A decade of decision fraught with consequences: Guest lecture by KfW CEO Stefan Wintels

On February 17, 2025, Stefan Wintels, CEO of KfW, gave the inaugural lecture of the new series "C-Level Insights: Shaping Europe’s Transition" organised by the Frankfurt School Centre for European Transformation. The lecture focused on KfW's role in financing economic and societal transformation in Germany and internationally.

After a welcome address by Frankfurt School President Professor Nils Stieglitz, Wintels spoke about the challenges and opportunities of transformation. He emphasised that the current decade is a decisive decade in which capital allocation, digitalisation, and sustainability play central roles. He highlighted that digital transformation and the shift to a climate-neutral economy require new financing approaches and strategic decisions.

A key topic was the necessity of a strong Europe, supported by a competitive German economy. Investments in infrastructure, education, and innovation are essential to maintaining competitiveness. Strengthening capital markets, in particular, could play a crucial role.

Wintels placed special emphasis on financing the climate transition and underscored the importance of sustainable investments. KfW serves as a crucial link between the state and the market and must act as a catalyst for transformation. The bank is already providing extensive resources to support the expansion of renewable energies, the development of sustainable infrastructure projects, and the promotion of climate-friendly innovations.

The subsequent discussion, moderated by Professor Sascha Steffen, Director of the Centre for European Transformation, delved deeper into topics such as the role of capital markets, the importance of innovation funding, and the necessity of mobilising private investments. It became clear that beyond public funding, attracting private investors for sustainable projects and further developing financing instruments are crucial to accelerating the transformation.

Another key focus was the geopolitical dimension of economic transformation. Europe’s economic stability depends on a resilient financing strategy. In this context, Wintels advocated for stronger European cooperation to better manage economic risks and seize new growth opportunities.

To conclude, he underscored the importance of a positive attitude toward change and competition – transformation is an opportunity, Germany must actively shape it. At the subsequent reception, participants had the opportunity to continue discussions in an informal setting and engage in further in-depth conversations.

The next event of the Frankfurt School Centre for European Transformation will be its 2^nd Annual Conference “Powering European Competitiveness: Innovation, Finance, and Strategic Resilience“ on 6 March 2025.