The ABB Jürgen Dormann Foundation for Engineering Education

The foundation is named after the outgoing chairman, who retired from the post at the 2007 annual general meeting, in recognition of his contribution to the company. Jürgen Dormann became chairman in 2001 and served as chief executive officer from September 2002 to December 2004.

"As a leading technology company engineering is at the core of our activities ," said ABB's President and CEO, Fred Kindle. "We are proud to support the next generation of engineers. Engineering plays an essential role for ABB and also for the technical and economic progress of society ."

"ABB's ambitious strategy for growth requires the recruitment of many qualified engineers, although the number of available engineers is steadily declining," said ABB's head of human resources, Gary Steel, who will chair the foundation's board of directors. "This foundation encourages high-potential students who may not otherwise be able to continue their education in engineering and natural sciences, and also helps increase the pool of potential ABB employees."

Other members of the foundation’s board include Dinesh Paliwal, head of Global Markets and Technology and president of ABB in the United States, and Peter Terwiesch, ABB's Chief Technology Officer. The foundation will be run as a Swiss-based not-for-profit organization with a separate legal entity overseen by Switzerland’s interior ministry.

Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of ability, potential and personal means, and are open to students around the world beginning in 2008. More information for candidates - including deadlines for applications - will be posted on this page as soon as it becomes available. This page can be reached at http://www.abb.com/foundation