Development of the activities of the Max Schmidheiny Foundation with the focus on "entrepreneurship and Risk" - Foundation of a Max Schmidheiny Professorship planned at the University of St. Gallen
St. Gall (ots)
In line with the concept: "Entrepreneurship and risk" the Max Schmidheiny Foundation is placing its commitment to a stronger relationship between business, politics and society at the centre of its activities. Accordingly, it will establish an initiative that will reinforce the dialogue between the younger generation of entrepreneurs, politicians and representatives of civil society. And in the tradition of the Max Schmidheiny Freedom Prize, it will found a Max Schmidheiny Professorship at the University of St. Gallen.
Since its inception in 1978, the Max Schmidheiny Foundation has been committed to a free economic and social order. During the last 25 years, it has honoured individuals and institutions by presenting its freedom prize for exceptional scientific, political and entrepreneurial initiatives and achievements that safeguard individual freedom and responsibility. Prize winners include economists like Jagdish Bhagwati and Hernando de Soto, entrepreneurs like Nicolas Hayek, Hans Merkle, Jorma Ollila or N.R. Narayana Murthy, and politicians like Gaston Thorn, Hanna Suchocka, Romano Prodi and Kofi Annan. The diverse fields of influence of the individuals thus honoured, and the award of prizes to institutions like the International Committee of the Red Cross, Radio Free Europe or the Economist, reflect the founder's intention to encourage a special commitment to freedom in a comprehensive, social sense.
Within a political and social environment that has undergone deep-rooted change, and with the intention of continuing its substantial contribution to social development, the Max Schmidheiny Foundation has decided to develop its activities. In its analysis of the role of the economy in a socio-political context, in the spirit of the Freedom Prize, it will in the years to come focus on the topic: "Entrepreneurship and risk". In so doing, it will both maintain and intensify its close association with the University of St. Gallen and the International Students' Committee (ISC), which has existed since its foundation.
Reflecting on the general theme of the 34th ISC-Symposium "Challenges to Growth and Prosperity", Dr. h.c. Thomas Schmidheiny, Member of the Board of Trustees, emphasised the undiminished significance of freedom as a guiding principle of a society that currently sees itself confronted by numerous challenges, and subject to a new set of paradigms that are prone to inflict change on the course of entrepreneurial value creation. He looked back on the high points in the Freedom Prize's rich history, and took a critical look at the current entrepreneurial environment.
From the conviction that a free economic and political order can only have substance if distinguished by a high level of mutual understanding and sustainable collaboration between business, politics and society, in the following months the Max Schmidheiny Foundation will establish an initiative that will strengthen a constructive and topical exchange amongst the younger generation of entrepreneurs, politicians and representatives of civil society.
In order to stimulate the academic discussion, in the tradition of the 25 years of the Freedom Prize the Max Schmidheiny Foundation is planning to found a Max Schmidheiny Professorship at the University of St. Gallen. The professorship is intended to enable more intensive research and academic discussion in areas that are of key significance for securing a free society in the future. It is also intended to be a symbol of the bond that exists between the University of St. Gallen and the Max Schmidheiny Foundation. Max Schmidheiny Foundation at the University of St. Gallen
Further information: http://www.ms-foundation.org, and http://www.isc-symposium.org
Contact:
Max Schmidheiny Foundation
at the University of St. Gallen
PO. Box 1045
CH-9001 St. Gallen
Phone +41/71/227'22'22
E-Mail: pr@ isc-symposium.org
Internet: http://www.ms-foundation.org and
Internet: http://www.isc-symposium.org