Klaus Tschira Foundation
A German non-profit foundation supporting science, mathematics, computer science, research, education, and public science communication.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
The Klaus Tschira Foundation is a German non-profit foundation established in 1995 by physicist and SAP co-founder Klaus Tschira. Based at Villa Bosch in Heidelberg, the former residence of Nobel Prize-winning chemist Carl Bosch, it works to strengthen public understanding of science and to support research and education in the natural sciences, mathematics, and computer science. The foundation combines direct institutional support with programs for children, young people, teachers, researchers, journalists, and the wider public. Its work is organized around three broad aims: creating enthusiasm for science through education, supporting research intended to benefit society, and improving dialogue between researchers and non-specialist audiences. It supports projects at public and private universities, collaborates with research institutions, and initiates or funds programs that connect scientific knowledge with practical and social questions. A substantial part of the foundation’s identity is its emphasis on early and informal science education. Through Forscherstation, the Klaus Tschira Competence Centre for Early Science Education, kindergarten children are encouraged to investigate everyday phenomena through play and experimentation, while educators receive training and the associated research program examines how professional development affects teaching and children’s learning. The GIS-Station, a competence center for digital geographical media, gives teachers and students opportunities to work with remote sensing, geographic information systems, and GPS in order to explore the Earth and global change. The foundation also operates or supports public-facing science experiences. Explore Science, launched in 2006, brings experiments, exhibitions, presentations, and student competitions to large public events. Its principal event takes place in Mannheim’s Luisenpark, with later expansions to Bremen and Mainau Island. The Haus der Astronomie near Heidelberg provides astronomy education, teacher workshops, a planetarium, and public outreach. These programs present science as an activity that can be explored directly rather than as knowledge limited to academic institutions. In research, the foundation established the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies in 2010 as the successor to European Media Laboratory Research. The institute conducts long-term, interdisciplinary research in areas including life sciences, scientific databases, computational linguistics, theoretical astrophysics, statistics, and computational science. The foundation also supports the Klaus Tschira Laboratory for Physical Dating, associated with the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums, the University of Tübingen, and the Curt-Engelhorn-Centre of Archaeometry, where scientific methods are applied to questions of archaeological and cultural heritage dating. The foundation’s science-communication portfolio includes the KlarText Prize for Science Communication and the National Institute for Science Communication, or NaWik. KlarText recognizes young researchers who explain their doctoral research in accessible German prose and offers communication training alongside the competition. NaWik, operated with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, trains scientists to communicate research findings and scientific issues to broader audiences. In 2013, the foundation established the Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation, which organizes an annual meeting where selected young researchers in mathematics and computer science can interact with leading figures in those disciplines. Klaus Tschira’s philanthropic commitment to making science understandable was recognized in 1999 with the Deutscher Stifterpreis from the German National Academic Foundation. Today, the Klaus Tschira Foundation is best understood not as a conventional commercial brand but as an institutional platform for science philanthropy, research support, educational programming, and public engagement. Its programs operate under a common mission: to make scientific thinking more accessible, strengthen the research ecosystem, and encourage constructive exchange between experts and society.
