ALWAYS UP TO SPEED IN NRW’S FINANCIAL CENTRE

Our events

Planned events

Select time period:

 
There are currently no scheduled event dates.
 

show more

Reports on past events

Jun 30 2023
Event reports

Practical Seminar on Bank Discussions: EU Taxonomy in Practice

Since the beginning of the year, the EU Taxonomy Regulation has been in effect, regulating the sustainable transformation of the economy. What does this mean specifically for companies, and what do business owners and executives need to prepare for in their financing discussions with their banks? In the practical seminar on June 27, 2023, participants gained a practical overview of the requirements, including sustainability reporting, the available financing measures, and what the transition to a climate-neutral economy is all about.   Program: Welcome: Dr. Nikolaus Paffenholz, IHK Düsseldorf „What Banks Expect: Practical Tips for Your Bank Discussion on the EU Taxonomy“ / Wilhelm Weber, Senior Banker Entrepreneur & Enterprise, ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Frankfurt Branch, and Bank Asso

read more
Person tippt auf einen Taschenrechner und schreibt was auf.
Oct 19 2022
Event reports

Event on the opportunities of securitisation for transformation financing of the economy in NRW

The financing of the sustainable and climate-neutral transformation of the economy in North Rhine-Westphalia could be supported and leveraged by loan securitisation. Securitisation is an important topic for Fin.Connect.NRW because it can bring together the financing of companies in the real economy with the capital market and open up new opportunities for transformation financing. The workshop held as part of Fin.Connect.NRW on 19 October 2022 at the Deutsche Bundesbank’s North Rhine-Westphalia headquarters in Düsseldorf served to highlight and discuss the opportunities, but also the remaining obstacles, of securitisation for transformation financing. On a global level and also in NRW, there is savings capital looking for investment opportunities. For many smaller and medium-sized compani

read more
Person tippt auf einen Taschenrechner und schreibt was auf.
Aug 24 2022
Event reports

Workshop on 24 August 2022: The significance of the European capital market for the transformation of the economy in NRW

The transformation of the economy in North Rhine-Westphalia towards sustainability requires significant investment efforts that need to be financed by a broad mix of partners. Fin.Connect.NRW is a network that brings together financial institutions and companies from the real economy and aims to open up new opportunities for transformation financing. The workshop on 24 August 2022 at the premises of the Institute of the German Economy served to highlight and discuss the opportunities, but also the remaining obstacles of the European capital market for transformation financing. After a welcome by IW Managing Director Dr Hans-Peter Klös and the two representatives of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Dr SchlotbÃ

read more
Bilder Collage von Feldern und Erzeugung von Ökoenergie mithilfe von Windrädern und Solar.
Jan 24 2022
Event reports

Chance, risk and financing the energetic transformation

Currently, four disruptions are having a lasting impact on the German economy: digitalisation, de-carbonisation, demographics, decentralisation. To cope with these changes, companies and also the state are facing a decade of investment and capital stock restructuring. But already today, companies need to prepare their business models and digitally evolve processes and products. The transformations are changing the framework conditions of companies, currently especially corporate financing. The core topic of this event is the financing of the energy and climate turnaround, which requires investments through all sectors down to private households. As part of the Fin.Connect.NRW initiative – organised by the Institute of Energy Economics at the University of Cologne, IHK NRW e.V. and the Nort

read more
Jan 06 2022
Event reports

Opportunity, risk and financing of the digital transformation

With the digital and sustainable transformation, our economy is facing major challenges. More opportunity capital is to be mobilised for transformation processes. Innovation and cooperation open up opportunities and are a key to mastering these tasks. Currently, four disruptions are changing the German economy at once: digitalisation, de-carbonisation, demographics, de-globalisation. The transformation leads to innovations, high investments and a growing need for financing. Already today, companies have to make their business models, processes and products more digital and sustainable. Awareness is to be strengthened, which will also affect SMEs in the future. As part of the Fin.Connect.NRW initiative, we would like to discuss with you how companies can already prepare for the transformati

read more
Person tippt auf einen Taschenrechner und schreibt was auf.
Nov 25 2021
Event reports

Online event: Sustainable finance, EU taxonomy and CSR reporting – what lies ahead for companies in 2022

Sustainability reporting requirements are increasingly reaching businesses in North Rhine-Westphalia. The goals of the Green Deal and the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) reporting obligations of the European Union require companies to put their business models to the test against the background of sustainability criteria. Under the buzzword „Sustainable Finance“, the EU has launched further initiatives to also align financing and risk provisioning and also public funding more closely with sustainability aspects. Although many of the new obligations are primarily directed at larger companies, many small and medium-sized enterprises are also affected by their integration into the value chains. Already in the coming year, companies must prepare for these new trends in order to be able t

read more
Person tippt auf einen Taschenrechner und schreibt was auf.
Jun 08 2021
Event reports

