CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY - Software AG

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 

SuStainability and ReSponSibility 

“Those who build high towers must spend a long time on the foundation.” 

Anton Bruckner

Contents 

software AG’s six CsR criteria 4 

sustainability and responsibility – the foundation of our business 5 

sustainability and responsibility unleash potential 7 

Global Company 9 

software AG – a global company 10 

History of software AG 12 

our largest markets 13 

Innovation through partnerships 14 

Innovation and R&D 17 

Employees & Corporate Culture 23 

Business & Ethics 29 

Growth & Prosperity 33 

Good Corporate Citizenship 39 

Software AG Foundation 43 

some examples of software AG Foundation’s work 46 

software AG Foundation and software AG joint projects 47 

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soFtwARe AG’s sIx CsR CRIteRIA 

Good Corporate Citizenship 

6. “Facts don’t disappear 

when you ignore them.” 

Growth and Prosperity 

5. “The path to your goal begins 

on the day you accept full responsibility 

for your actions.” 

A Global Company 

1. “Knowledge is the only raw 

material on Earth whose availability 

is unlimited and doesn’t dwindle 

with use, but rather multiplies.” 

Business and Ethics 

4. “Freedom is not constituted 

primarily of privileges, but of 

responsibilities.” 

Innovation and R&D 

2. “Have the courage to use 

your own understanding.” 

Employees and Corporate Culture 

3. “Reason is like a map: it only 

makes sense when it is used.”

sustAInABIlIty And ResPonsIBIlIty – 

tHe FoundAtIon oF ouR BusIness 

Never before has the world been as globally connected as it 

is today. We are all living in a global village: anchored to one 

place, but connected with the world. Information technology is 

the foundation, driving globalization and the ever growing 

political and economic interdependence between nations. 

Globalization and digitization have led to huge advances in 

productivity. Many processes have become significantly faster, 

cheaper and more efficient as a result of digitization. Countless 

new products and services have been created. New suppliers 

and buyers have generated new types of income and increased 

wealth in many places. 

But a connected world also poses threats. Poverty, hunger, 

water and energy shortages, terrorism, and global warming are 

just a few of the global society’s most urgent problems. Some 

existing risks have become more serious, while new ones have 

emerged. 

Citizens of the global village demand answers from governments 

and companies on how these threats can be minimized. 

The challenges are daunting and complex. They require a 

coordinated approach from the political and business communities. 

They also call for sustainable and responsible action on the 

part of all individuals. 

To us at Software AG, sustainable and responsible action 

means being a successful company. We define business success 

as follows: 

• Making our customers globally successful 

• Researching and developing our own solutions 

• setting standards and developing patents 

• Being a credible and reliable partner 

• Helping our employees grow with the company 

• Growing and being profitable 

• Benefiting society 

• Maintaining exemplary values and social standards in our dayto-day 

business operations 

• Promoting education and innovation globally and at our 

locations 

our software solutions, among other things, contribute to 

minimizing global crises and threats. they serve as tools for 

flexibility and efficiency, speed and control, and equally 

importantly, for transparency and trust to those who recognize 

their responsibility. 

we accept our responsibility. 

sincerely yours, 

Karl-Heinz streibich 

Chief executive officer 

5

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Foyer of Corporate Headquarters in Darmstadt

sustAInABIlIty And ResPonsIBIlIty 

unleAsH PotentIAl 

There is a direct correlation between responsible action and 

business success. 

software AG develops mission-critical software solutions for 

organizations in some 70 countries. Banks, airlines, ministries, 

television networks and shipping companies control their 

processes with our solutions and those of our partners. we are 

responsible for the success of our customers and partners 

worldwide. only with reliable, cost-effective and fast software 

solutions can we be successful. this requires responsible action 

in every area of our corporation. 

Responsible action: an engine of innovation 

we conduct our own research and development. ongoing 

improvement of our own processes and products is driven by 

our customers’ requirements of our software and our own need 

to be the best in the market. In order to create the best 

software, we need the best employees – in terms of training 

and experience, motivation and loyalty, social competency and 

diversity. we aim to offer an attractive workplace where people 

can be successful and happy. 

Responsible action adds value 

those who act responsibly are better at what they do. they 

achieve the best data storage. they make the fewest mistakes. 

they offer the fastest customer support. they design the most 

efficient processes with the lowest usage of resources. they 

anticipate risks. those who act responsibly are appreciated. 

Garnering appreciation is the best way of achieving customer 

and employee loyalty and creates the most credible public 

image. Responsible action is therefore neither an end in itself, 

nor the result of an altruistic attitude. Responsible action is a 

logical consequence of our own desire for success. 

Responsible action in society fosters sustainable 

business success 

As the fourth largest software company in europe and one of 

the 25 largest software companies in the world, we have a 

responsibility to society. we are committed to policies that 

promote education and innovation and that recognize the 

role of software in strategic economic policy. we support 

universities and schools and form international alliances 

between companies as well as regional clusters. An improved 

range of It education and training today will result in qualified 

It users. they could be our customers, partners or employees 

of tomorrow. 

Responsible action means having a business model based 

on sustainability 

Information technology is a fast paced industry. Moore’s law 

states that the power of computer processors doubles every 

18 months. this means that the total computing power needed 

for the first moon landing in 1969 now fits into a cell phone. 

Fast technology means rapid change. Products and companies 

come and go. But there are exceptions. software AG, for 

example, was founded in 1969 and is one of the oldest 

software companies of this size in the world. our business 

model is robust and sustainable. we adapt our enterprise 

software to the needs of our customers and the market. 

Furthermore, we have a major long-term shareholder, 

software AG Foundation. 

Reporting framework 

this report is not a typical CsR report. It is a fact-based account 

of how we perceive our corporate responsibility. Its frame of 

reference is the past two years. 

Sustainability 

our definition of sustainability is not limited to ecological 

sustainability. It refers more broadly to the creation of longterm 

values. our relationships to customers, our technology, our 

partnerships, investments in our company, and our knowledge 

capital – thanks to our employees – are all values that have 

existed for many years. these sustainable values benefit all 

stakeholders and society as a whole. 

– Norbert Eder, Vice President, Corporate Communications 

7

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Global sales kick-off with sales staff from all 

locations worldwide 

1

. 

Software AG’s management approach 

Global 

Company 

“Knowledge is the only raw material on Earth whose 

availability is unlimited and doesn’t dwindle with use, 

but rather multiplies.” Horst Köhler 

Have you ever had a really strong cup of coffee in the 

united states? do you use natural gas or watch tV in 

Germany? do you know someone who needed a visa for 

Great Britain? Have you ever traveled by train in spain, 

Belgium or Russia? 

we don’t roast coffee, drill for oil, manufacture televisions, 

print forms or build trains. But we do make software for It 

systems at companies and government agencies. 

our software enables these products and services to be 

created and brought to you. 

For the last 40 years we have been helping our (now) 

4,000 corporate customers around the world to modernize 

and automate their existing It systems and processes. with 

our technology, our customers improve their competitiveness 

and achieve their business goals faster. our product 

portfolio includes market-leading solutions for data 

management, service-oriented architectures (soA) and 

business process management (BPM). 

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soFtwARe AG – A GloBAl CoMPAny 

software AG is an international corporation. Just a few years 

after its founding in 1969, it expanded into the American and 

Japanese markets (usA: 1972/Japan: 1974). today, software AG 

has a presence in every important market around the world. 

the global nature of software AG is a decisive component in 

the company’s sustainable success. 

the world’s largest provider of independent infrastructure software for business processes 

one of the top 25 software companies in the world 

4 th largest software company in europe, 2 nd largest in Germany 

About 3,600 employees 

Customers in 70 countries 

35% increase in number of employees from 2006–2008 

49% increase in group revenue from 2006–2008 

59% increase in net income from 2006–2008 

238% increase in free cash flow from 2004–2008

extensive experience with global corporate customers 

Growth opportunities in emerging markets 

Attractive workplace due to international diversity: intercultural awareness, tolerance 

and appreciation for other cultures are prerequisites and are constantly being promoted 

employees from diverse countries and backgrounds enrich creativity 

and corporate culture 

Global R&d network: Contact to It specialists from many different countries exploits the 

corporation’s innovative potential 

11

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HIstoRy oF soFtwARe AG 

In 1969, six employees from a darmstadt 

consulting firm called AIV (Institute for 

Applied Information Processing) founded 

software AG. one of them was Peter 

schnell, who would go on to become the 

company’s chief executive officer for many 

years. Based on extensive experience, the 

concept of a universal database management 

system for mainframes was born. Just 

two years later, the high-performance 

database called Adabas was unveiled. 

