THE COMPANY MAGAZINE

IntegrationWE LIVE CHEMICALS!

⁄ WHO ENCOURAGES US? WHO SETS OUR LIMITS? WHO CONTROLS OUR LIVES? WHO HELPS US SURVIVE? WHO UNIFIED GERMANY? WHO CREATES GROWTH?

BRITISH STREET ARTIST BANKSY SPRAYED THE “HAMMER BOY” IN NEW YORK Have something to contribute? Let’s make it work! As a global leader in specialty chemicals, we are looking for talented individuals who enjoy collaborating with other specialists to bring their ideas to life. Sound like you? Then be a part of our international team. Learn more about the countless opportunities at: evonik.com/careers

Exploring opportunities. Growing together.

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EVMAG_0114_EN_0203_INTRO_Editorial.inddEVO_EB_G_EvonikMagazin_230x300_EN_RZ_260814.indd 2 1 01.09.1426.08.14 15:51 14:42 3 editorial

Have something to contribute? Let’s make it work! “Sustained As a global leader in specialty chemicals, we are looking for talented success requires individuals who enjoy collaborating with other specialists to bring their ideas to life. Sound like you? Then be a part of our international team. an unrestricted Learn more about the countless opportunities at: evonik.com/careers exchange of ideas” Dear readers,

Exploring opportunities. Growing together. No man is an island, the English poet John Donne once wrote. Interaction with other human beings is what enables people to develop further and reach their true potential. Such interaction requires courage and an open attitude toward new things. People from all over Europe have shaped the Ruhr region and made it an engine of industrial progress. They came here looking for work and ended up finding a home. In the process, they also created an unmistakable identity, one that’s open to new influences and ideas. This powerful force of immigration must be maintained because it benefits our country and will play an important role in our ability to Klaus Engel, Chairman of the Executive Board overcome the challenges ahead. of Evonik Industries AG Just a few decades ago, Europe was the scene of a horrible war between nations. Just the thought of it seems incredible—even absurd—today. Visionary Europeans then found the courage to engage in a dialogue—and the vision they shared brought the nations of Europe together. While there may still be borders between individual countries, their importance has diminished and they play virtually no role in people’s lives today. This new political order in Europe has created a permanently stable and prosperous economic region. There must be no turning back from this course. Such sustained success can only be achieved through an unrestricted exchange of goods and ideas, and through continual interaction. This isn’t always easy, and it sometimes forces us to rethink our views, talk to others, and listen to their opinions. If we do these things, however, we can all be successful together. The same principle also applies to companies such as Evonik. If you want to be successful on the world’s markets, you need to continually improve and reexamine established processes. This requires fresh new ideas for products and markets, and a continual willingness to accept and incorporate new things. “Integration” is the theme for this issue of Evonik Magazine, which has also undergone some changes and now features new ideas, new sections, and a new look. We’ve been looking at examples of successful integration and we’ve found them in the attitudes of people, in markets around the world, in the merging of the analog and digital economy, and in two formerly separate German states that existed alongside each other for several decades before they had the chance to join together again.

Sincerely yours, Photo: Evonik Photo:

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EVO_EB_G_EvonikMagazin_230x300_EN_RZ_260814.indd 1 26.08.14 14:42 EVMAG_0114_EN_0203_INTRO_Editorial.indd 3 01.09.14 15:51 4 definition In te gra tion ORIGIN Latin integrare = to make whole, to renew TYPICAL CONNECTIONS Migration, support, education,

Masthead tolerance, immigrants Publisher Evonik Industries AG Stefan Haver SYNONYMS Unity, wholeness, Rellinghauser Straße 1 – 11 45128 Essen, Germany

Publication Manager solidarity, inclusion Urs Schnabel

Consulting and Concept Manfred Bissinger ANTONYM Disintegration Editor in Chief Christof Endruweit (responsible for editorial USAGE content)

Editors Stephan Burgdorff SOCIOLOGY: The association of Michael Prellberg

Managing Editor Inga Borg a group of individuals into a social

Picture Editing and Layout and cultural unit KircherBurkhardt GmbH, Berlin Copy Desk ECONOMICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE: Sebastian Schulin

