2008/05/21

‘Germany – Land of Ideas’ supports tomorrow’s engineers at the IdeenPark

Berlin/Stuttgart, 20 May 2008 – No fewer than 27 ‘Landmarks’ selected by the ‘Germany – Land of Ideas’ nation-branding initiative in the years 2006 to 2008 are represented at ThyssenKrupp AG’s IdeenPark (Ideas Park) event in Stuttgart. Jürgen R. Thumann, chairman of the initiative’s steering committee and president of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), took this as an occasion to visit the IdeenPark.

Now in its third year, the IdeenPark is designed to introduce teens and young adults to career and promotion prospects in the technology sector, as well as communicate to them the fascination of this line of work. Dr. Ekkehard Schulz, CEO of ThyssenKrupp AG, emphasised: “To inspire young people for a career in technology, it isn't enough to simply provide information about new technologies and career opportunities. We have to go one step further, and get them excited about technology. That’s what the IdeenPark stands for: a celebration of technology."

Jürgen R. Thumann and Dr. Ekkehard Schulz together visited some of the ‘Landmarks’, all of which were awarded their landmark status due to their innovative technologies. Thumann presented the official panel of membership in the Deutschland – Land der Ideen e. V. society to ThyssenKrupp’s CEO and declared: “Only responsible, well-trained people will be in a position to master the global challenges ahead. This applies particularly for our country, whose future depends crucially on knowledge and technology. The ‘Germany – Land of Ideas’ society works to ensure that Germany remains the land of ideas and innovations, which uses its skills and resources intelligently, derives benefit from them, and in which the future is already firmly anchored in the present.”

At the IdeenPark, the ‘SkillsGermany’ initiative was certified a 2008 “Landmark” in the Land of Ideas for its career competitions. Its national and international championships pit trainees from some 45 professions against each other. The initiative is sponsored by more than 40 companies, associations and individuals

Downloadable photo

Additional photos are available from: www.zukunft-technik-entdecken.de

The Initiators

“Germany – Land of Ideas” is a joint nation-branding initiative by the German government and German business, represented by the Federation of German Industries (BDI). Germany’s Federal President Horst Köhler is the patron of the initiative, which aims to convey a positive image of Germany at home and abroad and emphasise the country's strengths as a place of business. The core message of all activities pursued by the nation-branding initiative is “Germany – leading through innovation.”
www.land-of-ideas.org


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