What is Fin.Connect.NRW?
With Fin.Connect.NRW we are expanding the financial ecosystem. The initiative is primarily concerned with financing the economic transformation, proposing solutions and initiating projects.
In the first phase of the project (2020 to October 2023), a network was created that primarily brought together the finance and credit industry (banks, insurance companies, private equity) and some companies from the real economy. In events and studies, the participants have analysed and explained in particular the necessity and importance, but also the difficulties and challenges of transformation financing.
On the initiative of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (MWIKE), Fin.Connect.NRW has been expanded and strengthened since November 2023 (until the end of 2026).
The aim is to establish a competence centre for transformation financing in NRW that supports the real economy and the financial sector in a variety of ways.
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Who will be affected by the CSRD from 2026?
- Companies that are already subject to the NFRD
- Companies that fulfil two of the three criteria:
- At least 250 employees
- € 50 million turnover
- € 25 million balance sheet total
- Listed SMEs (with the exception of micro-enterprises)
- Companies with parent companies from third countries,
- that achieve a total group turnover of > € 150 million in the EU for two consecutive years.
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
Fin.Connect.NRW Konvoi - Putting Sustainability into Practice
Checklist of the German Sustainability Code (DNK)
Fin.Connect.NRW specialist event on 29 August 2024: Banks will become climate neutral: What are the consequences for companies?
Don´t miss the next event
NRW.BANK Seminar - Financing strategy for SMEs
In times of economic uncertainty, securing the company's liquidity is a focal point of both day-to-day business and corporate strategy. The aim must be to prevent bottlenecks from arising in the first place. Securing financing and liquidity are therefore top management tasks. The seminar will take place on March 20 from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at…
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.
Further events: Network with us!
Social sustainability as a success factor: strategies for recruiting and employee retention
Fin.Connect.NRW Convoy No. 5 - Deep Dive ESRS S Part 1
