Foundation committees

The Carl Zeiss Foundation consists of the three foundation bodies Foundation Administration, Shareholder Council, and Management Advisory Board.

Foundation Administration

The Foundation Administration, based in Stuttgart, forms the board of the foundation. It consists of the respective ministers responsible for universities of the two federal states of Baden-Württemberg and Thuringia, with the Baden-Württemberg Minister presiding over it as the chair. The Foundation Administration represents the Foundation judicially and otherwise in so far as the Shareholder Council is not responsible for protecting the economic interests of the Foundation vis-a-vis the foundation companies as a special representative in accordance with Articles 30 and 86 of the German Civil Code (BGB).

Tasks

Ensuring proper fulfilment of the purposes set out by the foundation, in particular the allocation of funding for research and teaching
Appointment of the members of the Shareholder Council
Cooperation with the Shareholder Council and the Management Advisory Board
Awareness of daily operations of the foundation
Adaptation of the foundation statute
Reporting and accounting

Members of the Foundation Administration

Theresia Bauer

Minister for Science, Research and Art of the State of Baden-Württemberg

Wolfgang Tiefensee

Minister for Economics, Science and Digital Society of the State of Thuringia

Shareholder Council

The Shareholder Council, which is appointed by the Foundation Administration, consists of a chairman and two additional members. The chairman forms the “link” between the foundation and the foundation companies and must be elected as chairman of the supervisory board of the two foundation companies.

Tasks

Managing the economic interests of the foundation for the foundation companies
Exercising the rights of the foundation from the shares in the foundation companies, in particular exercising voting rights in the general meetings

Members of the Shareholder Council

Chairman: Dr. Dieter Kurz

Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Carl Zeiss AG and SCHOTT AG

Dr. Eric Schweitzer

President of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Prof. Dr. Dr. Andreas Barner

President of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Management Advisory Board

The Management Advisory Board consists of the members of the Boards of the two foundation companies, whereby two Chairmen of the Boards of Carl Zeiss AG and SCHOTT AG respectively represent the Management Advisory Board jointly. Above all, the Management Advisory Board provides advice and support to the other two foundation bodies.

Tasks
Consultation and advisory function in