Corporate citizenship

Common good in view

Within the framework of a group-wide sponsoring guideline and an associated global management system, the Schaeffler Group ensures that funds provided are used in a targeted manner. Funding is provided to organizations and initiatives that work towards the common good, that are non-profit, and that comply with the Schaeffler Group’s Corporate Code of Conduct. Donations are monitored by the Compliance department, while sponsorships are managed by the Communications and Branding department.

In the year under review, a total of 112 CSR projects were initiated and implemented worldwide. Selected project examples are listed below.

Education and science

Education, training, and scientific research are key factors for success in the Schaeffler Group’s business model. The company is therefore active in education and science through strategic partnerships and collaborations.

A central issue for Schaeffler is to promote start-ups from the tech scene and to strengthen networks and knowledge transfer. Schaeffler is one of the founding partners of the “Zollhof Tech Incubator”. It combines entrepreneurial spirit, courage, exchange, and team spirit. IT start-ups have the opportunity here to further develop their ideas and build networks with science, business, and investors.

In 2019, Schaeffler participated in both “Hackbay” and the “Student Ideation Camp”. At the events, the participants developed ideas and concepts around the chainless drive in cooperation with Schaeffler mentors. For the first time, the partnership also included a three-month talent program. Students of the Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg designed a database for additive manufactured components together with a Schaeffler team. With this aid, it should be possible in the future to assess more quickly whether components can be manufactured using an additive process.

The Schaeffler FAG Foundation, established in 1983, is a major player in the Group’s involvement in education and science. The purpose of the foundation is to support science, research, and teaching in scientific and technical fields related to bearing technology. The foundation sees itself as a bridge between science and the economy that brings together people’s visions and goals in research, teaching, and the economy. Since its founding, the Schaeffler FAG Foundation has distributed over EUR 1 m in funding.

Health and social issues

Schaeffler wants to positively influence its environment and support people in need or in difficult living conditions.

Furthermore, Schaeffler has been working with AfB GmbH, Europe’s largest non-profit second-hand IT recycling company, for over ten years. Schaeffler supports the company’s efforts to provide people with disabilities employment opportunities in the primary labor market. As part of the cooperation with AfB, Schaeffler has so far saved a total of 3,100 tons of metals and minerals, 2,100 tons of greenhouse gases, and 6,700 megawatt hours of energy.

Already in its fifth year, Schaeffler India’s HOPE initiative supported regional projects in four defined priority areas. This included health care, protecting the national art and cultural heritage, strengthening social institutions, and improving the employability of young people in the region through targeted training programs.

In the year under review, mobile health teams were again sent to Vadodara, Gujarat, where young women and girls could take part in medical check-ups. Children were also tested for malnutrition, and treated if necessary. Commercial, service, and technical skills were conveyed to women’s groups and mixed teams in various programs. With the ongoing project “Quest on Wheels”, trips to cultural sites, gardens, and exhibitions for 12,000 children from schools and children’s homes have been organized since 2016.

Sports and culture

Schaeffler also contributes to conveying values by supporting sports and cultural activities and thus generates momentum for positive social development.

Since the first season 2014/2015, Schaeffler has been one of the key actors in Formula E, also underscoring its position as an electromobility pioneer on the racetrack. Even after Audi’s entry in the 2017/2018 season, Schaeffler continues to participate in the work of the cooperation partners in the areas of electric motor, transmission, chassis suspension, and power electronics. In 2019, the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team was the runner-up of the team title.

Intercultural exchange is also one of Schaeffler’s focuses. From October 2018 to the end of 2019, the comprehensive information campaign “Germany Year USA 2018/19” was held to intensify the long-standing cooperation between the two countries. With a large number of projects, platforms for dialogue, exchange, and partnerships were created, and new momentum for diverse relationships in business, science, politics, and culture was gained, thus enabling new alliances for the future.