What motivates our supporters?
Picture: Andreas Heddergott / TUM
Picture: Andreas Heddergott / TUM
What drives the people who actively support our university in its research and teaching endeavors? Each of them has chosen to invest in education – our most important asset. In doing so, they are fostering innovation and nurturing the next generation of leaders and influencers guided by a sense of responsbility. And many of our supporters welcome the chance to give something back to the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in acknowledgment of their own successful path in life.
“TUM leads the way when it comes to supporting business startups, with 70 new companies originating here every year. Students and researchers have the perfect springboard to turn their ideas into innovative products and services. The secret to this success is a combination of research excellence, top talent from all over the world, and professional startup coaching from UnternehmerTUM. Through this “entrepreneurial university”, I look forward to continuing to support brave individuals and their inspiring ideas – and warmly congratulate TUM on its 150th anniversary!”
Entrepreneur Susanne Klatten is TUM’s leading female donor. She founded and continues to fund UnternehmerTUM GmbH, TUM’s incubator for technology-based startups, and has made one of the biggest contributions to the TUM University Foundation. She also endowed the Chair for Empirical Educational Research and supported the university for many years as a member of the TUM Board of Trustees. (Picture: Astrid Eckert)
“TUM taught me what the art of German engineering really means. So now I, in turn, support research projects and nurture upcoming talent.”
Engineer Dr. Daniel Tomic credits part of the success of his family company, Tomic TEC GmbH, to his own education at TUM – and supports the University Foundation in recognition of this. (Picture: Astrid Eckert)
“It is important to me to give something back – to society as a whole and to TUM in particular.”
Computer science graduate Stephan Wolf is one of the first former recipients of the Deutschlandstipendium (Germany’s National Scholarship Program) to himself contribute to the scholarship in support of other talented young students. He also mentors his scholarship holder, Anne Nyokabi (shown right). (Picture: Astrid Eckert)
“There is nothing more rewarding than investing in young people. And there is no greater goal than developing our intellectual and academic potential to brighten our country’s future.”
Roland and Uta Lacher support promising students and researchers through a fund set up under the umbrella of the TUM University Foundation. After graduating in mechanical engineering, Roland Lacher steered his own startup company, Singulus Technologies AG, to success on the global market. TUM made the couple Honorary Senators in recognition of their commitment to the university. (Picture: Astrid Eckert)
“TUM must continue to rank among the international frontrunners in research and education to safeguard social security and economic prosperity over time. In the face of increasingly fierce competition for the best minds in the world, we need not only strong commitment from the government, but also active support from capable, hands-on citizens.”
Dr. Otto Majewski has endowed numerous scholarships for students from his personal assets. He is involved in our university as a member of the Board of Trustees for TUM’s “Bund der Freunde” network and as President of the Karl Max von Bauernfeind Foundation. Otto Majewski is also an Honorary Senator and Honorary Citizen of TUM. (Picture: Andreas Heddergott)
“TUM is one of Europe’s most innovative universities, demonstrating leadership excellence and active engagement with all relevant emerging technologies. The university is in a position to attract the best professors from around the globe, educating its students to world-class standards. It thus has an enormous number of successful startups under its belt, incubating companies that need to reinvent themselves to thrive on the global stage. All this, in turn, contributes to secure jobs for the future and social stability. So it’s a pleasure to be able to support this positive momentum through the University Foundation.”
Friedrich Schwarz and the technology group Rohde & Schwarz are both donors of the TUM University Foundation. Former TUM student and Honorary Senator Friedrich Schwarz ran his family-owned company for several decades and Rohde & Schwarz remains one of our most important research partners, particularly in engineering. (Picture: Rohde & Schwarz)
“Responsible entrepreneurs look to the future. In the long term, mobilizing resources and giving talented young people a chance to develop their potential promotes sustainable prosperity for all.”
Ingeborg and Johannes B. Ortner support talent development in many different ways – including through awards and funding for research projects. They also facilitated construction of a campus nursery in Garching: the Ingeborg-Ortner-Kinderhaus. And our Honorary Senator Johannes B. Ortner (shown right) established a foundation named after him in support of TUM. (Left of photo: Ingeborg Ortner; center: Dr. Ursula Wurzer-Fassnacht, Director of the Munich Student Union; Picture: Uli Benz)
“To remain competitive at international level, our universities need financial assistance from private sources – public funding alone is not enough. We see it as our duty to contribute.”
Chemist Dr. Karl Wamsler was one of the most prominent founders of our University Foundation. In memory of the donor and Honorary Senator (left, with TUM President Wolfgang A. Herrmann), who passed away in 2016, chemicals group Clariant supported TUM in establishing the Dr. Karl Wamsler Innovation Award for catalysis research. (Picture: Andreas Heddergott)
“TUM has done a wonderful job of converting the former monastery in Raitenhaslach into a center for networking and creative exchange. Here, I am particularly pleased to support female students and researchers on their path into professional careers. Every euro spent here is a sound investment in the future.”
Entrepreneur Ingeborg Pohl, an Honorary Senator of our university, is supporting the new TUM Science & Study Center in Raitenhaslach by means of a study fund. This gives female students and researchers, in particular, the opportunity to attend the Center’s events. (Picture: Astrid Eckert)
“I am delighted to support my alma mater. For one thing, I owe a great deal to my own studies in physics at TUM, and for another, I am proud of our university of excellence and want to ensure it continues to lead the way and strengthen Bavaria.”
Prof. Randolf Rodenstock is an entrepreneur with a strong sense of corporate social responsibility. He is managing partner of the family-owned ophthalmic optics company Optische Werke G. Rodenstock and an Honorary Professor at his alma mater, where he lectures in corporate governance. (Picture: Andreas Heddergott)