Translation TransForm GmbH, The creation of a unified market Cologne

Agency and editorial address or national territory Bissinger[+] GmbH Medien und Kommunikation An der Alster 1 LINGUISTICS: 20099 Hamburg, Germany The merging of various [email protected] Printing languages and dialects into a Neef+Stumme premium printing Wittingen shared language Copyright © 2014 by Evonik Industries AG, Essen. Reprinting only with the INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: permission of the agency. The content does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher The connection of systems

Questions about Evonik Magazine Tel.: +49 201 177-3347 Fax: +49 201 177-3013 e-mail: evonik-magazin@ evonik.com

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EVMAG_0114_EN_0405_INTRO_Inhalt.indd 4 22.09.14 13:06 5 contents

people and values 8 Portraits Do people only act in their own interests? Not in the least! What they need are goals that highlight their best features. They also need people who set such goals—people who are masters of integration Graphic: KircherBurkhardt Infographic KircherBurkhardt Graphic: | 14 Essay Integration used to be a one-way street that required people to assimilate. Now we should also make an effort, says Klaus Engel

16 Report Although they harvest and cook together, and share lawn- mowers and power drills, they all live in their own homes and retain their privacy. Will Denmark’s bofællesskaber serve

Photos: Anne Schönharting / Ostkreuz Ostkreuz / Anne Schönharting Photos: as a model for how people will live in the future?

22 Photo Gallery Making the best use of one’s opportunities is necessary for survival—and an example of applied integration

business and society “People who are starting 32 Report a family think a lot more about In the factory of the future, machines and components will orga- how they want to live. From nize, monitor, and optimize themselves. A close look at Industry 4.0 38 the very start, we wanted to be Perspectives part of a community” When the Berlin Wall came down 25 years ago, two worlds were reunited—and had to get to know each other. A West Tina Mollerup lives with her husband and son in Munksøgård, a community of 240 people, where everyone helps everyone German and an East German look back else. The Danish biologist doesn’t need any kind of ideological framework to show how a balance can be maintained between privacy and community. It’s actually very easy research and technology 46 House Call The Berlin-based German Institute for Standardization (DIN) is a driving force of Germany’s export boom, and helps ensure we can handle all of the technology in our daily lives

52 Series: Milestones of Chemistry Methionine originally helped Germany’s war veterans get back on their feet. To- day, it boosts animals’ growth and helps us solve the world’s nutritional problems

Standards 03 Editorial 04 Definition / Masthead 06 Facts + Figures People and Values 30 Facts + Figures Business and Society 44 Facts + Figures Research and Technology 54 Point of Contact

Our brain processes billions of impressions so that we can Poster Insert: How does our brain work? function. How does it do this?

