff for documentation and regulatory management. The IHK is therefore relying on "quick wins": more digital processes, leaner approval procedures, and practical rules that do not burden companies with additional bureaucracy without creating clear added value.

What is crucial is that reforms do not end as abstract administrative reforms, but are measurably reflected in shorter processing times and less mandatory effort.

Investment incentives: Booster and "construction turbo" should take effect in the real economy

Thirdly, the IHK is focusing on tax incentives and the implementation of announced programs. Measures such as the "investment and growth booster" and "construction turbo" are politically described as elements of an investment offensive – with the aim of promoting growth and strengthening the location. From the IHK's point of view, this sets a direction; for companies, however, implementation is decisive: funding and tax incentives must be understandable, quickly accessible, and reliable so that companies can actually factor them into investment decisions.

In practice, this also means: the simpler applications, documentation, and deadlines are to handle, the more effective the programs – especially for SMEs, which often plan investments over several years and depend on predictable conditions. As an example of tax investment incentives, the IHK repeatedly refers to instruments such as the tax research allowance, which, if properly designed, can facilitate research and development in companies. However, the benefit only arises when procedures and criteria are designed so that companies can go from idea to funding without excessive hurdles.

The IHK's direction is therefore clear: from the perspective of the regional economy, 2026 should be characterized less by new headlines and more by tangible relief – in energy, bureaucracy, and investment incentives. Whether expectations are met will not be measured by political declarations of intent, but by whether companies in East Westphalia-Lippe can plan faster, produce more cheaply, and invest more reliably.