Online event: The Challenge of Sustainable Finance

Under the buzzword „sustainable finance“, the transformation to sustainable business is reaching the financing level, the financial industry as well as NRW companies as a whole. The European Union has set itself the goal of including the capital markets in the measures for more climate protection and sustainability. Through several initiatives, environmental, social and corporate governance aspects are to be integrated into the decisions of financial market players, for example in the granting of loans, investments or insurance contracts and non-financial reporting. In view of the major investments required for a sustainable transformation, capital is to be mobilized and economic and financial activities geared to sustainability. Finance is to become the lever for a sustainable economic sy

read more
Person tippt auf einen Taschenrechner und schreibt was auf.
May 17 2021
Event reports

Online event: Financing the digital transformation

Even though the Corona crisis and its consequences dominate the public and also the discussion in many companies, technological change has by no means slowed down. On the contrary, for many companies the pandemic has proven to be an accelerator of innovation and digital transformation: Whether converting business models to mobile working, securing value chains, or acquiring customers digitally, the crisis required investments in digital infrastructure and employees‘ digital know-how. In addition, technological change – from blockchain to AI – continues at full speed, intensifying global competition. On the other hand, the crisis has attacked the funding base in many companies, severely limiting the financing scope for investments. In an uncertain market environment, many companies must now

read more
Person tippt auf einen Taschenrechner und schreibt was auf.
Apr 07 2021
Event reports

Successfully emerging from the crisis on new financing paths

If you want to get your business back on track in times of a pandemic or a restart after the crisis, you need to be liquid. On April 29, 2021, starting at 4:30 p.m., you can learn how to acquire the necessary funds with the help of leasing, factoring, or securitization – „asset-based financing.“ In the online event series „Successfully emerging from the crisis using new financing channels“, the Association of North Rhine-Westphalian Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK NRW) invites you to the digital information event as part of the Fin.Connect.NRW initiative. After keynote speeches by Prof. Hartmann-Wendels, Prof. Pfingsten and representatives of DZ Bank, Deutsche Leasing and Targobank, participants will have the opportunity to address any unanswered questions to the speakers. Further i

read more
Oct 30 2020
Event reports

Workshop on transformation finance

The online workshop „Transformation Finance in NRW – Seizing Opportunities in Growing Markets“ on 30 October 2020 attracted great interest. The speakers reported on the financing needs of European companies, sustainable finance from the perspective of the financial sector and companies, and the transformation of transformation finance. This was followed by an intensive discussion on how stronger networking can support transformation finance. The workshop was organised by Fin.Connect.NRW, the German Economic Institute and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalisation and Energy of North Rhine-Westphalia. Speakers were recruited from the Boston Consulting Group, the European Investment Fund, Heidelberg Cement and the Green and Sustainable Finance Cluster Germany e.V. The parti

read more

show more

Our areas of focus

Main areas of focus
Ein Windrad und Solarpanels auf einer grünen Wiese.

Transformation financing

The climate-neutral and digital transformation in NRW calls for high investment and financing volumes – by both the private and public sector.

There is enough capital available for this in NRW. The central task is to bring together investors and capital seekers here.

Fin.Connect.NRW aims to network all relevant players, thereby actively driving forward the digital and climate-neutral transformation.

find out more

Eine nachts beleuchtete Großstadt mit Fluss.

Location factors

NRW is a key commercial and financial centre with innovative and export-oriented companies and a creative start-up scene. Many foreign companies and international banks have set up offices here.

One of NRW’s great strengths as a financial centre is the sheer diversity of new and established companies not only from the financial sector but also from the real economy, start-ups and science as well as its proximity to policymakers.

find out more

Zwei Personen schauen lächelnd auf einen PC Bildschirm.

Human resources

North Rhine-Westphalia offers a leading financial ecosystem of business and science that is constantly being expanded.

Some 768,000 students at 68 universities are studying here for their future careers. This makes NRW Germany’s number one region for developing new talent.

NRW is also an important location for science. In addition to a large number of universities and excellence clusters there are numerous research centres from a wide variety of areas.

find out more

Person hält eine Bankkarte in der Hand und tippt mit der anderen auf ein Smartphone.

Innovation, fintechs and insurtechs

A vibrant, dynamic fintech scene is developing in NRW.

Because their innovation allows them to speed up and support the necessary transformation, fintechs are valuable cooperation partners in digitalising the financial sector and rendering it sustainable.

Insurtechs help to transform the German insurance sector through digitalisation and sustainability and to create and optimise business models.

find out more

Contact us:

Do you have any questions about Fin.Connect.NRW?
If so, please feel free to contact us.

To contact information

Stay informed:

Stay up to date on topics of the financial center and transformation financing. Sign up now for our Fin.Connect newsletter!

subscribe to newsletter