Photo: imago
Our guiding principles
We want to improve our society! We are convinced that this will succeed only through dialogue and understanding. That’s why we work on solutions for the challenges of international politics, and we create an awareness of the presence of history. We strengthen democracy and cohesion, and we are committed to promoting exchange and interaction between various different social groups. We shape demographic change, encourage socially relevant education and science, put forms of cultural mediation to the test, and strengthen entrepreneurial thinking and action for the common good.
What we stand for
We are committed to the values of a free democratic basic order, and we advocate equal rights and a diversity of perspectives – irrespective of origin, belief, identity or conviction. At the same time, our actions are guided by respect, openness and mutual recognition – in the knowledge that only a free exchange based on tolerance can breathe life into democracy. We create spaces for debate, even on controversial topics, while simultaneously opposing any attitude that threatens the values of a free and democratic constitutional order. Through our work, we aim to initiate discussions, test solutions and motivate people in our surroundings to get involved.
Talk
We are committed to social dialogue that brings people together and enables understanding. We contribute to ensuring that arguments and ideas are given a hearing.
Act
Through our projects, we respond to social challenges and we develop our own ideas and formats, and implement them.
Inspire
We bring people who aim to shape society into contact with decision-makers. We encourage every generation to bear responsibility, and we accompany, encourage and appreciate those who improve coexistence.
What we do
We focus our work on the social challenges that were already important to our Founder, Kurt A. Körber.
Knowledge for Tomorrow
We depend on clever, creative minds, and we honour knowledge that is socially relevant today for a world worth living in tomorrow. With strong networks, nationwide and European, we build an environment that encourages talents, inspires excellence and creates space for experimentation and critical dialogue.
International Understanding
Under the motto: “Talk to each other, not about one another”, we encourage dialogue across national, political, cultural and religious boundaries, and we promote a discussion of historical issues. We support an attitude of mutual respect and explore political options, and we identify opportunities for international cooperation.
Vibrant Civil Society
To prepare ourselves for the future, we forge new alliances between science, politics, civil society and the economy. We develop commitment networks, strengthen democracy at a local level, and promote greater interaction and shared responsibility among citizens.
Cultural Impulses for Hamburg
With our expertise from many years of cultural mediation and the promotion of talented young artists, we accompany culture in the Hanseatic City. We develop our own projects and enter into strategic partnerships with Hamburg’s cultural institutions.
How we work
entrepreneurially
We are convinced that social progress always needs courage, an enjoyment of experimentation and a willingness to take risks. Consequently, we also encourage unconventional thinking, together with a focus on unusual ideas.
independently
We attach great importance to remaining independent, both ideologically, religiously and in party politics. Only with openness and a willingness to understand one another can we fulfil the mission of our Founder.
competently
Our self-understanding includes professionalism, competence and having specialist expert knowledge. Instead of restricting our horizon, our work is interdisciplinary, and we exploit the potentials of our networks.
transparently
To make our work easy to understand, we regularly reflect on what we do, and we publicly document the results of our endeavours. In reflecting on our approaches, we are supported by a network of experts whom we engage as consultants, advisors or jury members.
cooperatively
Complex social challenges require collaboration between many different stakeholders, which is why we cooperate with partners from civil society, science, industry, politics, culture and the media.
Our origins
Our Foundation was created in 1959 by the entrepreneur Kurt A. Körber (1909 to 1992). Körber had not only built up a group of technology companies with worldwide operations since the late nineteen-forties, but also transferred his entrepreneurial creative drive to civil society, with the aim of “working together to shape our future” and thus to improve society.
The Körber-Stiftung is the sole shareholder of Körber AG, and earns further income from its own free assets. We take care to ensure strict independence between Körber AG and the Körber-Stiftung. Körber AG does not exercise any influence over the work of Körber-Stiftung, and the Körber-Stiftung does not have any influence on the Körber AG’s operational business.
Kurt A. Körber believed in his projects, which are capable of bringing about social change. He thought in terms of solutions rather than in problems. As a foundation, we see ourselves as continuing this tradition.