Frankfurt School becomes a meeting point for the real estate and finance industry

The 1st Frankfurt School Real Estate Day, held under the motto “Investment meets Finance”, brought together more than 350 experts from business, academia, and politics from Germany and abroad on September 5. Interest in the conference was exceptionally high—the Audimax at Frankfurt School of Finance & Management was fully booked and filled to capacity. The conference provided a unique platform to highlight current developments and future trends in the real estate industry and to discuss innovative solutions.

The organizer, the Frankfurt School Real Estate Institute (FS REI), designed a comprehensive and interdisciplinary program. High-profile speakers, including Isabella Chacón Troidl (BNP Paribas Real Estate Investment Management), Sascha Klaus (Berlin Hyp AG), and Susanne Eickermann-Riepe (FRICS, ARE Austrian Real Estate), shared their perspectives on key challenges and developments in the real estate sector. The event was moderated by Professor Dr. Thomas Beyerle, among others a member of the FS REI Scientific Advisory Board.

The conference focused on the intersection between the real estate and financial industries. Close collaboration between these sectors is essential for stability and growth. Among other topics, discussions explored how new financing models—such as shadow banks, family offices, and institutional investors—can serve as alternatives to traditional bank financing and not only support but also transform the real estate market. Additional topics included the impact of international capital flows on the German real estate market, strategies to revive transaction activity, and the challenge of ESG transformation—balancing ESG compliance with economic functionality.

Professor Dr. Kerstin Hennig, Head of FS REI, emphasized:
“With the Real Estate Institute, Frankfurt School has expanded its traditional strength in finance to include the real estate sector. The institute aims to become the leading think tank and central networking platform for real estate finance in the German-speaking region. With the 1st Frankfurt School Real Estate Day, we have taken a major step toward this goal. I have never seen so many real estate finance experts gathered in one place. The DNA of a university was clearly noticeable—the discussions and active audience engagement clearly set us apart from traditional conferences. I am very pleased with this successful launch and would like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed to making this event a success.”

Isabella Chacón Troidl, CEO and Chairwoman of the Management Board of BNP Paribas Real Estate Investment Management, said:
“We have re-examined the value creation of real estate from a 360-degree perspective, addressing current challenges and innovative solutions. ESG remains a complex and ongoing issue—unfortunately. The real estate industry must take responsibility and comply with regulatory standards. This is essential for the long-term viability and attractiveness of real estate.”

Thorsten Schönenberger, Member of the Management Board of Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, added:
“The 1st Frankfurt School Real Estate Day clearly demonstrated how crucial dialogue between academia, business, and politics is for the future of the real estate industry—especially now. Intensive discussions once again showed that only through collaboration can we revive real estate transaction, financing, and investment markets and prepare them for future challenges. Without reliable framework conditions, the sustainable transformation of the industry will be difficult to achieve.”

The 1st Frankfurt School Real Estate Day marks an important milestone for the Frankfurt School Real Estate Institute, which was established in November 2023. The institute addresses the pressing issues facing the industry and highlights its fundamental importance to the economy. To this end, Frankfurt School conducts research projects, expands its teaching portfolio in bachelor’s, master’s, and executive education programs to include real estate topics, and strengthens its networking activities. Another key focus is supporting the industry in attracting qualified young talent. In doing so, FS REI contributes to increasing the visibility of the sector, as well as its economic and societal relevance.

The 2nd Frankfurt School Real Estate Day will take place in autumn 2025.