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Immigrants 3 questions for Wladimir Kaminer People in Moscow want Dr. Rainer Klingholz Welcome to appear better than they are; in Berlin they “The children are to Germany just want to be differ- better educated than ent. No one presents their parents” Germany’s top 10 countries of such contrasts more origin and destination Poland amusingly than the writ- Are immigrants er Wladimir Kaminer 197,009 more integrated 124,071 1 these days? Serbia Austria 18,629 Switzerland Somewhat more, 28,093 17,923 20,931 20,303 and for three Turkey 26,930 reasons. First, the 26,390 labor market has 32,827 areas—for example, in improved. Secondly, terms of education and the children of immi- USA Immigrants income. grants are generally 31,418 from Romania 32,234 135,416 better educated Which immigrant Emigrants 85,074 than their parents. to groups do the Finally, those immi- 3 Greece best here? grants who come to 34,728 Immigrants from Bulgaria Germany today are 14,105 Mesut Özil Scandinavia have the 59,323 Mesut Özil grew up in themselves much 37,554 fewest integration Spain Gelsenkirchen. That’s better educated than 44,119 problems. They’re the Hungary why he plays with Jerome those who arrived 20,126 Source: Destatis European immigration Italy 58,993 Boateng and Sami Khedi- during the “Econom- ra on the German (inter) elite, so to speak. East 60,651 34,681 ic Miracle.” 27,789 national soccer team Asians also integrate very well. A B C How do D 2 you measure Germany is growing— Knowledge is coming Integration takes time. Not totally welcoming: integration? through immigration One out of three But it works Laws stand in the way It sounds very dramatic: immigrants who came The longer immigrants Skilled specialists face You can say that Each year, hundreds of to Germany between remain in Germany, the legal obstacles: degrees immigrants are well Dr. Rainer Klingholz thousands of people leave 2005 and 2010 had an more they become like aren’t recognized in integrated when is the Managing Director Germany. However, that academic degree. By Germans. They have Germany, and foreigners they achieve results of the Berlin Institute for figure is more than out- comparison, only 20 fewer children, are less often may only be hired that correspond to Population and Devel- weighed by the number percent of Germans have likely to marry, and more if no German candidate the average among opment. In June, he of newcomers. More than such a degree. The share likely to separate. for a position can be Germans in key published the study Neue 1.2 million people moved of immigrants with an found. There’s a lack of Potenziale. Zur Lage der to Germany in 2013. academic background is equal opportunity. Still, Integration in Deutschland currently highest among the government is aware (“New Potential. On the people from southern of the problem. Integration Situation in European countries. Germany”). Illustration: Lyndon Hayes (2), James Boast (2), Hayes Lyndon Illustration: |

Top 5 strategies for successful integration Responses from 1,070 German-speaking immigrants 16 years and older Canada Shows the Way Canada’s immigration system is considered to be particularly 57% Economic success 57 % and upward progressive. The country has been using a point system since 1967 of all immigrants want Compliance mobility to manage the influx of highly qualified specialists. Whether an to improve their lives, 85 %

with laws Infografik KircherBurkhardt Graphic: and especially the lives immigrant will be accepted into the country depends on their | of their children. They education, professional experience, knowledge of English, and age. know that if they work 66 % Contact with Points are allotted in all of these areas, and anyone who attains a hard, they’ll be reward- Germans Fluency in certain number of points is welcomed into the country. Most of the ed. More than half of 95 % immigrants accepted into Canada are given permanent resident all immigrants believe German economic success and status, which is also the first step toward Canadian citizenship. Active integration upward mobility are the 78 % Permanent residents may work and study in Canada and join the support for children keys to integration. healthcare system. They are also eligible to obtain social benefits. (3) Evonik (2), Imago Photos:

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evonik’s diversity A Mixture of Talents

Dr. Xiaolan Wang, 50, is Head of the Consumer Specialties Business Unit’s Asian operations. As a Chinese woman, she’s still a rarity in the management circle, she says: “Still, as more and more women obtain de- grees in technical fields, the share of highly qual- ified and talented female employees is bound to increase automatically.”

More nationalities, more women, more flexibility: Evonik is preparing its employees for greater diversity

Elena Zhila, 35, recently transferred to Strategic Controlling at Evonik. She’s being pre- pared for a management MORE COLORfuL role in the RISE talent German compa- The motive is to Even the United Arab countries, in two program. Zhila is from motivate Emirates has a higher different functions, Kazakhstan and has a six- nies earn most year-old daughter. She Diversity pays off in share of women and in two different of their revenue holds a French MBA, many ways. Studies running companies. business units. 5 which makes her a top abroad—but have shown that At Evonik Industries Evonik has a wom- reasons international talent—and their boards actively practiced as well, 91 percent of en’s network and a for very much in demand. diversity, especially all executives are men, mentoring program, She was attracted to are filled with at the upper manage- and most of them are and the company diversity Strategic Controlling “white men,” as ment level, increases German. This will also hired an external by its global team and career opportunities. former Siemens motivation, loyalty gradually change, as firm to check its job 1 CEO Peter and creativity, and the company plans to application process for Creativity: A greater can even reduce sick bring in more women stumbling blocks for variety of perspectives Löscher once days and employee and people of differ- foreigners. Evonik is and ways of thinking bring benefits. complained. turnover. The Roland ent nationalities, age using multi-language Evonik wants to Berger consulting groups, and profes- job advertisements, 2 change this by firm reports that the sional backgrounds. flexible work models, Market knowledge: savings associated Appropriate targets and various career Different cultures help increasing diver- with such benefits have been in place for opportunities to the company penetrate sity—and with total around €10,000 executive manage- attract non-German new markets. good reason per employee. Other ment for two years candidates, as well Ricardo Luiz Wille- studies even claim that now. as fathers, mothers, 3 mann, 36, is a Brazilian Broader vision: More who serves as the Re- there’s a relationship Exotic talents and even profession- gional Head of the High between diversity varied backgrounds en- Evonik wants to make als from non-Group sure smarter decisions. Performance Polymers and the ability to its employee talent fields. Although Evon- Business Line in Shanghai.

