Karl Valentin Ullrich Establishes a Foundation

Dr. Karl Valentin Ullrich, honorary senator of the University of Freiburg, holder of the University Medal and former chair of the Verband der Freunde der Universität Freiburg e.V. as well as CEO of the Wirtschaftsverband Industrieller Unternehmen Baden e.V., has established a foundation with assets of 200,000 euro. The goal of the Dr. Karl Valentin Ullrich Foundation is to promote scholarship, education and development, including support for students in the field of economic and behavioral sciences as well as philosophy at the University of Freiburg. Above all the foundation will support students and postdocs who are engaged with questions of the social responsibility of companies. Management of the foundation will be carried out by the Verband der Freunde der Universität Freiburg e.V.

“Over the past decades Karl Valentin Ullrich has resolutely worked like almost no other to promote scholarship, research and teaching at the University of Freiburg. With the establishment of this foundation he once again shows how important the University of Freiburg and its students are to him. And I am extremely grateful to him for it, both as rector and also personally,” says Prof. Dr. Hans-Jochen Schiewer.

From 2005 to 2016 Ullrich headed the Verband der Freunde der Universität Freiburg, and from 1985 to 2004 the Wirtschaftsverband Industrieller Unternehmen Baden. “I have a lot to thank the University of Freiburg for, from my degree to my internship and postdoctorate through to the many contacts that I have made and enjoyed as the chair of the Verband der Freunde der Universität,” says Ullrich. “With my foundation and above all with the funding support for gifted yet needy students I would like to say thank you for this. I’d be very happy if I could inspire another potential benefactor to do something similar for our university.”

“Mr. Ullrich has had a decisive impact on the association over the past thirteen years, including ten years as chair. In particular he was hugely successful in attracting new members and benefactors. He is now crowning this generous commitment to the University and society with the establishment of a foundation, which will fund students in a field that has been of special interest to him since his own days as a student,” says Dr. Michael Lauk, the current first chair of the Verband der Freunde der Universität Freiburg e.V.

Ullrich has also been engaged in other initiatives for the University and its students: since 2005 he has been a member of the board of trustees of the Academic Society of Freiburg, and since 2006 the deputy chair of the board of trustees of the New University Endowment Freiburg. In 2011 Ullrich received the University Medal, and in 2016 was made an honorary senator of the University of Freiburg. For his outstanding services for the economy of Baden-Württemberg he was awarded the federal state’s medal for industry in 1997. In 2003 he was further honored with the German Federal Cross of Merit for his civic engagement.