Adabas is still the fastest database in the 

world today. 

In the early 1970s the technological 

development of software AG products 

centered upon turning Adabas into a 

multi-file database. In addition to Adabas, 

a programming language called natural was 

created. Around that time, software AG 

entered other markets for the first time 

including usA, Japan and Great Britain. 

In the late 1980s, a time of tremendous 

growth, software AG posted dM 170 million 

in revenue. It established a presence in 

all major markets of the world with 

12 sub sidiaries in europe and branch offices 

in over 50 countries. software AG’s strategy 

of operating predominantly via its own 

regional subsidiaries continues to be 

successful today. early in the same decade, 

Peter schnell became sole shareholder in 

software AG and, alongside his role as Ceo, 

began endorsing non-profit projects in the 

united states and Germany. 

In 1992 Peter schnell transferred all of his 

software AG shares to two foundations. ninety-eight percent of 

them went to the non-profit software AG Foundation. the goal 

of the Foundation is to promote projects in areas such as 

10 Milestones 

2007 Software AG is the largest 

independent SOA/BPM provider, 

Software AG acquires webMethods 

2000 Software AG develops the first 

fully XML-based product platform 

1999 Software AG IPO on the Frankfurt 

Stock Exchange 

1992 98% of shares poured into 

non-profit Software AG Foundation 

1984 New Corporate Headquarters in 

Darmstadt, Germany with 

sustainable architecture 

1977 Development of Natural 

1972 Software AG of North America 

opens 

1971 First commercial application 

of Adabas 

1969 Software AG is founded 

science, research, assistance and care for 

the elderly, education, training, children 

and youth, environmental protection, and 

care for the disabled. In 1999 software AG 

went public on the Frankfurt stock 

exchange. software AG’s IPo was and 

remains to date the world’s largest initial 

public offering in the software industry. At 

the change of the millennium software AG 

developed tamino xMl Platform, the 

world’s first comprehensive xMl-based 

product platform. From an economic point 

of view, however, the new decade was 

overshadowed by a downward trend. 

software AG’s revenues and the number 

of employees subsequently declined 

sharply. 

In 2003, with a promising “turnaround 

strategy,” software AG won back customer 

trust, profitability, growth and employee 

confidence. A 10-year strategy was at the 

core of a plan to become the world’s 

largest independent infrastructure 

software provider. the traditional data 

management business was expanded and 

refocused on the emerging service-oriented 

architecture (soA) market. 

In 2007/2008 the company expanded in 

the high-growth latin American market. In 

addition, direct access to the Japanese 

market was accomplished. software AG 

acquired webMethods, Inc. (nAsdAQ: 

weBM) in 2007. with a total value of $546 

million, this acquisition is among the 

largest in the european software industry. 

In 2008, for the fourth time in a row, 

software AG achieved the best fiscal year results in the 

company’s history. the Group’s operating revenue climbed to 

€720 million.

AFteR GeRMAny, ouR lARGest MARKets ARe usA, 

GReAt BRItAIn, sPAIn And BRAzIl. 

Spotlight: USA Spotlight: Great Britain Spotlight: Spain Spotlight: Brazil 

Just three years 

after the company was 

founded, Software AG of 

North America was established 

in Reston, Virginia in 

1972. Among the first American 

customers was the City of 

New York, Massachusetts 

Mutual and Consumer Gas in 

Toronto, Canada. Today the 

U.S. market accounts for 

about one-third of our Group 

revenue and employs more 

than 700 people. We have 

additional offices in Dallas, 

Denver and the Silicon Valley. 

After Germany and 

the U.S., Great Britain is one 

of our most important 

markets. Software AG opened 

its first office there in 1977. 

With about 100 employees in 

London and Bracknell, our 

British subsidiary contributes 

approximately €50 million to 

total revenue. In our more 

than 30-year market 

presence, we have cultivated 

a strong and loyal customer 

base, particularly in the public 

sector. 

Software AG has 

been operating in Spain since 

1984 where we currently 

employ 680 people. Our 

Spanish subsidiary is second 

in size only to the U.S. in 

terms of contribution to total 

Group revenue. The Spanish 

and Portuguese markets are 

both managed from the 

central office in Madrid. We 

have additional offices in 

Barcelona, Oviedo and Lisbon. 

The majority of our Spanish 

customers are from the public 

sector, financial services, 

insurance, manufacturing, 

services, telecommunications 

and media industries. 

For three decades 

Software AG was represented 

in Brazil by a distributor and 

was thus able to build up a 

broad customer base in this 

market. In January 2008 we 

acquired rights for direct 

distribution of our products, 

which marked a new stage in 

our market presence. The 

Brazilian market is among the 

top five mainframe markets 

in the world. In 2009 we plan 

to expand the Software AG 

branch in Brazil and particularly 

our support team to total 

70 employees. 

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InnoVAtIon tHRouGH PARtneRsHIPs 

Partnerships and alliances represent an important component 

of our business model. they are – in addition to organic growth, 

geographic expansion, and growth through acquisitions – one of 

software AG’s four growth drivers. our partners can be divided 

into three categories: development partners, sales partners and 

system integrators. our sales Accelerator Program is designed 

to help our customers reap optimum benefits from soA and 

BPM. to this end we launched the Centrasite Community in 

2006 in cooperation with Fujitsu. 

we have created a network of strategic partnerships that spans 

the entire globe. It enables us to conduct research and 

Facts and figures about our work built on trust: 

over 100 partners worldwide, including Accenture, Fujitsu 

siemens, Gxs, deloitte, logica 

over 560 trained consultants and developers (2008) 

84 joint deals signed (2008) 

innovation in the interest of our customers. we see the 

expansion of our partner program as one way to achieve our 

growth targets. software AG therefore introduced a new 

partner program in fiscal 2007, which focuses on large system 

integrators as well as smaller, local service providers with 

industry-specific know-how. Partnerships with developers and 

system integrators in particular allow software AG to offer a 

diversified product portfolio and industry-specific expertise. 

A system integrator specialized in the insurance industry, for 

instance, can adapt our products to the customers’ situation 

in an optimum way.

CentraSite Community 

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InnoVAtIon 

CoMMunICAtIon 

ResPonsIBIlIty 

2

. 

Innovation, research and development 

Innovation 

and R&D 

“Have the courage to use your own 

understanding.” immanuel Kant 

we are certain that sustainable business can only work with 

innovation, long-term customer relationships, efficient 

processes and collaborative inclusion of all stakeholders. 

ongoing development of existing products like Adabas and 

natural and innovations in our webMethods line increase 

the performance of legacy It systems. For our customers, 

this translates into investment protection, efficient use of 

resources and sustainable business success. we have been 

honing our ability to develop new technologies such as 

database algorithms, programming languages and soA 

governance concepts over the past 40 years. our number of 

industry standards and patents are testimony to this. 

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InnoVAtIon And R&d 

Global R&D network 

software development requires the interplay of various skills. 