overcome crises in a pool more diverse in ik’s top management He studied in Erlangen

4 and is married to a Ger- company. order to pave the way is now more female, Motivation: Greater man. “My colleagues say Too German, too for more diversity at international, and appreciation increases white, too male the executive level. professionally diverse I’m more German than Evonik supports the IG satisfaction. dominated For example, anyone than other executive any German,” Willemann BCE trade union’s Equal says. “Nevertheless, I Opportunity Charter: Ironically, Germany looking to become teams, the company 5 understand the Chinese www.igbce.de/aktive/ has the lowest share an executive must still believes it should Recruitment: More di- mentality because it’s frauen/charta- of female top exec- first have worked in be even more “color- versity means a greater similar to the Brazilian gleichstellung utives in the world. at least two different ful” in the future. choice of talent. mentality in many ways.”

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EVMAG_0114_EN_0607_M+W_FACTS01.indd 7 01.09.14 15:55 8 Masters

“True joy does not come from things. It is born from the encounter, from the feeling of being accepted and understood”

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They want to understand, not make judgments. They bring together what belongs together. They work together and create great things. They are MASTErS OF INTEGrATION As different as they are, they gives them a sense of purpose, all share the gift of being able and elicits their dedication. None to unite people from different of this is easy; it requires the cultures and backgrounds, and to ability to get along with people. inspire them to work together. No True integration is never a religious denomination can be led, product of docile or patronizing no orchestra conducted, and no acquiescence. Instead, it involves team spurred on to victory without persuasion and an understanding someone who has the ability to of the points of view of others; merge a group of individuals the ability to see and accept into a unified whole. Different other people’s strengths and traits and skills are required for weaknesses—and to motivate different circumstances, but one them to become part of something aspect is crucial in all situations: bigger than themselves. Great the clear commitment of a leader things can happen then, and to complete a mission. Only those everyone involved will be happy who are completely convinced by to get involved. How else do you an idea and clearly live by it can think Pope Francis became an idol persuade others to adopt it. Such for billions of people in such a an attitude motivates people, short time?

First servant It’s all a question of to live my life with takes things a step fur- a blind eye to much; people could learn to perspective: Does others.” He seeks to do ther, as his leadership correct a little.” avoid being pushy and Pope Francis is a hu- God’s representative this without fanfare, style seems to say: According to Fran- selfish, and to accept man being who lives on Earth look toward which creates unnec- be the first servant of cis, three magical the mistakes of others, among—and for—other heaven or is he simply essary barriers. Francis humanity! His power phrases guarantee then families and human beings a man among men and is quite approachable needs no insignia—it’s good relationships entire societies would women? “I need to and communicates in based on charisma cou- between people: “May get along much better. have a community,” all modesty that he pled with generosity: I?”, “Thank you,” says the Pope. “I need is one of us. He even “See everything; turn and “Excuse me.” If

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Symbol of freedom

Aung San Suu Kyi has united the people of her country, who live under a military dictatorship.

