Philosophy

“Industrial workers of the future depend upon theoretical knowledge combined with practical skills”.

Ferdinand von Steinbeis

Operations of Steinbeis Danube Center are based on the following principles:

  • Orientation towards the customer
    We organize our project work in accordance with the customer’s interests. Satisfying Your needs is the objective of our activities.
  • Competence
    As a leading consultant in the developing business relationships between Eastern and Western Europe, we must possess wider and deeper knowledge in the sphere of our specialization, than our customers and, particularly, our competitors. We would like you to rely on our competences and experiences.
  • Efficiency
    Conceptions and solutions, developed by us, are closely connected to practical activity. Feasibility is a key factor, which determines the project’s success.
  • Confidentiality
    In the course of project development, we observe absolute privacy and confidentiality. We communicate to the third party no more than the information, publicly announced by the customer.

Tradition

Ferdinand von Steinbeis is considered the posthumous patron of vocational training in the former German state of Württemberg. It was Steinbeis who founded vocational schools throughout the state, educational establishments such as the weaving schools in Blaubeuren (1852) and Reutlingen (1855). Steinbeis appealed unrelentingly for two-way – or dual – education. He considered the aim of education was to provide the qualified industrial workers of the future with a solid theoretical grounding in combination with practical, on-the-job skills. As head of the Central Office for Trade and Industry in the middle of the 19th century, Steinbeis was working on concepts that were destined to form the backbone of business-related technology transfer. Long after he walked the corridors of German industry his concepts are still in place today.

History

In 1842 Steinbeis became Director-General of the ironworks owned by the Stumm family in Neunkirchen. During his time at the company, Steinbeis took it upon himself to train the people working for him. To prevent talented employees being tempted away by the competition, he invested much time and thought in establishing social support at the ironworks. This included a support fund for workers in need, a disability fund for people unable to work, a works doctor, a works canteen and financial support in buying a home.

In 1848 the “Central Office for Trade and Industry” was founded with the aim of promoting the interests of trade and industry. Steinbeis was appointed Technical Counsel with the title and rank of Councillor. In 1855 he was appointed Director and subsequently he became President.

In 1878 Steinbeis was lambasted by the entire Chamber of Representatives for opposing the introduction of protective import duties. He began to withdraw from his public duties more and more. In July 1880 his retirement request was approved. Ferdinand von Steinbeis died on 7 February 1893 in Leipzig and was buried in Ulm.