The Global Compact was launched by the United Nations in 2000. It is a strategic and international platform for learning and dialogue on sustainable and responsible business, involving civil society organisations, business and national governments. Working with its partners, the Global Compact has shaped the international dialogue on sustainability and the development of business strategies and tools to achieve it. As a platform for multi-stakeholder learning and dialogue, the Global Compact convenes webinars, workshops, coaching, conferences and technical forums in its work. The Global Compact Network Germany (DGCN) brings together the German signatories of the UN Global Compact: there are currently around 530 companies – ranging from DAX corporations and SMEs to small specialist companies - and nearly 60 organizations from civil society, academia and the public sector. In the Network, they can get information about all the topics concerning corporate responsibility, the sharing of ideas and cooperation on practice-oriented solutions. The DGCN was founded on the initiative of German companies in 2000 as one of the first national platforms.