From “simple” web design, service and process programming 

to complex architectures and industry solutions, development 

has to cover all the necessary steps. In addition to technical 

requirements, other skills are also becoming increasingly 

essential: knowledge of the specific industry, ability to communicate 

and customer orientation. we promote these skills 

proactively by offering training and development opportunities 

to our staff. 

our international R&d network combines all strengths to form 

what software AG calls a “hybrid calculation.” It distributes 

roles among different offices according to specific criteria. For 

example, programming and development of individual products 

take place in technologically advanced emerging nations. In 

this way, we balance comparative cost benefits with the 

development of innovative technologies. our compensation and 

Responsibility promotes innovation 

650 software developers 

1,600 employees in software project management and systems maintenance 

22 patent applications in 2007 

20 patent applications in 2008 

use of and collaboration on the development of more than 100 open standards 

R&d expenditure as percentage of product revenue: 13% in 2006, 15% in 2007 

and 14% in 2008 

training system guarantees software AG employees in emerging 

nations salaries and personal development far above the local 

standard. Alternately, complex architecture development and 

strategic research are conducted close to our markets and 

customers, which contributes to creating value in countries such 

as the usA, Israel and Germany. this distribution of roles 

ensures the necessary proximity to customers and markets, 

technological innovation and a strengthened competitive 

position in industrialized and emerging nations. 

every R&d center has a specific role within our international 

distribution of tasks. this allows the individual strengths of each 

location to be best leveraged. For example, while staff in 

Germany is highly trained in It strategy and architecture, Indian 

developers are typically very skilled in process excellence and 

programming. Furthermore, it ensures around-the-clock 

development activity.

Software AG’s R&D centers 

Darmstadt is our international R&d headquarters. As 

such, it is responsible for coordinating the customer-centric 

development process, for product strategy, suite architecture 

and program management. Innovation and further development 

of Adabas, natural, entirex, tamino and Centrasite have 

always taken place here. Furthermore, patents and projects 

supported by the european union are also coordinated here. 

Reston is our u.s. R&d headquarters. Here we also 

develop Adabas, product suite architectures, the eclipse tool 

integration server, cross-product components (e.g. security 

tools) and Alignspace, software AG’s first software-as-a-service 

(saas) offering. 

Seattle R&d designs BPM components for the 

webMethods suite and the integrated Composite Application 

Framework (CAF). My webMethods server is also developed at 

this center. 

In Denver the focus is on the Monitor and optimize 

components of our BPM product suite. In addition, a team here 

deals with quality assurance aspects of Adabas mainframe 

products and entire network. 

our San Jose center is responsible for BPM modeling 

components and process execution. 

In Tel Aviv, essential components for modernizing 

existing applications like Applinx and Jacada are developed. 

In Sofia we develop essential components for the 

webMethods product infrastructure. In addition, developers at 

this center work on the web-based user interface for Centrasite 

(Centrasite Control) and collaborate on the central test, build 

and installation infrastructure. At present, we are adding to the 

enterprise transaction systems (ets) team in order to focus 

more intensively on the development of Adabas Manager, 

natural for AJAx and R&d-specific tools. 

the Chennai team manages the development of 

Centrasite Governance edition, an add-on to the Centrasite 

Platform; of soA link, the interoperability framework for 

third-party soA products; and of software AG’s Policy Gateway. 

Chennai is also collaborating on tamino development. 

our Bangalore location is responsible for development 

and maintenance of central integration products. 

Furthermore, Bangalore manages development of deployer, 

Common database scripts and CAF/BPM as well as conducts 

integration tests with the webMethods suite. 

our Derby developers engineer Adabas add-on 

products such as Adabas delta save, Adabas Fast Path, Adabas 

transaction Manager and Adabas Vista. 

Cambridge R&d creates natural-based construction 

and generation tools as add-ons to the natural Construct 

development environment and natural Business services. 

our Tokyo team is responsible for localization and 

preparation of ets products for the Japanese market. 

Riga is a partner location for the development of 

entire system Management products, Con-nect and Adabas d. 

ets product integration testing is also conducted at this site. 

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R&D in Bangalore – Great work in a great atmosphere! 

Padma Reddy and Narayan 

Bethmangalkar, Software AG India 

since the R&d center in Bangalore, India 

opened in 2004, software AG has been 

strategically promoting its R&d presence 

in India in order to accelerate and expand 

product development. Bangalore – or 

Bengaluru, as it is referred to today – is 

the capital of the state of Karnataka in southern India. with a 

470-year history, this science and technology metropolis is one 

of the fastest growing cities in the world and home to India’s 

booming software sector. 

the success of software AG in Bangalore is thanks to highly 

qualified employees and a unique work atmosphere. People 

from many different cultures and Indian states work together 

here. But in spite of so much diversity, they do share one 

common bond: a passion for cricket! when they aren’t cheering 

R&D in Bulgaria – Successful enlargement to the east! 

Bisser Ivanov, Software AG Bulgaria 

software AG had already begun expansion 

of the eu to the east in 2006. 

software AG’s Bulgarian R&d center was 

established late in 2006. with 75 employees 

at present, it is the second most 

important R&d location in europe, after 

darmstadt. the most prominent strength 

of our Bulgarian R&d team is creativity and skill. In 2007 they 

were awarded the title “Best It Investor” by the Bulgarian 

government. the jury was impressed not only with software AG’s 

volume of investments, but with the quality of our technology as 

well. this R&d site is just two hours by plane from Headquarters 

in darmstadt. It plays a strategic roll in a highly dynamic business 

that must constantly adapt to changing customer requirements. 

on the national Indian cricket team, staff members dedicate 

themselves to development, quality assurance, documentation 

and suite integration testing. their strengths are clear: sophisticated 

Java programming, CC++, web services, eAI, databases, 

testing tools, and in-depth knowledge of all webMethods suite 

products. Close contact with the R&d teams in the u.s. and 

Germany is a given. Almost 40% of employees have a 

post-graduate degree in science or information technology. 

the staff here devotes the same level of perfectionism to 

fostering a spirit of community at the office. In addition to cricket, 

the more than 100 employees thoroughly enjoy events such as 

birthday parties, awards ceremonies, movie nights as well as 

tennis, cricket and chess tournaments. Buffets, picnics and 

other family outings are also very popular. the employee Club is 

active in making sure that fun is had by all. staff members 

even celebrate festivals and spend public holidays together. 

Bangalore is proud to be a software AG “Center of excellence.” 

even the office atmosphere has earned this label of recognition. 

this team contributes significantly to the general infrastructure 

of the webMethods products (security, system 

Management Hub and web service stack). Furthermore, it is 

responsible for the web-based user interface for Centrasite 

(Centrasite Control). the CRedIt team, which fully lives up to its 

name’s acronym, collaborates on a central testing, building and 

installation infrastructure. In addition, the ets team will be 

expanded this year by several new members to intensify 

efforts on the development of Adabas Manager, natural for 

AJAx and R&d tools. “Innovative and one of a kind” is the 

motto here for all services. with a wide variety of technologies 

and attractive employment conditions, software AG is among 

Bulgaria’s best employers. In 2008 this location won another 

award when our head of human resources was voted 

Bulgaria’s HR Manager of the year.

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21

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Employees enjoy the lunch bar

. 

software AG supports employees to grow with the company 

through continuous positive self-development. we know 

that dedicated, motivated employees are decisive to 

sustainable business success. Attractive performance and 

results-based salaries, a flexible working model and 

ongoing personal/professional staff development create a 

constructive environment in which employees feel happy 

and which decidedly contributes to their identification with 

the company. thirteen years is the average length of service 

at It companies in Germany, which is very high. this is proof 

of the fact that we are able to keep our employees and 

their expertise on a long-term basis. 

Employees & 

Corporate Culture 

“Reason is like a map: it only makes sense 

when it is used.” ernst R. Hauschka 

Aside from personal development of our staff, continuing 

education, training and knowledge management are other 

focal points of our sustainable and responsible human 

resources approach. our Corporate university, software AG’s 

own continuing education institute, manifests the idea of 

lifelong learning. the values of our company are the 

foundation of our business success. our Corporate Culture 

department has defined them and works continuously to 

develop and promote them. 

