GEA Establishes Foundation to Expand Global Community Engagement

GEA Group has announced the establishment of the GEA Foundation, aimed at amplifying its global community engagement and sustainability initiatives. Unveiled during a launch event at GEA’s Heating and Refrigeration Technologies campus in Berlin, the foundation will focus on improving education, fighting child poverty, increasing access to essential infrastructure, and providing disaster relief.

CEO Stefan Klebert highlighted the foundation’s role in strengthening GEA’s corporate responsibility efforts, emphasizing closer collaboration with strategic partners like UNICEF Germany to achieve these goals. “At GEA, acting responsibly in the interests of people and the environment is the bedrock of our success,” said Klebert. “In setting up the GEA Foundation, we are taking our community engagement to the next level. Together with our strategic partners, we are now able to implement our ambitious targets even more effectively.”

Four Strategic Focus Areas

The GEA Foundation is structured around four pillars to guide its project selection:

1. Strengthening STEM Education: Supporting programs to enhance access to education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), with a focus on equal opportunities for young people globally.
2. Fighting Child Poverty: Partnering with organizations like SOS Children’s Villages to provide essential services such as shelter and food.
3. Improving Access to Basic Infrastructure: Supporting projects that improve access to clean water, renewable energy, and medical care.
4. Administering Disaster Relief: Providing rapid assistance during natural disasters and humanitarian crises.

Strategic Partnerships for Greater Impact

The GEA Foundation collaborates with several strategic partners, including UNICEF Germany, SOS Children’s Villages Düsseldorf, Viva con Agua, and the German University Foundation. These partnerships focus on promoting education, reducing child poverty, and improving infrastructure access. Each partner provides quarterly progress reports to ensure accountability and transparency.

A new collaboration with UNICEF Germany, announced at the launch event, will support educational initiatives in Peru and India. These programs aim to equip children and young people with key skills in areas such as computer programming, complemented by mentoring and talent development opportunities. Christian Schneider, Managing Director of UNICEF Germany, stressed the importance of STEM education: “Young people are growing up in a rapidly evolving world. Acquiring STEM skills can be a gateway to successful careers and open up favorable prospects for the future.”

Launch Event Highlights

The launch event featured GEA employees, representatives from foundations and NGOs, and a presentation of an international STEM education survey commissioned by GEA. The survey revealed a shared interest among students and teachers in making STEM curricula more practical and interdisciplinary to boost engagement.

A panel discussion on the survey findings included GEA CEO Stefan Klebert, UNICEF Germany’s Christian Schneider, Dr. Volker Meyer-Guckel of the German Stifterverband, and Dr. Daniel Hunold, professor and education influencer. Panelists discussed how to improve STEM education and create clearer career pathways for young people.

By centralizing and expanding its community engagement efforts through the GEA Foundation, GEA aims to contribute more effectively to long-term global development and sustainability goals.