History
The Klaus Tschira Foundation was founded in Germany in 1995 by physicist Klaus Tschira. From the beginning, its purpose was to use private philanthropy to strengthen the natural sciences, mathematics, and computer science while also making these fields more understandable and attractive to the public. Rather than limiting its activities to conventional grant-making, the foundation developed a portfolio spanning research institutions, educational programs, public events, awards, and communication training. The founder’s interest in public understanding of science was recognized in 1999, when Klaus Tschira received the Deutscher Stifterpreis from the German National Academic Foundation. The foundation subsequently expanded its institutional footprint. European Media Laboratory Research, established in 2003, developed into a research platform focused on computational and interdisciplinary questions. In January 2010 it was succeeded by the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, which pursued long-term fundamental research in life sciences, scientific databases, computational linguistics, theoretical astrophysics, statistics, and computational science. The foundation also built a major education and outreach program. Explore Science began in 2006 in Mannheim’s Luisenpark as a recurring public science event combining experiments, exhibitions, talks, and student competitions. Its later presence in Bremen and on Mainau Island extended the event’s geographical reach. The program reflects the foundation’s preference for interactive learning and direct engagement with scientific phenomena. Science communication became another central area. The KlarText Prize for Science Communication originated in the 1990s as a competition for graduates of the University of Karlsruhe, was revived in 2005, and became nationally open from 2006. It rewards young researchers for explaining doctoral research in language accessible to non-specialists and complements the competition with communication workshops and publication opportunities. The foundation also supports the National Institute for Science Communication, founded as a joint institute with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, which trains scientists to communicate research and participate in dialogue with society. For younger learners, Forscherstation was developed as a competence center for early science education in cooperation with the Heidelberg College of Education. It combines educator training, classroom-oriented experimentation, and research into children’s learning. The GIS-Station similarly supports teachers and students in using digital geographical media, including geographic information systems, remote sensing, and GPS. The foundation’s astronomy work is represented by the Haus der Astronomie near Heidelberg. Operating since 2012, the center provides school-oriented astronomy education, teacher workshops, a planetarium, and public outreach. Its construction and operation are supported by the foundation. In research connected with cultural heritage, the Klaus Tschira Laboratory for Physical Dating works with the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums, the University of Tübingen, and the Curt-Engelhorn-Centre of Archaeometry to apply scientific dating methods to historical and archaeological materials. In 2013, the Klaus Tschira Foundation established the Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation. The resulting annual Heidelberg Laureate Forum gives selected young researchers in mathematics and computer science the opportunity to meet prominent scientists. This initiative complements the foundation’s broader research mission by supporting the next generation of researchers and encouraging international academic exchange. The foundation is headquartered at Villa Bosch in Heidelberg, a historically significant site associated with chemist Carl Bosch. Its current profile is that of a broad science-philanthropy institution: it supports research for social benefit, encourages children and young people to investigate natural phenomena, helps educators and scientists communicate more effectively, and creates venues where the public can encounter research in an accessible form.
- 2021
Explore Science expands to Mainau Island
[1]Mainau Island became another location for the foundation’s annual science engagement program.
- 2018
Explore Science expands to Bremen
[1]The public science event began taking place in Bremen in addition to its established Mannheim location.
- 2013
Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation established
[1]The foundation created the organization responsible for the annual Heidelberg Laureate Forum for young mathematicians and computer scientists.
- 2012
Haus der Astronomie begins operations
[1]The astronomy center near Heidelberg began providing school education, teacher training, planetarium programming, and public outreach.
- 2010
Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies opens
[1]HITS opened as the successor to European Media Laboratory Research, pursuing long-term research across computational, scientific, and interdisciplinary fields.
- 2006
Explore Science begins
[1]The foundation began hosting annual public science adventure days in Mannheim, combining hands-on experiments, exhibitions, presentations, and student competitions.
- 2006
KlarText becomes nationally open
[1]The revived science-communication competition became open to eligible young researchers across Germany.
- 2003
European Media Laboratory Research founded
[1]The foundation established European Media Laboratory Research as an institution for application-oriented and interdisciplinary research.
- 1999
Founder receives the Deutscher Stifterpreis
[1]Klaus Tschira’s commitment to science philanthropy and public understanding was recognized with the Deutscher Stifterpreis from the German National Academic Foundation.
- 1995
Foundation established
[1]Klaus Tschira established the foundation as a German non-profit organization focused on science, mathematics, computer science, education, research, and public understanding.
Products and positioning
A science-focused German philanthropic foundation that links research support with early education, public engagement, and professional science communication.
Public science education event · 2006
Explore Science
An annual science adventure program for children, students, teachers, and families. It uses experiments, practical activities, exhibitions, talks, and competitions to encourage direct exploration of natural-science topics. The main event is associated with Mannheim’s Luisenpark, with additional editions in Bremen and on Mainau Island.