Talent management rather than staff administration: the pillars of our human resources approach 

Continuous personal development resulting in increased market value of employees: 

the Corporate University was established for this purpose 

ongoing innovation in all areas of the company, including our customer-centric 

innovation culture 

Highly motivating environment thanks to interesting, varied projects: winning spirit 

and independence 

Partnerships and joint projects with external companies and institutions such as 

colleges, universities, competitors and suppliers 

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eMPloyees & CoRPoRAte CultuRe 

Sustainable staff development and acquisition 

out of a changing working world and a quickly transforming 

society grows the necessity to cultivate an attractive work 

environment for motivated and well trained employees. over 

the last four years the number of jobs at software AG has 

grown by almost 50% from 2,500 to 3,500. this considerable 

growth in particular confirms the social responsibility that we as 

an employer bear. on one hand, we must acquire new and 

qualified employees, and on the other we must be a good 

employer to those who already work for us. to fulfill this 

responsibility, we have designed a wide spectrum of programs 

and concepts that help our staff work toward the achievement 

of our company’s goals. 

Responsibility as an employer: 

Staff development programs 

Global standard for staff development 

new hire training: comprehensive introduction to all 

departments 

Individual development plans and career paths 

wide variety of training and certification options 

specific development program for managers 

“High potential” program for young managers 

Manager development based on uniform leadership principles 

Corporate University 

one focus of our human resources activities is the continuing 

education and qualification of our employees. our Corporate 

university, started in 2006, conveys the message that lifelong 

learning and training are of strategic importance to software AG. 

the Corporate university’s qualification program is geared 

toward all employees around the world. the primary task of the 

Corporate university is to further educate all target groups 

while reflecting software AG’s vision, values and strategy in its 

coursework. we offer training in social skills and special 

programs for global management development. the fields of 

technology, sales and marketing also continue to play a crucial 

role. Furthermore, our Corporate university is responsible for 

developing materials for customer training and certification. 

It thus plays an essential role in strengthening our relationship 

with customers. 

Living responsibly: lifelong learning 

2,000 participants in instructor-based courses (2008) 

182 instructor-based courses (2008) 

355 different e-learning courses offered (2008) 

88% positive rating by course participants (2008) 

software AG allocates €4+ million each year for 

further education

Diversity 

software AG is international. this is not just illustrated by our 

presence in 70 countries around the world, but by our staff as 

well. At Corporate Headquarters, for instance, we have employees 

from 19 countries (2007: 18) working under one roof. It is a 

traditionally male-dominated industry. to achieve a more 

balanced gender ratio, software AG strives to attract female 

applicants from the fields of mathematics, It, science and 

technology. For the last eight years, software AG Headquarters 

in darmstadt has participated in Germany’s national Girls’ day. 

on this day, we give school-aged girls the chance to visit our 

company and learn hands-on about the assets of different jobs 

in the It field. 

Software AG is feminine 

nearly 20% of It-related or technical staff at software AG 

are female 

30% of the total workforce in Germany in 2007 were female 

30% of the total workforce in Germany in 2008 were female 

Ensuring sustainable performance and motivation: 

work/life balance 

to keep qualified employees on a long-term basis, we not 

only offer a variety of training and further education, but place 

great importance on enabling a good work/life balance and 

a family-friendly work situation. our flexible work hours and 

home-office option underpin this priority. we conduct regular 

employee surveys throughout the entire corporation in order 

to keep close tabs on our performance as an employer. the 

surveys are one more way to include employees. they also 

provide a basis for improvements in leading the company and 

in turn for increased motivation, loyalty and productivity among 

employees. employee representatives on the supervisory and 

executive Boards support us by constructively managing and 

guiding the change process. 

25

26 

eMPloyees & CoRPoRAte CultuRe 

Family-friendly company: harmonizing career and family 

work and family place high demands on employees in today’s 

world. we aim to support both in a successful way. our 

employees know how difficult it is to balance both a family and 

a career. Particularly in critical periods of life you don’t always 

have time and the right contacts to find an ideal and trustworthy 

solution. software AG offers family services as a further step 

toward being a family-friendly employer and supporting its staff. 

services include personal advice and assistance in choosing the 

right type of child care and home/elder care, advice on all 

personal situations, on finances and budgeting as well as 

professional coaching. trained consultants deal with clients on 

an individual basis to identify specific needs and how to meet 

them. they work with you to select the best support possible. 

Employees can take advantage of advice and placement 

services in the following areas: 

Child and emergency care 

(for children older than 8 weeks) 

Home/elder care 

Advice on all life situations 

Financial and budget planning 

Coaching and professional consulting 

Software AG is a first-rate employer 

the trendence Institute surveyed about 22,000 college 

students and graduates as part of a study called “the 

Graduate Barometer.“ the result: software AG is one of the 

100 most attractive employers in Germany. this annual survey 

examines the opinions of college seniors about entering the 

job market as well as their goals, hopes and expectations 

for employers. 

“Just a few years ago, I wondered how 

anyone could stand doing the same 

thing from Monday to Friday, morning 

until night. But now I can laugh at 

myself and am proud to say that I enjoy 

contributing everyday to a company as 

great as Software AG. To me, being a 

part of Software AG means working on 

exciting projects – both large and small – 

where I deal with new challenges and fascinating people in 

international teams and use my ideas and solutions every day. 

I learn about companies from all different sectors – like 

financial, services and media – in places all over the world. It 

feels good to be able to make an impact and to have such 

excellent prospects for my future – and all that from Monday to 

Friday. We are Software AG!” 

– Zvonimir Ivanetic, Professional Services, Germany

Corporate culture 

As a company, we consider our employees and their decisive 

role in meeting our goals to be of utmost importance. the way 

in which our staff members relate to each other and to our 

customers is characterized by our core values: innovation, trust, 

responsibility, open communication and a winning spirit. 

Building and living by our corporate culture 

Regular worldwide staff surveys on topics such as corporate culture 

employee suggestions as an impetus for corporate culture initiatives 

definition of mission, vision and values 

The values we strive toward: 

Global workshops on communication of values and global off-site activities 

Innovation: we strive to build a creative atmosphere 

which fosters the innovations and ideas that make the decisive 

difference to our employees, customers, business partners and 

shareholders. 

Trust: we believe in the effectiveness of trust and are 

always ready to offer support as a team. we respect 

software AG customers, business partners and employees. 

Responsibility: we accept responsibility for our actions 

and meet others’ expectations of us. As good citizens we have 

a mandate for the future, both at software AG and elsewhere. 

Communication: open communication is a 

prerequisite for a cooperative work atmosphere and thus for 

the success of the company. 

Winning spirit: success is our passion. In all our 

business relationships – with customers, partners and each 

other – we strive to achieve win-win situations. 

Corporate culture was a successful component of the merger between software AG and webMethods, Inc., 

e.g. German/American cultural workshops, “meet and greets,” joint cooking classes 

Trust as a part of everyday life: payment in the cafeteria at Corporate Headquarters in darmstadt is based 

on the honor system, so there are no cashiers. 

27

28 

Honor system in the cafeteria lunch line

. 

Business 

& Ethics 

“Freedom is not constituted primarily of privileges, 

but of responsibilities.” albert Camus 

Responsible action is the foundation of how we do business. 

It defines not only our business conduct toward those outside 

the company, but our internal work processes as well. 

Software AG employs guidelines in all departments which 

facilitate good and responsible corporate management. We 

have been in compliance with the recommendations of the 

German Corporate Governance Code since 2003. Our internal 

guidelines for business policies and practices control processes 

at global and local levels. Furthermore, our new Code of 

Conduct will ensure that all employees act responsibly. At 

Software AG data protection and IT security are high priorities. 

Software AG is a member of the Association for Data 

Protection and Data Storage (Gesellschaft für Datenschutz 

und Datensicherung e.V.) and of the Deutschland sicher im 

Netz club, which promotes Internet security in Germany. 

