20 million euros for Ukraine engagement

• Robert Bosch Stiftung continues its engagement for Ukraine.
• Positive sum of the Foundation's work last year: around 97 million euros for charitable causes.
• 60th anniversary of the Robert Bosch Stiftung in June 2024.

Berlin/Stuttgart, February 22, 2024 – Saturday marks the second anniversary of the start of the Russian war on Ukraine. It is already clear that the Ukrainian people suffering under this brutal war will continue to need broad support in the coming years. The Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH has therefore decided to continue its engagement for Ukraine in the medium term. Over the next five years, it will make 20 million euros available for this purpose.

"The world must not turn its back on Ukraine now," says Dr. Bernhard Straub, Chief Executive Officer of the Robert Bosch Stiftung. "In addition to emergency aid, we must now prepare for the country’s reconstruction. We are convinced that civil society will play a decisive role in this. That is why we are supporting local organizations that can draw on past experience, networks and structures."

Since its founding 60 years ago, the Robert Bosch Stiftung has been committed to supporting peaceful coexistence in the world. Immediately after the Russian war of aggression began in February 2022, the Foundation provided emergency aid in Ukraine and neighboring countries. Last year, its engagement for Ukraine focused on projects such as the Vidnova scholarship program, which supports Ukrainian refugees working in exile for their homeland. Another example is the ReStart Ukraine initiative. Its aim is to develop a reconstruction plan for Ukrainian municipalities that also considers aspects such as climate protection.

Global partnerships – active in over 28 countries

Taking stock of the Foundation’s work across its three areas of support – health, education, and global issues – Straub concluded it had, on balance, been a successful year, with the Robert Bosch Stiftung spending in total around 97 million euros (preliminary figure) on charitable causes in 2023. The Foundation maintains its own facilities, carries out its own projects, and enters into partnerships around the globe. Last year, it was active in 28 countries, launching more than 279 new projects.

Pioneers in health care  

In the healthcare funding area, the Foundation is committed to a sustainable healthcare system that focuses on empowering people and their health literacy. Its Bosch Health Campus fosters cutting-edge medicine and excellent research, helps train the next generation of healthcare professionals and tests new ideas in healthcare provision. For example, the so-called PORT centers, which the Bosch Health Campus supports at eleven locations across Germany, offers patients comprehensive and excellent primary and long-term care – tailored to local needs.

Scouting for good schools 

In the education funding area, the Foundation works to support an education system geared towards the well-being of children and young people, offers equal opportunities and at the same time enables individual excellence. Its German School Award highlights examples of good schools, communicates their teaching concepts to a wider audience and motivates other schools to follow their lead. In 2023, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier presented the prestigious award to a middle school in Bavaria.

Foundation strengthens its commitment in the Middle East  

 In the Global Issues funding area, the Foundation is dedicated to tackling big global challenges. For example, in supporting the "School of Peace," a space for education and exchange between Tel Aviv-Jaffa and Jerusalem, the Foundation promotes dialogue between people of Jewish and Muslim faiths. Following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, the Robert Bosch Stiftung decided to expand its support in the region in the future in order to work even harder for understanding and peace in this critical situation.

For greater cohesion in society

In Germany, one of the Foundation's key topics is democracy and how to rekindle people’s enthusiasm and engagement for it. As part of the "Hello Bundestag" project, 350 people selected in a  random drawing met members of parliament from various parties and discussed proposals for a better relationship between the population and politics.

Democracies around the world are under threat from increasing social polarization and populism. Around 60 Fellows of the Robert Bosch Academy discussed this challenge at the Richard von Weizsäcker Forum 2023. With the Robert Bosch Academy, the Foundation has created a unique network of international experts and opinion leaders. Since its founding in 2014, more than 100 Fellows from 45 nations and six continents have been guests at the Academy in Berlin, where they have grappled with some of the world’s most pressing issues.

On June 18, the Robert Bosch Academy will celebrate its tenth anniversary in Berlin. A celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of the Robert Bosch Stiftung will take place in Stuttgart on June 5.