Early science education
Forscherstation
The Klaus Tschira Competence Centre for Early Science Education, operated in cooperation with the Heidelberg College of Education. It helps kindergarten children investigate everyday natural phenomena through play and experimentation, while supporting educators through training and studying the effects of professional development on teaching and learning.
Digital geography education
GIS-Station
A competence center for digital geographical media that offers learning opportunities involving geographic information systems, remote sensing, and GPS. Its programs are designed to improve teachers’ and students’ ability to use digital tools to investigate the Earth and issues such as global change.
Astronomy education and outreach · 2012
Haus der Astronomie
An astronomy education and outreach center near Heidelberg. It works with schools, provides workshops for astronomy teachers, operates a planetarium, and communicates astronomy to the general public. The Klaus Tschira Foundation supports its construction and operation.
Science communication award · 1996
KlarText Prize for Science Communication
A competition for young researchers who explain their doctoral research in generally understandable German. It covers fields including biology, chemistry, information technology, mathematics, neuroscience, physics, and related disciplines. The program also provides communication workshops and publishes selected contributions.
Research institute · 2010
Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies
A research institute established as the successor to European Media Laboratory Research. HITS conducts long-term, interdisciplinary research in areas such as life sciences, scientific databases, computational linguistics, theoretical astrophysics, statistics, and computational science.
Science communication training
National Institute for Science Communication
An institute associated with the Klaus Tschira Foundation and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. It trains scientists to explain research, findings, and societal implications to wider audiences through seminars, workshops, and dialogue-oriented communication practice.
Academic forum · 2013
Heidelberg Laureate Forum
An annual meeting organized by the Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation. It brings selected young researchers in mathematics and computer science together with distinguished scientists, encouraging mentoring, discussion, and international academic exchange.
Marketing campaigns
- 2012Haus der Astronomie outreach
Heidelberg region · Germany
An astronomy education initiative combining school programs, teacher development, planetarium experiences, and public outreach.
Outcome. Created a permanent public and educational astronomy center near Heidelberg.
- 2006Explore Science
Germany
A recurring public engagement initiative using hands-on experiments, exhibitions, competitions, and presentations to make natural sciences accessible to children, families, teachers, and students.
Outcome. Established a recurring public science format in Mannheim and later expanded to Bremen and Mainau Island.
- 2006KlarText Prize for Science Communication
Germany
A national program encouraging young scientists to translate doctoral research into clear, engaging articles for non-specialist readers, supported by expert judging and communication workshops.
Outcome. Became a recurring national science-communication competition and a platform for publishing accessible research explanations.
Brand decisions
2013
Create the Heidelberg Laureate Forum FoundationStrategyBackground
The foundation wanted to support young researchers and strengthen exchange across mathematics and computer science.
Action taken
It established the Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation to organize an annual meeting between selected early-career researchers and leading scientists.
Aftermath
The Heidelberg Laureate Forum became a recurring international academic gathering in Heidelberg.
2010
Replace European Media Laboratory Research with HITSStrategyBackground
The foundation sought a long-term research institution with a broad, interdisciplinary and fundamental-science remit rather than a focus limited to immediate technological trends.
Action taken
It established the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies as the successor to European Media Laboratory Research.
Aftermath
HITS continued foundation-supported research in computational science, life sciences, scientific databases, computational linguistics, theoretical astrophysics, and related fields.
Recent events
- 2021
Explore Science begins events at Mainau Island[1]
Campaign
Explore Science added Mainau Island as another location for its hands-on science education activities.
- 2018
Explore Science expands beyond Mannheim[1]
Campaign
The foundation’s annual Explore Science public science event expanded to Bremen after first being held in Mannheim from 2006 onward.
- 2013
Klaus Tschira Foundation establishes Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation[1]
Other
The foundation created the Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation to organize an annual meeting connecting outstanding young researchers in mathematics and computer science with leading scientists.
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