29

30 

BusIness & etHICs 

Code of Conduct 

Software AG is currently drafting a Code of Conduct, which is 

intended to assist all individuals in making the right decisions 

in their roles as Software AG employees. We are all responsible 

for establishing and maintaining our relationships with each 

other and with our business partners based on integrity. At 

Software AG each of us is responsible for our actions. Each of us 

makes our individual contribution to Software AG being an 

ethically sound company. This code can only function if each of 

us acts according to it. 

We all play an essential role in applying the standards of this 

code to our daily work. The Code of Conduct will be founded 

upon basic legal and ethical principles and will provide 

guidelines for Software AG’s business activities. Software AG’s 

expectations for responsible action apply to anyone working on 

behalf of Software AG anywhere in the world. 

We achieve this through: 

Corporate Governance 

taking responsibility for our personal actions, honesty and accountability 

Seeking advice when we have questions about the Code of Conduct or when 

we find ourselves in an ethically questionable situation 

ensuring that others comply with the code, software AG guidelines as well as 

laws and regulations 

never acting in opposition to our values – not even if we are advised to do so by 

others; being instructed by someone else does not excuse unethical behavior 

never asking others to act unethically or in conflict with the software AG 

Code of Conduct or the law 

software AG complies with the German Corporate Governance 

Code and feels explicitly committed to managing the company 

in a responsible, qualified and transparent manner and based 

on long-term success. this includes complying with the law, but 

also applying generally accepted standards and recommendations. 

our focus is on values such as sustainability, transparency 

and long-term value. 

A central aspect of responsible corporate management is open, 

transparent, comprehensive and timely communication. our 

disclosure Policy ensures global consistency with important 

corporate information. It provides guidelines for the publication 

of financial results and critical events as well as internal 

processes whose purpose is to assess the relevance of information. 

software AG communicates with shareholders, analysts 

and journalists according to uniform criteria. Information is 

transparent to the public.

Data security and data protection in the company 

As a company that develops software, software AG considers 

electronic information to be an extremely valuable asset. 

It security is therefore an essential component of our business 

strategy. Appropriate measures such as meeting legal requirements 

must be taken to prevent unlawful access to software AG’s 

resources. the purpose of It security is to protect the accessibility, 

confidentiality and integrity of all It-related data. 

our corporate security officer ensures that global security 

requirements and software AG security standards are met. 

these requirements and standards apply to all employees 

and anyone with access to the software AG intranet or 

connected systems. 

Survey findings from the year 2008: Too few courses on IT security 

at German universities. 

German college students are not satisfied with their school’s course offerings 

on It security. 

More than 60% of computer science (or related) majors would like more and/or 

other course offerings. 

One in four students criticizes the fact that his/her school does not offer any 

courses on It security. 

80% think that It security is not dealt with adequately in politics and that the 

necessary conditions are not being provided for dealing with It security issues. 

Data security and data protection in Germany 

In partnership with the darmstadt university of Applied 

sciences we conduct regular surveys among more than 

350 It students on the topic of data security and data protection. 

under the university’s expert leadership, we examine how 

aware these students are of the problem and how much they 

are covering the topic in their coursework. the findings provide 

insights which will improve the knowledge of security issues 

among future It specialists in Germany. 

In cooperation with Deutschland sicher im Netz, an association 

which promotes Internet security in Germany, we are committed 

to helping colleges and universities prioritize this topic. 

devoting nine minutes – or 10% – of every computer science 

class to the subject of security must become standard. 

31

32 

The 3 rd German National IT Summit in Darmstadt

. 

Growth 

& Prosperity 

“The path to your goal begins on the day you accept full 

responsibility for your actions.” dante alighieri 

Software is a key technology of the 21 st century. 

Software is the driving force behind productivity and 

process innovation. Both make organizations and public 

institutions successful and thus play a decisive role in the 

competitiveness of national economies. Competitive 

economies can usually offer their citizens more prosperity. 

They have resources for education, infrastructures and 

sustainable business. 

The prerequisites for the creation and application of 

software are education, research and development, 

partnerships and clusters. They are what enable the type 

of creative innovation that will move digital society – or 

“Webciety” – forward throughout the world. Because 

of their economic importance, Europe and the USA play 

a unique role here. 

A global company with German roots, Software AG has 

been in this highly innovative field worldwide for 40 years. 

Our Corporate Headquarters and our main R&D center are 

both located in Darmstadt, Germany. Here we are in the 

process of forming an IT cluster with the local colleges and 

universities, research institutes and companies. “A big tree 

needs strong roots.” Rooting ourselves to a creative 

network of partners from Darmstadt, known as the “city of 

science,” and the knowledge-rich Rhein-Main-Neckar region 

gives us access to research findings, software specialists and 

other colleagues from our field. Furthermore, we foster 

education and research worldwide. At the heart of these 

activities is our University Relations program, which was 

established in 2007. Through this program we maintain 

close collaboration with colleges and universities in 

Germany and around the world. 

33

34 

GRowtH & PRosPeRIty 

Europe’s prospects as a high-tech hub 

through close collaboration, software companies can strengthen 

the european software industry’s future and competitive 

position. software AG endorses a wide array of initiatives to this 

end. of particular note was our work at the German Chancellor’s 

It summit. this annual summit strives to unite representatives 

from information and communication technology, politics, 

industry and research in Germany with the objective of 

strengthening Germany and europe as a high-tech region. the 

3 rd annual summit took place in darmstadt, software AG’s 

home town. the summit generated some key initiatives for 

bolstering the software sector. 

Software AG’s Executive Board is politically active 

in promoting Europe as a high-tech hub: 

Member of presiding committee of the industry association, 

BITKOM, to establish optimal standards for the ICt sector in 

Germany and europe 

Chairing “I&C in small and Medium-sized enterprises” working 

group from German chancellor’s IT summit 

Member of CeBIt steering committee to strengthen CeBIT 

as a billboard for the It industry and world’s largest ICt fair 

Member of the Federation of German Industries (BdI) Asia 

committee 

Member of the joint board of the non-profit d21 e.V. initiative 

Innovation through partnership 

Germany’s major enterprise software providers have decided to 

join forces with partners from science and industry to conduct a 

collaborative research project. their objective is to drive the use 

of the Internet of things for intelligent business processes. they 

plan to leverage all process-related information contained in 

the Internet of things to design more flexible enterprise 

processes and adapt them dynamically. 

the initiative underscores the fact that we continue to invest in 

cutting-edge research even in times of economic recession. 

Furthermore, we are embracing the tasks defined in the 

declaration of the 3 rd It summit and helping to secure the 

long-term technological lead and competitive position of the 

region. Initiators of the Adiwa research project (alliance for 

the digital flow of goods) include sAP AG (coordinator), the 

German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (dFKI), the 

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Ids scheer AG, software AG, the 

technical university of darmstadt, and the Institute for Applied 

Computer science at the technical university of dresden. 

the project is backed by the German Ministry of education and 

Research (BMBF). 

the Alliance began its work after project partners signed a 

cooperation agreement and the parliamentary state secretary 

of the Germany Ministry of education and Research (BMBF), 

Andreas storm, handed over the grant approval on the BMBF’s 

day of Research in darmstadt. 

Alliance for the Digital Flow of Goods (ADiWa) 

Backed by German Ministry of education and Research with 

€17.7 million 

€60 million in total from companies 

Charter members: sAP, software AG, Ids scheer, dFKI, 

Fraunhofer Iese

Rhein-Main-Neckar Region: The next Silicon Valley of Europe 

In cooperation with regional entities such as the Chamber of Commerce, 

the City of darmstadt, two local universities as well as German 

Minister of Justice and member of the lower house of Parliament, 

Brigitte zypries, software AG organized the region’s first It forum in 

the new darmstadtium conference center in May 2008. the group’s 

medium- to long-term objective is to transform the region in and 

around darmstadt into europe’s top It hub worldwide. organizers of 

the forum expressed this objective in a joint memorandum. the event 

This memorandum was the result of the Darmstadt/Rhein- 

Main-Neckar IT Forum on May 16, 2008 in Darmstadt, the 

City of Science: 

the darmstadt/Rhein-Main-neckar region is one of the top 

centers of It in Germany. the primary objective of the signers of 

this joint memorandum is to expand this position. the signers 

recognize great potential and competence in the region’s It 

companies and scientific organizations with respect to national 

and international competitors. the signers accept it as their task 

to collaborate in raising awareness about this potential and 

better utilizing the region’s strengths in the future. Accordingly, 

they will act as partners in achieving these goals and support 

each other as necessary. 

