ZEW-Foundation Panels are a main data base for a lot of research topics within the department. Micro data are aggregated to indicators about firm foundation activities. Some standardizied proofs and analyses are necessary to get high-quality start-up-indicators. Secondly, links to external data bases have been successfully established since 2000. This approach is consequently further developed. One topic here is the standardization of identification of venture-backed firms. Thirdly, the regulary codification of most interesting facts like business failure or handover of firms is a main purpose of the project.