What is Fin.Connect.NRW?
Transformation needs financing: Our areas of work
Financing Instruments and Funding
Traditional forms of financing are often not sufficient for the successful implementation of transformation projects. Here, SMEs can find innovative financing options, information on bank loans, public funding programs and practical tips for creating the optimal financing mix.
Sustainability Reporting
ESR, CSRD, SFDR, EU taxonomy - sustainability reporting is important, but often bureaucratic and complex. Fin.Connect.NRW supports SMEs with comprehensive information on mandatory and voluntary reporting standards, practical training opportunities and best practice examples from NRW.
Digitalization and Innovation
The green transformation is not feasible without AI, data management and digitalization. We show SMEs how they can use digital solutions to efficiently fulfill reporting obligations and drive forward the circular economy - and strengthen NRW as a fintech location in the process.
Financial and Business Location NRW
Close networking between the financial and real economy is the key to overcoming the challenges of transformation. Here SMEs can find an overview of important networks and enablers in NRW that can help them on their way, as well as location information and details of the Fin.Connect.NRW offer.
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Who will be affected by the CSRD from 2026?
Note: Due to the omnibus process currently underway at EU level - including on sustainability reporting - further amendments to the CSRD are still possible. Further information can be found in our position paper on the omnibus package.
- Companies with parent companies from third countries,
- that achieve a total group turnover of > € 150 million in the EU for two consecutive years.
- Companies that fulfil two of the three criteria:
- At least 1000 employees
- € 50 million turnover
- € 25 million balance sheet total
- Listed SMEs (with the exception of micro-enterprises)
- Companies that are already subject to the NFRD
Fin.Connect.NRW is represented by three partners
The Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft (IW) with its scientific expertise, ZENIT with its innovation, transformation and networking expertise and the IHK NRW with its vocational training and qualification expertise.
Cooperation Partners
In our network, we work together with our partners from science, finance and the real economy.
This ecosystem of cooperation partners and financial centre players forms the heart of the initiative.
The team behind Fin.Connect.NRW
Dr. Matthias
Mainz
Managing Director Economic Policy and Digitalization, IHK NRW
News
SME survey - Sustainable finance in the SME sector
IW Summary Report - PropTechs drive innovation in the real estate market
SMEs need the necessary entrepreneurial freedom
Best practice example - New TRICOR site for swelling board in Goch
Don´t miss the next event
IHK webinar climate risk analysis: What is the benefit and how does it work? - With practical examples from the Böllhoff Group
Climate change is increasingly presenting companies with strategic challenges: Extreme weather events endanger not only production sites, but also supply chains, infrastructure and investment security. A climate risk analysis helps to identify these risks in a targeted manner and act with foresight: Systematically identify and assess climate…
Further events: Network with us!
NRW.BANK - Consultant Day Bonn/Rhein-Sieg
NRW.BANK information event - NRW.BANK.Invest Future development program
