Klaus J. Jacobs receives the Bremen entrepreneur’s award
for science transfer

On June 6, Klaus J. Jacobs received this year’s Bremen entrepreneur’s award for science transfer of the Sparkasse Bremen; the consortium of independent entrepreneurs and the federation of young entrepreneurs for outstanding merits in joining science with business concepts in Bremen. The prize recognizes the profound support of the Swiss Jacobs Foundation’s founder and honorary chairman for Jacobs University Bremen by providing the 200 Mio Euro donation to the young private university in November 2006.

[ Jun 06, 2007]  “You can be conducive to science in two ways: by outstanding scientific achievements on the one hand and by material support on the other hand. Both ways advance the transfer of knowledge as they advance the development of knowledge for the common good”, the chairman of the Sparkasse, Heiko Staroßom, explained the jury’s decision for the businessman and patron Klaus J. Jacobs. So far, only scientist had been honored by the Bremen entrepreneur’s award. Jacobs has devoted a major portion of his commercially gained fortune to his foundation, which finances educational projects worldwide to lastingly improve the future of young people, such as Jacobs University, Staroßom continued. “We pretty much promptly agreed on this year’s laureate”, Peter Bollhagen, chairman of the consortium of independent entrepreneurs, commented the award committee’s decision.

The Bremen entrepreneur’s award was bestowed yesterday during the sixth Bremer entrepreneur’s gala. The laudatory speech was given by Prof. Dr. Ursula Staudinger, Vice President of Jacobs University, who also accepted the prize in place of Klaus Jacobs, who couldn’t attend the ceremony. With his investment into Jacobs University, Klaus Jacobs particularly wants to promote the research and teaching foci on energy and nutrition, education and communication as well as peace and conflict management. As a native of Bremen born into the family that founded the famous coffee trading firm, he just recently emphasized his attachment to his home town during the graduate ceremony of Jacobs University on June 2, 2007, another reason for his commitment on-site.

The Bremen entrepreneur’s award for science transfer is a non-material annual prize, which was awarded for the third time this year. It is symbolized by a bridge designed by the sculptor Bernd Altenstein and recognizes efforts of successfully combining science with business concepts. The idea of awarding this prize was born in 2004 on the occasion of the nomination of Bremen/Bremerhaven as “City of Science 2005” by the Donors’ Association for Promotion of Science and Humanities in Germany. The two previous laureates are the Bremen mathematician Prof. Heinz-Otto Peitgen and the Bremen earth scientist Prof. Gerold Wefer.