She’s a rather frail looking woman, but she always has a graceful smile on her face, and often a flower in her hair. Nevertheless, “The Lady,” as she’s affec- tionately called in Myanmar, is anything but fragile. Suu Kyi spent 15 years under house arrest in Myan- mar before she was finally released for good by the military “I try to do government in 2010. A politician who won what I can to the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, Suu Kyi has make the world since resumed her fight for human rights a better place” in Myanmar, and she has united the citizens of the former British colony as they seek to embark upon a non-violent path to democracy. Despite her struggles and suf- fering, Suu Kyi always knew that “if I really started hating my captors, I would have defeated myself.”

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Team builder German Bundesliga help them understand in such joint excursions sidelines, can become turns good players into soccer stars who paddle that things are easier, as described above. a cool and calm analyst top-class ones—and very Jürgen Klopp canoes through Sweden, and more fun, when After all, it’s not the best when necessary. In such good players into excel- molds 11 lone wolves set up tents together, they’re done together. player but the better situations, he closely lent ones. Success is then into a team. and climb steep cliffs in They take this knowl- team that wins in soccer. observes the tactics of more or less guaranteed. the Alps learn one im- edge with them into With this in mind, Klopp, the opposing team and That’s great for Klopp, portant thing—just how every match—which is who’s normally bursting sets up his players to who knows as well that much they need each why soccer coach Jürgen with energy and shout- effectively counteract success will bring a team other. Such experiences Klopp is a big believer ing instructions on the them. This approach even closer together.

“You can talk about team spirit—or you can set it in motion”

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“Everything I do is guided by my unbroken determination to build bridges” Photo: DAVIDS/Tantussi Photo:

“Mr. Invisible” It’s probably not always is to work behind the Korean diplomat. The sition. That’s how Ban resolutions to a conflict meant nicely when scenes, the idea being first thing Ban does is acts as a mediator who have to start some- Trying to develop people refer to him that solutions will only gain an understand- gets all parties to the where. Ban then keeps constructive solutions as “Mr. Invisible,” but be effective if no one ing of the different table—and talking to close tabs on subse- isn’t easy—but it’s Ban Ki-moon takes it loses face. Ban has positions in a conflict. one another. He knows quent steps, trying to worth the effort as a compliment. He taken that lesson to He then expresses such this is just a beginning. build bridges behind believes his mission as heart after serving for understanding, rather Still, even the most the scenes—invisibly. UN Secretary General many years as a South than judging any po- difficult and drawn-out

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The reconciler

Daniel Barenboim overcomes boundaries by ignoring them. “Those who like A brilliant conductor and pianist, Baren- music are better boim is celebrated the world over and listeners—and is anything but a controversial figure. better able to Highly controversial, participate in a on the other hand, is a project that Baren- dialog” boim, who is also the General Music Director of the Berlin State Opera, has been pursuing for 15 years: the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. The orchestra brings together young musicians from Israel, Palestine, and other Arab countries—and politicians in the re- gion have never been happy about it. Never- theless, Barenboim, who grew up in Israel, has a clear goal: to use the orchestra to pro- mote dialog between the different cultures in the Middle East. “The young musicians arrive more or less as enemies, but then they play together in the orchestra,” says Barenboim. “When they sit down to dinner, they’re no longer enemies and have begun a dialog, continuing the communication that started with the music.” Barenboim knows that music alone will not solve the problems in the Middle East. “There’s no political solution to the conflict,” he says. “There’s only a human solution.” Through cooperation and dialog—as Barenboim has demonstrated. Photo: DAVIDS/Tantussi Photo:

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EVMAG_0114_EN_0813_M+W_Porträts.indd 13 02.09.14 17:59 14 people and values essay Klaus Engel offers a new idea for defining integration Opening the Gates Sometimes a revolution occurs quietly, especially when it comes from the top— in our case from the German Chancellor. Six months ago, Angela Merkel held an Integration Summit to discuss ways of facilitating the integration of immigrants into German society. At one point, however, the Chancellor suddenly declared Germany’s concept of “integration” to be outdated. The Chancellor then stated that German society needs to “expand its mental horizons” and view “immigration as an opportunity and a benefit.” Obviously, the Chancellor will now have to come up with a new name for the next “Integration” Summit