1. Activity clustering 

the signers of this memorandum will promote networking and 

connection among the organizations and will better utilize 

existing structures. to do so, they will refer to It4work, an 

initiative of the It sector network of the darmstadt /Rhein- 

Main-neckar engineering region. the network is open to 

anyone who wishes to jointly support the defined objectives. 

2. Linking the IT sector with other key sectors in the region 

Collaboration is particularly important to the development 

of the region. the signers of this memorandum will strive to 

endorse and invigorate collaborative work. Collaboration with 

other industries, particularly automation, microsystems 

was well received, which is obvious by the number of attendees. 

More than 300 companies participated. www.it-forum-2008.de 

Darmstadt/Rhein-Main-Neckar Business Cluster 

4,500+ It companies in the region 

employing 25,000 people 

450 It start-ups per year 

technology, chemicals and auto manufacturing, must be 

further intensified. the same applies to collaboration between 

science and industry. It is essential to compete jointly for 

resources, projects and funding. 

3. Joint competition strategy 

All signers will cooperate to improve the competitive situation. 

Public funding should be allocated for large and small enterprises 

in the region. topics of influential significance for the 

It sector must be identified to enable science and industry to 

quickly initiate joint projects. we must become faster and 

better than other regions. 

4. International marketing 

Marketing of the region must be conducted not just at a 

national level. Partnerships will be formed for international 

marketing of organizations and the region. this will increase 

global visibility of the darmstadt/Rhein-Main-neckar region. 

5. Further develop collaboration – ensure sustainability 

existing collaboration structures will be further developed on a 

joint basis in order to ensure the sustainability of our work, to 

achieve our objectives and to improve communication in the 

region. All aforementioned activities require transparency, trust 

and consistent communication. the signers want to promote 

and improve these aspects to improve perception of the region 

as a top european hub. 

35

36 

GRowtH & PRosPeRIty 

University Relations program 

According to the BItKoM industry association, there is a 

shortage of It specialists in Germany. In 2008 the number of 

vacant positions peaked at 43,000. Furthermore, colleges and 

universities are not producing enough interdisciplinary graduates. 

what is software AG doing to solve this problem? we stay 

in close contact with science and academia. As a strategic 

partner of the darmstadt university of Applied sciences, we are 

actively shaping the education of future computer scientists. 

new challenges have been awaiting students for several years 

now. service-oriented structures, for 

instance, have become a growth 

market worldwide. Roland Berger 

estimates that this market will grow to 

a volume of €40 billion by the year 

2010. Computerzeitung, a well-known 

German It publication, counted just 

1,000 soA experts in Germany in 

2007. A serious demand for specialists 

is to be expected for the medium and 

long term. the solutions are clear. 

Courses and projects must reflect 

current trends in companies! the 

Training barometer 

for the University 

Relations program 

Goal: 

Train 3,000 SOA 

specialists by 2010 

Status March 2009: 

1,040 SOA specialists 

trained 

private sector must proactively engage 

academia and present it with the 

market’s latest requirements, e.g. 

through joint projects and thesis 

advising. science has to be early 

adopters of new subjects for their 

specialist training programs. 

software AG’s university Relations 

program has been working toward 

these goals since mid-2007. the 

program’s main components are: 

1. Free software AG product licenses for teaching and research 

2. Market-oriented soA projects with universities 

3. Guest lectures 

4. thesis advising 

5. dialog with universities and colleges 

6. Company visits 

7. Panel discussions and colloquia 

our goal is to train 3,000 more university students in Germany 

in specialized soA and BPM skills by 2010. software AG is 

providing software with a market value of about €50 million 

free of charge as well as project coordinators. 

Results as of December 2008: 

software AG in contact with more than 180 academic 

departments 

80 colleges and universities in 13 German states 

participating in program 

1000+ students received supplemental training in 

soA and BPM 

Software AG – active participant of the Year of Mathematics 

Mathematics is a life skill and 

the basis for technological 

advances and economic 

growth. For this reason, we 

are endorsing the year of 

Mathematics, sponsored by the German Ministry of education 

and Research, the wid initiative, deutsche telekom Foundation 

and the German Association of Mathematicians (dMV).

50 math sets and prizes in schools in darmstadt and Berlin. 

Math sets contain comprehensive teaching materials 

for exciting math classes. 

what does math have to do with toothpaste or a bouncing ball? 

what’s the connection between math and magic? the math 

sets answer these questions and many more. 

students in grades 5 through 10 can research 

math problems. 

the purpose is to inspire children by letting them discover the 

importance of math in daily life. 

Schools: Partners of the Future 

under the auspices of German Foreign Minister Frank-walter 

steinmeier and the coordination of the Ministry of Foreign 

Affairs, a program known as “schools: Partners of the Future” 

was launched in 2008 by the Goethe-Institut, the Central office 

for schools Abroad (zfA), the German Academic exchange 

service (dAAd) and the Pedagogical exchange service (PAd). 

the program is intended to strengthen German schools 

abroad and schools that offer the German language diploma. 

By adding to educational curricula, the initiative will improve 

long-term qualifications of both school students and teachers 

alike. It provides young people with stronger skills for college 

and, later, a career. 

software AG supported the program with a project in Sao 

Paulo, Brazil. 

the German school there (Colégio Humboldt) received €20,000 

to modernize its IT/computer facilities. 

teachers and students are able to create interesting and 

visually stimulating classes with state-of-the-art methods. 

Future for Palestine 

with the “Future for Palestine“ initiative, German Foreign 

Minister steinmeier and Palestinian Prime Minister Fayyad, 

want to pour life into Palestinian territories. they intend to 

provide immediate support to Palestinians through projects 

which can be implemented quickly, are highly visible and of 

manageable magnitude. Future for Palestine is endorsed by a 

number of well-known Germany companies, associations and 

foundations. 

each of the first six projects has a value of 

approximately €100,000. 

the Gtz (Gesellschaft für technische zusammenarbeit) is in 

charge of implementation. 

German industry, associations and private sponsors 

have committed to support further projects. 

through its university Relations program, software AG is supporting 

the project by providing Palestinian universities with 

cutting-edge software and materials 

for research and teaching free of charge. 

37

38 

Software AG trainees during their lunch break

. 

software AG is a responsible member of society and 

considers this the foundation of its success as a software 

company. As a socially responsible company, we are committed 

to education and innovation. we are also active in specific 

projects in and around darmstadt. we endorse projects in 

Good Corporate 

Citizenship 

“Facts do not cease to exist 

because they are ignored.” aldous Huxley 

our region, in Germany and worldwide; for example, the 

european youth Meeting in 2007 and Habitat for Humanity 

in south Africa. Additional social projects are promoted 

through the “Move your Feet” initiative and “From 0 to 42 

in Frankfurt 2009 – from the couch to the running trail.” 

39

40 

Good CoRPoRAte CItIzensHIP 

SV Darmstadt 98 – Dedicated to our region 

the sV darmstadt 98 athletic club is over 100 years old 

(founded in 1898) and is an established tradition in the south 

of Hesse. In autumn of 2007, sV darmstadt 98 found itself in a 

state of financial ruin. software AG felt a sense of responsibility 

to its region and thus enlisted to be the main sponsor of 

sV darmstadt 98 as of the 2008/2009 season. this deed 

contributed to saving the club from bankruptcy. our aid is not 

only intended to help the club’s professional soccer team. First 

and foremost, we want to give the entire club the financing it 

needs for its other athletic departments and youth teams in 

various sports. software AG’s athletic sponsorship underscores 

our commitment to the darmstadt region and promotes an 

important societal tradition in the region. 

