Claussen-Simon-Stiftung

The Claussen-Simon-Stiftung is a German foundation based in Hamburg that promotes science, research, education, and art and culture. It was established in 1981 by Georg W. Claussen, then chairman of the supervisory board and long-time chairman of the executive board of Beiersdorf AG, on the occasion of the company's 100th anniversary. It began its work in 1982 as a non-legal-capacity foundation under the umbrella of the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft. In 1999, a testamentary bequest from Claussen's cousin Ebba Simon substantially increased the foundation's assets and led to its current name. Since October 2011, it has been a legally capable foundation under civil law, and it has been operating independently since 2012. The foundation's purpose is the promotion of science, research, education, and art and culture. It fulfills this purpose primarily by awarding scholarships to talented pupils, students, young researchers, and artists, and by funding projects. Its funding areas are divided into "Education and School," "Science and University," and "Art and Culture." In addition to financial support, the foundation provides ideational support through workshops, seminars, and networking events, often under the cross-programmatic area "Dialog & Perspective." Key programs include the Claussen-Simon-Fonds für Schulen, which supports school projects that open new horizons for pupils; B-You!, a scholarship for Hamburg city-district high school students from families without university experience; Zugvogel, which enables pupils to spend four to six weeks in host families abroad; and Horizonte, a scholarship for prospective teachers with a migration background at the University of Hamburg. In the university sector, the foundation endows Claussen-Simon professorships, supports doctoral projects through Dissertation Plus and the Claussen-Simon-Graduate Center at HSBA, and provides bridging funding for postdocs through Postdoc Plus. The foundation is governed by an executive board (Vorstand) that includes Carl Johann Claussen as chairman, Prof. Dr. Regina Back as managing director, Astrid Zielke, and Dr. Hans Heinrich Cornehl. Georg Joachim Claussen is honorary chairman, having served on the board for 28 years, including 18 years as chairman until May 7, 2025. The foundation is headquartered at Große Elbstraße 145f in Hamburg.

The Claussen-Simon-Stiftung was founded in 1981 by Georg W. Claussen, then chairman of the supervisory board and long-time chairman of the executive board of Beiersdorf AG, to mark the 100th anniversary of the company's founding. It began its work in 1982 as a non-legal-capacity foundation (nicht-rechtsfähige Stiftung) under the umbrella of the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft (Donors' Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany). Its original purpose was the promotion of science and the support of technically and scientifically gifted young people. In its early years, the foundation established what would become a total of 20 scholarship programs and around 600 project grants. In 1999, Ebba Simon, the cousin of Georg W. Claussen, died in Hamburg at the age of 93. She bequeathed half of her estate to her cousin's foundation, which subsequently took the name Claussen-Simon-Stiftung and added education to its purpose. This generous bequest allowed the foundation to finance new funding programs in science and education through the Stifterverband. In 2008, the foundation launched its first scholarship program under its own responsibility: the Begabtenförderprogramm Wirtschaft, later renamed Early Bird-Frühstudium. In October 2011, the foundation was transformed into a legally capable foundation under civil law (rechtsfähige Stiftung bürgerlichen Rechts) with its seat in Hamburg, coinciding with the 100th birthday of its founder. This change granted it independence from the Stifterverband and opened new possibilities. Art and culture were added to the foundation's purpose, and its funding portfolio was continuously expanded. Since it began operating independently in 2012, the foundation has distributed approximately 60 million euros in funding. The foundation's purpose is the promotion of science, research, education, and art and culture. It realizes this purpose primarily through scholarships for talented pupils, students, young researchers, and artists. Its funding areas are "Education and School," "Science and University," and "Art and Culture." In addition to financial support, the foundation provides ideational support through workshops, seminars, and networking events, often under the cross-programmatic area "Dialog & Perspective." Key programs in the area of education and school include the Claussen-Simon-Fonds für Schulen, which supports the conception and expansion of projects that open new experiential horizons and areas of knowledge for pupils and awaken enthusiasm for inquiry-based, lively learning; B-You!, a scholarship for Hamburg city-district high school students in the upper grades from families without university experience, providing mentors, financial support, seminars, workshops, and excursions; Zugvogel, conducted together with Experiment e.V. and in cooperation with the Hamburg Authority for Schools and Vocational Training, which sends pupils from Hamburg city-district schools to host families in other European countries for four to six weeks; and Horizonte, a scholarship program run by the Claussen-Simon-Stiftung, the Jürgen Sengpiel Stiftung, and the Dürr-Stiftung to support prospective teachers with a migration background studying at the University of Hamburg, originally an initiative of the Gemeinnützige Hertie-Stiftung and taken over by the Claussen-Simon-Stiftung in the winter semester 2016/17. In the area of science and university, the foundation endows Claussen-Simon professorships, such as the Claussen-Simon-Stiftungsprofessur Privatrecht und Responsive Rechtswissenschaft at Bucerius Law School, held by Michael Grünberger; former holders include Katharina Boele-Woelki (Comparative Law) and Doris König (International Law), now Vice-President of the Federal Constitutional Court. Other professorships have been held at the University of Hamburg, the University of Bonn, and the University of Leipzig. The foundation also supports doctoral projects through Dissertation Plus and the Claussen-Simon-Graduate Center at HSBA, and provides bridging funding for postdocs through Postdoc Plus, which finances young researchers for up to 12 months. The foundation is governed by an executive board (Vorstand) consisting of Carl Johann Claussen (chairman), Prof. Dr. Regina Back (managing director), Astrid Zielke, and Dr. Hans Heinrich Cornehl. Georg Joachim Claussen is honorary chairman, having served on the board for 28 years, including 18 years as chairman until May 7, 2025. The foundation is headquartered at Große Elbstraße 145f in Hamburg.

• 2025

  Georg Joachim Claussen steps down as chairman of the executive board on May 7 after 18 years; Carl Johann Claussen becomes chairman.

• 2016

  Horizonte scholarship program taken over from the Gemeinnützige Hertie-Stiftung starting winter semester 2016/17.

• 2012

  Foundation begins independent operational work.

• 2011

  Transformed into a legally capable foundation under civil law (rechtsfähige Stiftung bürgerlichen Rechts) in October.

• 2008

  First scholarship program under own responsibility launched: Begabtenförderprogramm Wirtschaft (later Early Bird-Frühstudium).

• 1999

  Ebba Simon bequeaths half of her estate to the foundation; it is renamed Claussen-Simon-Stiftung and adds education to its purpose.

• 1982

  Foundation begins work as a non-legal-capacity foundation under the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft.

• 1981

  Foundation established by Georg W. Claussen on the occasion of Beiersdorf AG's 100th anniversary.

A Hamburg-based foundation promoting equal educational opportunities and excellence through scholarships and project funding in science, education, and the arts.

1. 1Claussen-Simon-Stiftung: Über unsclaussen-simon-stiftung.de
2. 2Claussen-Simon-Stiftung: Geschichte & Stifter:inclaussen-simon-stiftung.de
3. 3Claussen-Simon-Stiftung: Vorstandclaussen-simon-stiftung.de
4. 4Claussen-Simon-Stiftung: Impressum & Datenschutzclaussen-simon-stiftung.de
5. 5Claussen-Simon-Stiftung – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
6. 6Claussen Simon Stiftung – Wikidatawikidata.org