NRW-FAIR is a network of highly qualified physicists dedicated to research in the fascinating fields of hadron and particle physics. As a network based in North Rhine-Westphalia, these researchers have set themselves the goal of playing a major role in shaping the work at the Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) in Darmstadt. FAIR is a particle accelerator that is expected to go into operation in 2026 and will be one of the largest research facilities in Europe. The NRW-FAIR network plays an important role in bringing together expertise and resources to participate jointly in high-level basic physics research. By bringing together researchers from different universities in North Rhine-Westphalia, a wide range of expertise and skills will be pooled to fully exploit the potential of the FAIR project.