IN4climate.NRW

As a think tank, IN4climate.NRW shares its vision of the practical measures needed to make industry climate neutral. The key area of the initiative’s work are new technologies and innovative approaches to developing a competitive and sustainable economy.

On the path to climate-neutral industry

This fundamental transformation of industry demands high investment on the part of companies. They need safe investment and reliable help and support to enable them to survive as trailblazers on the global market. That is why IN4climate.NRW, alongside experts from industry, science and policy-making, is developing specific measures to ensure climate-neutral production processes and supply chains, both in terms of the necessary infrastructures and the general political and social conditions.

IN4climate.NRW’s targets and responsibilities

• Pointing out the key areas where research is needed, including identifying fields of innovation and research for climate-neutral industrial production
• Developing and encouraging ideas for research projects
• Exploring scientific and technical strategies to maintain the sustainability of the industrial region
• Carrying out technological studies in compliance with the general regulatory and political framework
• Identifying potential and consistent product-specific developmental steps
• Identifying infrastructure needs
• Designing innovation road maps to implement springboard innovations
• Designing and discussing funding instruments
• Facilitating the cost-effective manufacture of climate-friendly products

IN4climate.NRW is set up as a working platform for knowledge-sharing and dialogue. Around 40 companies and associations involved in the steel and metal sectors, the chemical and cement industries and the production of glass, paper and building materials, as well as six research institutes are taking part in the initiative. 

Creativity, the economy and science working hand-in-hand

An innovation team is developing ideas and measures for making the industrial sector climate neutral in collaboration with working groups. The groups currently focus on the topics inherent in the group names - hydrogen, industrial process heat, carbon dioxide mitigation, the circular economy, and the general political framework. The organisational threads converge at the IN4climate.NRW office. In addition, the process is accompanied by a Strategy Board at the managing director and ministry level. The SCI4climate.NRW centre of excellence supports the process at the scientific level and investigates the creative and developmental potential of climate-friendly raw materials.