Our company and employees also benefit from our 

dedication to SV Darmstadt 98: 

Image boost in the region 

employees can win tickets to matches 

lilien youth soccer training for 

employees’ children 

Practice drills for employees’ children at company events 

Support of tri-athlete Frank Vytrisal – Dedicated to 

our region 

we believe that athletic sponsorship plays an increasingly 

important role in city development. Because of our close ties to 

our region, we also promote a local tri-athlete from darmstadt, 

Frank Vytrisal. thanks to our support, he has been able to take 

a hiatus from his teaching job to focus solely on sports. endurance 

and world-class performance are traits that software AG 

shares with this exceptional athlete. 

Frank Vytrisal’s success 

2006 – 3 rd place, Ironman european Championship, 

Frankfurt 

2007 – Best German at the Ironman world Championship in 

Hawaii, 14 th place 

2007 – 3 rd place, Ironman european Championship, Frankfurt 

2008 – 3 rd place, swiss Ironman Competition, zurich

Move your feet 

thanks to the participation of software AG employees worldwide, 

software AG’s “Move your Feet” campaign has been very 

successful from both an athletic and a charitable perspective. 

More than 8,000 kilometers have been run by software AG staff 

members at official races around the world for a charitable 

purpose in recent years. For every kilometer run, two euros are 

donated by software AG and two euros by software AG 

Foundation to a social project. during the 2007/2008 season, 

more than €22,000 were “run” for a project benefiting young 

people in sao Paulo. this is an impressive result which illustrates 

that software AG’s staff is not only athletic, but socially 

responsible as well. 

Running project: “From 0 to 42 in Frankfurt – from the 

couch to the running trail“ 

with the goal of getting more co-workers in shape and becoming 

active for a worthwhile purpose, a long-term project was 

launched. It is known as “From 0 to 42 in Frankfurt 2009 – from 

the couch to the running trail.” those who choose to participate 

can take the leap from the living room la-z-Boy to the legendary 

Frankfurt Marathon in just 12 months. 

Eco-computing: First step toward green IT in cooperation 

with the Hasso-Plattner-Institut 

darmstadt-based software AG and Potsdam-based Hasso- 

Plattner-Institut für softwaresystemtechnik (HPI) have reached 

a milestone after a one-year research project in the field of 

green It. they collaboratively developed methods and tools for 

optimizing interaction between disparate It systems to 

ultimately reduce the use of electricity and cost of hardware. 

one of the biggest challenges large organizations face today is 

the high consumption of energy of their computing centers and 

the ensuing economic and ecological problems. to solve this, 

the department of operating systems and middleware at the 

Hasso-Plattner-Institut für softwaresystemtechnik and software AG 

carried out a project known as “soA eco-Runtime Governance.” 

the result was successful. Based on software AG’s Centrasite 

soA governance system, which manages It systems, innovative 

processes were developed. the solution enables administrators 

of large It landscapes to define the exact quantity of computing 

power – and thus how much energy – a specific service within a 

service-oriented architecture is allowed to use. In this way, 

organizations can precisely regulate and monitor the cost of 

energy consumed by computing. By way of policies, Centrasite 

allows administrators to centrally define the maximum 

percentage of total capacity that can be reserved for a certain 

service and adjust it according to runtime. 

Complimentary project package for employees 

and family members 

Group marathon training with instructor 

Training plans 

workshops on running techniques led by world-renown 

tri-athlete Frank Vytrisal 

Nutrition consultation and exercises 

41

42 

Foundation headquarters in Darmstadt-Eberstadt

Software AG 

Foundation 

software AG Foundation is the majority shareholder 

of software AG. the non-profit organization shares the 

company’s name because the endowment used to start 

the Foundation consisted of software AG stock. today, 

software AG Foundation holds approximately 30 percent of 

software AG stock, and the organizations are two separate 

legal entities. software AG Foundation’s assets amount to 

approximately € 800 million, about half of which is made 

up of software AG shares; the other half comes from a wide 

range of other investments. this makes software AG 

Foundation one of Germany’s 10 richest foundations. In 

2007 it awarded total funding in the amount of €30 million. 

Peter schnell’s motivation for rolling over nearly all his 

software AG shares into software AG Foundation in 1992 

arose from his conviction that he wanted to make a 

permanent, beneficial contribution to the world that would 

live on after his own time on earth ended. since his 

retirement from software AG’s board in 1996, Peter schnell 

has been directing software AG Foundation and its activities. 

today the Foundation has about 30 salaried employees. 

with its slogan “helping people help each other,” 

software AG Foundation supports private initiatives in the 

following fields: 

Assistance to the disabled 

education, training and youth welfare 

Assistance to the elderly 

environmental protection 

Academic support in the fields of organic farming, 

complementary medicine, and teaching 

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44 

soFtwARe AG FoundAtIon 

By supporting these fields, Software AG Foundation aims to 

give life to meaningful ideas and promote projects from which 

a healing impetus emanates and that can serve as an example 

for other projects. 

Software AG Foundation 

€800 million in assets (2007) 

€30 million in funding (2007) 

700 grant requests (2007) 

375 grant awards (2007) 

The type of aid offered by Software AG Foundation varies 

largely from project to project. Financial support, for example, 

may entail the Foundation doubling all monies generated by a 

project’s coordinators. The Foundation also offers support in the 

form of consulting services. If, for instance, it becomes clear 

during the evaluation stage that project leaders need assistance 

in drafting a business plan, the Foundation can help. Types of 

aid vary as much as the projects themselves. There is, however, 

one common denominator: Support should be measured and 

targeted. Measured aid is important, because when financing is 

too great, you run the risk of losing sight of the social impetus 

of the project. The Foundation aims to support those who 

initiate projects for the purpose of benefiting people. This 

benefit must be clearly expressed in the funding proposal. 

Because interacting with those who are committed to a project 

is such an important aspect, most of the supported organizations 

are modest in size and not large, anonymous recipients. 

Interview with Walter Hiller, spokesman for 

Software AG Foundation 

Mr. Hiller, people like to pigeonhole Software AG Foundation as 

exclusively supporting projects related to anthroposophy 

(philosophy used by Steiner/Waldorf schools). Does this 

assessment do justice to the Foundation’s goals? 

No, because Software AG Foundation has quite consciously 

given itself a multifaceted constitution. It supports free, 

non-governmental initiatives and deals directly with people 

who are working for a cause. The Foundation provides support 

for people who are taking responsibility for a cause in, but not 

limited to, the world of anthroposophical philosophy. 

The hexagonal desks continue to remind Software AG 

employees, at least in the Darmstadt Headquarters, of the 

spiritual roots of company founder Peter Schnell. 

What was Peter’s aim in creating Software AG Foundation? 

When Peter created Software AG Foundation, he had no 

intention of putting himself at the helm of a major organization. 

Rather, he was interested in bringing certain fields and the 

people working in them out of their niche existence. The 

endowed chairs in the fields of biodynamic agriculture and 

alternative medicine supported by Software AG Foundation are 

good examples of this. The point of this is to turn previously 

neglected areas of scientific study into academic disciplines, to 

give people the qualifications to be able to engage in academic 

dialog, in academia in general, and in societal debate. With its 

efforts, the Foundation aims to give fringe fields and niche 

topics a chance to be a part of societal debate, moving them 

from the perimeter to the center of society. 

In the Maecenata survey of Germany’s largest foundations, 

Software AG Foundation was once described as “systematically 

stubborn.” I think this is a rather good description of the 

Foundation’s character. 

As the inventor of the world’s fastest database, Peter Schnell is 

undoubtedly a technology-oriented person. In his work for

Software AG Foundation, people are quite clearly the focus. Is 

that a contradiction? 

Peter Schnell’s goal in his work for the Foundation is to 

counteract problematic social trends. He would like to set a 

standard against things that have gotten out of hand in today’s 

world – against the increasing depersonalization of society and 

against the blind glorification of technology and the resulting 

lopsidedness. His aim is to oppose these developments with a 

healing impetus. He is motivated by his belief that people 

change the world, and his desire to support those people who 

are making a difference. 

