Critical Software and cognitivo AG Join Forces to Shape the Future of Financial Infrastructure in Europe

Recognising this, Critical Software and cognitivo AG have announced a strategic partnership to support financial institutions across Europe in building resilient, secure, and future-ready digital payment ecosystems. 

Complementary Strengths for a Common Goal 

This partnership brings together deep technical expertise and strategic financial insight, positioning both companies to play a leading role in the evolution of Europe’s banking and payments landscape. 

“Critical Software is partnering with cognitivo to combine its established software engineering expertise in business-critical solutions with a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the European finance and payments landscape. Together, we aim to guide clients in navigating and overcoming the evolving challenges of Europe’s rapidly digitizing financial markets.” - Rui Duarte, Principal Engineer, Critical Software 

A shared vision for a payments eco-system 

Together, the two companies are uniquely positioned to deliver end-to-end support for organisations across Europe.  

“As cognitivo, we see this partnership as a perfect match: our deep expertise in the financial industry and payment area pairs seamlessly with Critical Software’s engineering excellence. Together, we can deliver secure, compliant, and future-ready solutions for the most demanding digital infrastructure challenges across Europe.” - Lukas Harms, Consultant, cognitivo AG 

Their joint offering includes: 

• Advisory and implementation support for Digital Euro and CBDC initiatives 
• Modernisation of legacy payment systems with minimal disruption 
• Development of cyber-secure digital infrastructures aligned with ECB and EU regulations 
• Support for digital identity, tokenised payments, and programmable money 
• Testing and validation of integrated systems across platforms 
• AI-driven tools for fraud detection and customer intelligence  

Critical Software: Engineering Trust in Regulated Environments 

With a strong track record in delivering mission- and business-critical systems for industries such as aerospace, automotive, and finance, Critical Software is trusted by global leaders like the BMW Group, Siemens, Airbus, and Tier-1 banks in Germany.  

Defined by a commitment to reliability, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance, with proven experience in: 

• Legacy core banking modernisation, including mainframe and COBOL transitions 
• High-assurance software development and system validation 
• Secure infrastructure integration across complex environments 

cognitivo AG: Strategy-Led Innovation in Financial Services 

cognitivo AG specialises in the digital transformation of financial services. With a deep focus on payments, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and regulatory strategy, the organisation has supported major players in the DACH region from central banks to fintechs and payment service providers. 

With proven experience in: 

• Strategic advisory on CBDCs and digital currency frameworks 
• Deep understanding of EU financial regulation and market infrastructure 
• Road mapping modernisation journeys for large financial institutions 

Building the Future, Together 

Through this partnership, Critical Software and cognitivo AG provide a comprehensive solution for payments systems, from regulatory interpretation and strategic guidance to technical architecture and deployment. 

Want to know how we can help you shape the future of payments? Visit our Digital Payments page.