Joachim-Herz-Stiftung

Freedom of Thought and Action

The Joachim Herz Stiftung owes its existence to the Hamburg entrepreneur Joachim Herz, who died in May 2008, and to his wife Petra Herz. Together they made the Foundation's significant financial outfitting possible. The assets of the Foundation are primarily invested in an entrepreneurial manner. This includes an indirect share in Beiersdorf AG held via maxingvest ag.

Education, Science, and Research

The charter defines the Foundation's Mission as the advancement of education, science, and research in the fields of business administration and law, as well as the natural sciences and medicine. In accordance with the charter, the Foundation also promotes school education in general and develops national and international sponsorship programs for high school students, university students, and young scientists.

The Joachim Herz Stiftung's long-term goal is to become an operating foundation; this can include collaboration with other foundations as well as educational and scientific institutions. In relevant areas, the Foundation also supports third-party projects.

Creating an Awareness for Economics and Natural Sciences

For Joachim Herz, economic affairs were of particular importance. The Foundation therefore, aims to offer its own educational programs designed to communicate a deeper understanding of economic issues especially to young people. Emphasis is also placed on school projects that promote children’s interest in science and technology and support young talents. Joachim Herz attached great importance to scholarships. It was his wish to support the individual child’s capacity and willingness to perform well. It was his conviction that, "Young people need the chance to see beyond what's familiar." Various scholarship programs for high school students, university students, and young scientists are putting the founder’s intentions into practice.

Promoting Self-initiative and Personal Responsibility

In its activities, the Foundation is committed to representing Joachim Herz and his value. Through its projects, it promotes self-initiative and personal responsibility, as well as tolerance and freedom of thought and action. The Foundation aims to enable people to act independently in a way that benefits both themselves and society. Moreover, the Foundation wishes to contribute towards creating a fair chance for everyone in education and science.

As the basis for its program work, the Mutual Foundation Council adopted certain guiding principles in the summer of 2010 that represent the founder’s values and ideas. Furthermore, the Mutual Foundation Council laid down and adopted its own Governance Codex, which is binding for all the activities of the Foundation and its various bodies. The committees of the Foundation comprise the Board of Governors with Petra Herz as chairperson, the Board of Trustees, and the Mutual Foundation Council.

The Joachim Herz Stiftung is a non-profit organization and is politically as well as denominationally independent.

Talented and Motivated High School Students

The new high school scholarship "grips gewinnt" supports smart and motivated students who grow up under unfavorable conditions. “grips gewinnt” supports 50 high school students from Bremen, Hamburg and Mecklenburg-West Pomerania who distinguish themselves by achieving good marks at school and by displaying social responsibility. The scholarship is a joint project of the Joachim Herz Stiftung and Robert Bosch Stiftung and provides an educational program, advice and financial support. It has started with the new schoolyear 2011/2012.

Initial Projects Strengthen Excellence in Natural Sciences

Since February 2011, the Joachim Herz Stiftung has been supporting PIER – a strategic partnership between the University of Hamburg and DESY to promote competencies in natural sciences. As part of the PIER graduate school, the Foundation will fund five doctoral students as Joachim Herz scholars for three years each. The Joachim Herz Stiftung has also been a partner in the Hamburg Excellence Initiative (Lexi) since 2009. Its partnership involves supporting the “Frontiers in Quantum Photon Science” cluster headed by Prof. Sengstock from the Institute of Laser Physics of the University of Hamburg. Through the creation of the program “Light & Schools”, the Foundation is also working to improve the technical equipment of the schools cooperating with the Institute of Laser Physics.

The Joachim Herz Stiftung has also been cooperating with the Bucerius Law School since 2009 as part of the "Bucerius/WHU Master of Law and Business – Joachim Herz Program". In the academic year 2010/2011, the Foundation supported 21 scholarship recepients within this Master's program.

Maritime Competition “Research at Sea"

The Joachim Herz Stiftung funds numerous smaller projects, most of which are in the education sector. In 2010, the Joachim Herz Stiftung co-sponsored the Maritime Competition "Research at Sea" for the first time and financed research trips for two school groups. The Foundation also contributes to the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in addition to numerous other school projects – ranging from canoe building to research clubs. Moreover, the Foundation is part of the Hamburg MINT network. Additional projects include the online magazine Göttinger Journal of International Law as well as the Natural Science Excursions of the Botanical Society. The Joachim Herz Stiftung supports a number of different scholarship programs.