Investing in the Next Generation of Engineers: The ABB Jürgen Dormann Foundation

For many talented students around the world, a lack of financial means is the only thing standing between them and a career in engineering. The ABB Jürgen Dormann Foundation for Engineering Education exists to close that gap.

Honouring a Legacy

The foundation carries the name of Jürgen Dormann, who served as ABB's Chairman from 2001 to 2007 and also held the role of CEO between September 2002 and December 2004. Dormann passed away in 2025, and the foundation stands as a lasting tribute to his contribution to the company.

Scholarships That Open Doors

The foundation awards scholarships to engineering students who demonstrate strong academic achievement but need financial support to complete their studies. Support can run for up to five years, covering the full length of a degree.

Partnerships are already in place with universities across a wide range of countries, including Bulgaria, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Malaysia, Poland, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey and Vietnam — with further partnerships planned. Each scholarship goes to a national of the country where the partner university is based, and selection combines the university's own application process with a final decision made in cooperation with ABB.

More Than Funding

The foundation's impact goes beyond tuition. Scholars are given the chance to connect directly with ABB's business — visiting local offices and factories, meeting senior leadership, and building networks with peers and employees. In South Africa, for example, two students are selected each academic year and given the opportunity to visit ABB's campus in Longmeadow. In Indonesia, scholars from the Bandung Institute of Technology have toured an ABB office and factory to see the industry firsthand. And in Bulgaria, scholarship recipients have shared how the programme has shaped both their studies and their career direction.

Recipients and alumni also stay connected through private social media communities, keeping the relationship with the foundation — and with each other — alive well beyond graduation.

A Reflection of ABB's Broader Purpose

The Jürgen Dormann Foundation is one part of ABB's wider sustainability agenda, which centres on promoting social progress alongside environmental and governance commitments. By investing directly in engineering talent, ABB is helping build the workforce the industry will need for years to come — while giving students who might otherwise be held back by circumstance the chance to pursue an engineering career.