Events on the topics of quality, costs and resources

Now that three of the four MERCOSUR countries - Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil - have ratified the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement and the EU Commission has approved its provisional application on 10 March 2026, the EU has announced that the interim trade agreement will enter into force on 1 May 2026.

The associated tariff reduction will vary depending on the product and the MERCOSUR country: some tariffs will be reduced to 0% from day one, while others will be phased out over several years.

In a short, practice-oriented webinar, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce presents the tariff dismantling and explains the conditions under which goods fulfil the rules of origin - and how to use the tariff preferences.

The inventor consultation gives participants the opportunity to talk to patent attorney Dr Hartmut Schütte about the protectability of their own concepts in the areas of patents, trademarks or designs. Participants will also receive important information on how to apply for industrial property rights. The initial and follow-up consultation lasts approx. 30 minutes.

The research allowance is a tax incentive for research and development (R&D). It is available to all companies subject to tax in Germany - regardless of size, sector or legal form, including SMEs, start-ups and large companies. Future, ongoing and also completed projects (after 2020) are subsidised, which is unique in Germany.

The research tax allowance therefore offers companies attractive opportunities to have research and development projects subsidised. However, many companies have not yet utilised this instrument as they do not know whether their projects are eligible for funding or how to apply for the allowance.

As part of this online consultation day, companies have the opportunity to obtain specific information in a confidential one-to-one meeting with Dr Jan Raack from InnoCoding GmbH and the Economic Development Agency. The focus will be on questions about the requirements, eligible projects and the application process.

The meeting provides initial guidance on whether your own developments, projects or processes are eligible for the tax research allowance and what the next steps should be.

Do you want to work not only in your company, but specifically on your company? Then the crucial question arises: How can you get off the hamster wheel of day-to-day business and focus on the big picture again?

This is exactly where this event comes in. You can look forward to practical ideas and concrete approaches for sustainable company growth.

Companies in trade and industry are faced with the challenge of using energy and resources more efficiently and planning sustainable investments economically. The online advisory service offers initial guidance on suitable funding and support programmes. Individual projects are categorised in a confidential discussion and possible next steps are outlined.

Veit Marius Hofschneider (ppa.), TRIBICON GmbH, Ingenieurgesellschaft für technische Energiedienstleistungen, uses typical use cases to explain which companies are affected, what needs to be done now and how implementation can be legally compliant and economically viable.

The focus is on...

• the new legal requirements,
• specific obligations for companies and
• the effects on existing energy and efficiency strategies.

The Münster Chamber of Skilled Crafts and NRW.Bank offer a funding consultation day for companies and start-ups in the skilled crafts sector that want to invest. Consultants from both institutions will discuss the possibilities for funding your investment project with participants in a one-hour one-to-one meeting.

The NRW Bank Consultation Day takes place online.

Quality and safety ensure the health of your guests and trust in your business. In this practical seminar, you will receive a compact overview of important quality requirements and common certifications - including organic and DGE certificates - and learn how to integrate them efficiently into your day-to-day work. Using specific examples, you will learn how hygiene specifications, legal requirements and certification standards can be implemented safely. The focus is on a practical quality culture, clear documentation and effective self-monitoring.