Our Darmstadt colleagues can experience the work of 

Software AG Foundation at their own doorstep, at the Hofgut 

Oberfeld, for example. Does Software AG Foundation also 

support projects abroad? 

Software AG Foundation focuses its involvement on Central 

Europe. On account of familial connections – Peter Schnell’s wife 

is Brazilian – there is also a focus on projects in Brazil, particularly 

those related to education. Except for support of academic pursuits, 

which is limited to Germany, Software AG Foundation works in 

countries outside Germany in all the fields it is involved in. 

Support for the Waldorf school movement is probably our 

most international field of work. The Foundation’s goal here is 

to encourage those breaking new ground. In France, the 

Waldorf school movement was constantly accused of being a 

sect, so Software AG Foundation has come to the schools’ aid 

with targeted public relations efforts. 

In Brazil, Software AG Foundation helped the Waldorf school 

movement with start-up financing. The Foundation linked its 

support with the goal of enabling children from all social 

backgrounds to attend Waldorf schools, establishing these 

schools as a platform for integration. 

The formerly socialist countries of Eastern Europe are seeing 

initiatives for introducing a pluralistic school system. We are 

actively involved in building Waldorf schools and nursery 

schools in many of these countries. 

The Steiner Academy in England is the first fully state-backed 

Waldorf school. This financing was provided on the condition 

that a private investor raise 10% of the start-up capital. The 

government then promised to cover the remaining expenses. 

Software AG Foundation supported project initiators in their 

endeavor to raise the funds. 

Today companies increasingly see themselves as having social 

responsibility as well. In this regard, wouldn’t it make sense to 

conduct some Software AG/Software AG Foundation joint 

projects? 

Absolutely. There already are such projects, for example, the 

“Move Your Feet” campaign, through which Software AG and its 

employees are supporting Foundation projects in Brazil and 

Bulgaria. These are our first joint attempts, which can certainly 

be developed further. I think that together we are on the right 

path here. 

Peter Schnell, Founder and Chairman of Software AG Foundation 

45

46 

soMe exAMPles oF soFtwARe AG 

FoundAtIon’s woRK 

Darmstadt: A farm in the city 

with the support of software AG Foundation, a place for 

people with disabilities to live and work is underway on the 

site of a former farm and the last intact agricultural operation 

within the darmstadt city limits. It is expected to be ready in 

late 2009. Hofgut oberfeld is intended to be an organic farm, 

with a market, a restaurant and a café. It will also be an 

educational site. And visiting preschool and elementary school 

children are already able to move about freely and have fun 

there. the objectives of this project are to maintain the 

140-hectare Hofgut oberfeld as local recreation area, add value 

to it through ecological management and provide a “place for 

all darmstadters.” 

Darmstadt: “Wilde 13” 

In addition to municipal, church, and independent child-care 

facilities, darmstadt has a number of options that are sponsored 

by parents’ associations. “wilde 13” is one of them. 

Founded in 1993 by a group of parents, the organization 

initially offered capacity for 13 children between the ages of 

two and six in a former classroom space rented from the city. 

the organizers intended for “wilde 13” to be an important part 

of the children’s lives outside of their family. the concept 

behind this project is a living process in which children, parents 

and teachers can all play a role. “wilde 13,” with its total of 

58 spots for children between 1 and 12 years of age, is now 

among the largest private child-care facilities in darmstadt. 

And who knows: Maybe that was not the last project of this 

kind, and “wilde 13” will expand again. 

Brazil: Center for the blind and deaf in Sao Paulo 

there is massive demand for therapy and education for blind 

and deaf people in the city of sao Paulo, with its approximately 

twenty million inhabitants. the Brazilian government does not 

consider providing support for people with disabilities a priority. 

therefore, software AG Foundation supports the AdefAV 

association, which has been a committed pioneer in providing 

education and care in sao Paulo since 1983. software AG 

Foundation helped build a center to offer care for 120 deaf 

and blind individuals in cooperation with doctors, teachers, 

therapists, and social workers. 

Poland: Healthy food from a healthy environment 

In the rural Polish town of Juchowo, people are coming 

together with the support of software AG Foundation. the farm 

encompasses 800 hectares of cropland, 200 hectares of 

meadows and pastures, and 100 hectares of forest. It will use 

its farming, cattle husbandry, gardening, and fruit growing to 

become largely self-supporting, with little need to purchase 

feed, fertilizer, or other such resources. the farm is run by 

50–60 employees according to biodynamic farming principles. 

And socially speaking, this farm is exemplary: People with and 

without disabilities live and work together here. It has its own 

day-care center along with places to work and learn in the 

fields of special needs education, art, handcrafts, and smallscale 

industry.

soFtwARe AG FoundAtIon 

And soFtwARe AG JoInt PRoJeCts 

Brazil: A learning center for young people 

the applicant for this project supported by the software AG 

Foundation was a class at a school in Ronnenberg, lower 

saxony. their objective is to develop a learning center for 

65 young people in Porto, a city in underdeveloped northeastern 

Brazil. the funds needed for the entire project (property, 

building materials, language courses and travel costs for the 

German pupils, etc.) amount to about € 100,000. these German 

young people witness first-hand how their peers in Brazil live. 

And the Brazilians, in turn, experience the dedication and international 

solidarity of the Germans. 

Bulgaria: A place to stay for young people 

the German association known as “Bulgarien Initiative 

deutschland e.V.” is building a children’s home and supervised 

living space in Veliko turnovo, Bulgaria for young people who 

age out of state care and are put out on the street upon 

turning 16. A suitable and affordable building for this is, 

however, in severe need of renovation. software AG Foundation 

has already helped Bulgarien Initiative deutschland e.V. cover 

the costs once. And now additional aid is needed, which is 

being provided by software AG and software AG Foundation. 

India: Empowering underprivileged children in India 

extreme poverty in rural India continues to be a major problem. 

those who suffer most are children. they are one of the most 

neglected groups. Proper education can make a huge difference 

in their future. software AG Foundation and software AG are 

planning to endorse empowerKids, a group which fosters 

elementary school education in India. toys and books that 

encourage creativity and play are missing from these poor 

children’s lives. empowerKids seeks to provide them with a 

minimum of basic school supplies such as uniforms, shoes, 

books, notebooks, and pencils. Because schools in rural areas 

have very few teachers (often two or three teachers to educate 

the entire school of kindergartners to fifth graders), the children 

do not receive the attention that they need to grow and learn. 

these children are also at risk of being attracted to child labor 

to help earn for their families. For these reasons, empowerKids 

plans to help build an infrastructure and provide the resources 

and the environment that will allow children to learn and 

develop without being impeded by economic hardships. 

state-run schools will be supplemented, allowing children 

at risk to continue their education. the following support 

measures are planned: 

Purchase and distribution of school supplies 

Construction of school libraries 

establishment of after-school programs that create a safe and 

supportive environment for learning 

organization of community centers using school premises for 

children, parents, and community members to become involved 

in supporting local schools and educational programs 

47

48 

HeAdlIne 

Software aG worldwide 

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www.softwareag.com 

About Software AG 

Software AG‘s 4,000 global customers use our software to 

improve business processes and drive an agile IT infrastructure. 

Our customers‘ goals are to reduce costs and increase 

flexibility and efficiency. We help them do this by optimizing 

and governing their operations and aligning IT with the 

business goals. 

Our leading Business Infrastructure Software portfolio is 

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It fosters new levels of IT agility through SOA and allows 

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Our 40-year history of success ensures our customers have 

a reliable platform for driving future business results – faster. 

Software AG – Get There Faster 

Publisher: Software AG Corporate Communications, Norber Eder, Carsten Kestermann 

© 2009 Software AG. All rights reserved. Software AG and all Software AG products are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Software AG. 

Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. 

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CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY - Software AG

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