125 years Carl Zeiss Foundation: Journey with Light - Part 2/2

After World War II, work started on the building of an optics factory in Oberkochen and a glass works in Mainz. Heidenheim was chosen to be the headquarters of the Foundation. Although East-West collaborations were rendered impossible by the cold war, each of the companies in both states became technology leaders in the optics and specialized glass industries. A dispute over rights to the brand name and trademark erupted during the 1950s which was to last for decades. A settlement was finally reached in the course of the 1970s and '80s. Following German reunification, the companies in the former East and West agreed to reunite the Carl Zeiss Foundations. In 2004, the Foundation passed a constitutional reform in which the structure of the Foundation and both companies was aligned to the context of the global economy. However, Ernst Abbe's spirit and principles were preserved. Since 2006, the Foundation has been sponsoring doctoral and postdoctoral students and junior professors at universities in the regions where its member companies are based. Its sponsorship also encompasses foundation professorships. For more information on the Carl Zeiss Foundation, please go to: http://www.carl-zeiss-stiftung-125jah...