Building Bridges for the Future: The International Bankers Forum & TechQuartier Empower Innovation in Frankfurt

Pictured: Darius Maleki, Sören Eversmeier, Samira Maleki, Alice Rettig and Dr. Nader Maleki

Two well-known players in Frankfurt’s Financial Center are bringing their respective strengths together in selected areas to boost the impact and innovation of the broader Frankfurt ecosystem. The International Bankers Forum and TechQuartier will work closely together on targeted initiatives, combining their strengths, networks, and expertise to create new opportunities for collaboration and exchange. 

The shared goal is to build bridges between traditional and emerging leaders to drive innovation and thought leadership across key topics such as finance, banking, impact, AI, quantum computing, and the startup economy. 

“Frankfurt has a strong foundation, but to reach our full potential, our ecosystem must come closer together. By connecting communities, aligning initiatives where it makes sense, and fostering collaboration, we can unlock the strength of our region.” – Alice Retting, TechQuartier Managing Director 
 

European Digital Week 2025

Their first joint effort was European Digital Week 2025, which concluded on 11 November. More than 100 people attended the event at TechQuartier, which focused on FinTech and the banking industry and the Future of Work.   

“The close collaboration between TechQuartier and the International Bankers Forum is a prime example of how innovation and tradition can work hand in hand to advance Germany’s financial center. As Vice President of the IBF, I see it as our mission to foster dialogue between startups, established banks, and academia — because it is precisely at this intersection that the solutions to tomorrow’s challenges are born. This ensures that Frankfurt remains a beacon of digital transformation and sustainable development in the financial sector.” 
— Christian Rhino, Vice President, International Bankers Forum 

Mr. Rhino joined the panel “FinTech Meets Banks” with Alice Rettig, TechQuartier Managing Director, and Sascha Beck, GFT Technologies SE, Stuttgart, during the European Digital Week on 10 November. (Pictured above.)

Future collaborations could include a regulatory conference with the Association of Foreign Banks in 2026 and a combined celebration for 50 years as Frankfurt’s Financial Center. The International Bankers Forum is commemorating its 40th anniversary while TechQuartier celebrates its first 10 years.  

“With TechQuartier, we don’t want 1 + 1 to equal 2 — we want it to become 3 or 4. Together, we’re enabling true innovative power and making our region shine, both nationally and internationally.”
– Samira Maleki, Secretary-General, International Bankers Forum e.V. 
 

About the International Bankers Forum e.V. 

For almost 40 years, the International Bankers Forum has been one of the central platforms at the Frankfurt financial centre, bringing together decision-makers from the financial industry, academia, politics and society. Through high-calibre specialist events, lecture series and networking formats, the Forum creates spaces for constructive dialogue and promotes knowledge-sharing on future-oriented topics in the financial sector. 

As an independent, non-profit network with an international focus, the International Bankers Forum connects established financial industry players with experts from areas such as regulation, digitalisation, sustainable finance, banking and capital market development – always with a view to current challenges and global developments. 

Through its commitment, the International Bankers Forum contributes to strengthening the Frankfurt financial centre and the European financial architecture, while remaining a reliable source of impetus for a responsible and forward-looking financial industry.