Focuses on brain research and strengthening democratic values.
The Hertie Foundation (Hertie Stiftung) is a non-profit organization based in Germany that focuses on two main areas: brain research and strengthening democracy. The foundation was established in 1974 by Georg Karg, the owner of the Hertie department store chain, with the aim of promoting science, education, and general and vocational training. In the area of brain research, the Hertie Foundation supports clinical brain research, particularly through the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research in Tübingen, and initiatives for multiple sclerosis research. It is one of the largest private funding bodies for brain research in Germany and Europe, with an average annual funding budget of nine million euros. For strengthening democracy, the foundation supports projects that safeguard social cohesion in Germany and Europe, emphasizing the importance of democracy as a basis for peace, freedom, and security. It also supports the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, which prepares students for leadership roles in the public sector, business, and civil society. Recent projects and organizations financed by the Hertie Foundation include the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, the Hertie School of Governance, and the START Foundation for young people with migration backgrounds. The foundation also supports anti-Semitism prevention initiatives and promotes Jewish life in Germany. Criteria for receiving funding typically involve projects that lead to concrete improvements in people’s lives, aligning with the foundation’s focus areas. However, specific criteria and typical project financing amounts are not detailed in the available sources.