That’s not so important. What is interesting, needs skilled immigrants. A total of 46 percent say that however, is that by declaring the current con- in general, the positive effects of immigration outweigh cept of integration obsolete, the Chancellor is the negative ones. Most of the experts who participate in seeking to modernize German immigration policy. A public debates on the issue confirm the view that Germa- type of cultural revolution is occurring whose scope ny’s labor market and, above all, its social welfare sys- will approach that of the energy transition that’s cur- tem, benefit tremendously from new immigrant citizens. rently being debated. In the case of the latter, Merkel Nevertheless, Chancellor Merkel’s statement was also took action in response to a changed political situ- quite courageous because her terse remarks have turned ation, and her approach met with great approval among German immigration policy on its head. The implication an anxious population: After Fukushima, nuclear pow- is that it’s not enough for immigrants to learn German er was no longer a politically viable option in Germany. and adapt to our culture; we Germans also have to fi- Merkel’s decision was spontaneous, but also logical. nally do something, namely, abandon our complacent Still, there’s no guarantee that her change of course and self-righteous attitudes. Open-mindedness in- with regard to integration policy will be as well re- volves more than just being a country whose citizens ceived. German citizens are clearly concerned about are the most extensive world travelers, and diversity immigration from impoverished countries and East- means more than a love of ethnic food. In other words, ern Europe. Wasn’t it enough of a shock when people diversity and tolerance begin at home. were told that “guest workers” were not really guests Does this mean we need integration courses for but would instead be allowed to stay? Haven’t German Germans? The idea is not as far-fetched as it seems. We political parties recently had to repeat over and over should at least be better prepared to deal with newcom- again that we’re going to have to become a country of ers to our country. Businesses have understood this for immigrants—if for no other reason than demographic quite some time now. Their focus is not on integrating developments—and that we could no longer ignore the “foreign” workers into a German corporate culture. issue? We do need more workers and specialists; if not, In many companies, including Evonik, the goal is to Germany’s population will decline by 20 million by achieve the greatest possible diversity. This has nothing 2050, as the Bertelsmann Foundation recently calcu- to do with a falsely understood concept of tolerance that lated, while the labor force will decrease by 40 percent. assigns each culture its own little corner, nor does it in- No one wants to accept these facts. Germany is be- volve “integration” on the basis of a “mainstream cul- coming “a nation of immigrants against its will.” The ture,” whatever that might be. Instead, we need to learn historian Klaus Bade points out that the lines are drawn how to feel empathy—and not just toward people from here mostly between young Germans, for whom cul- “exotic” backgrounds but toward everyone, including tural diversity is a given and part of their everyday ex- and especially one’s co-workers, regardless of where perience, and those Germans who feel threatened by they come from. A more open attitude toward new cultural transformation. The latter are becoming more things leads directly to a greater ability to empathize susceptible to the effects of xenophobic and populist with others. Yes, it’s true—this can actually be learned! campaigns. A look at our European neighbors also shows And the point? The point is that greater empathy leads that right-wing populist parties that demonize foreign- to better cooperation—and diversity fosters innovation. ers are attracting a large number of new supporters. Cultural sensitivity and social intelligence No time for complacency German managers are respected for their reliability, effi- This is not (yet) the case in Germany: According to a re- ciency, straightforwardness, and structured work hab- cent survey conducted by the ARD broadcasting compa- its. These traits are typical German stereotypes and do ny, 68 percent of Germans believe the German economy not guarantee success in and of themselves. Successful

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Klaus Engel is from the “melting pot” that is the Ruhr region. He was born in Duisburg and studied in Bochum, where he also received a PhD in chemistry. After holding several positions in the chemical industry, Engel joined Degussa and thus Evonik. He has been Chairman of the Executive Board of Evonik Industries AG since 2009

German global players from industry and the medi- Those who claim that immigrants benefit more from us um-sized business sector are able to combine these than we do from them are wrong, which is why German traits with cultural sensitivity and social intelligence. business leaders should strongly support the Chancellor Only local market insiders understand the customs and her policy of gradual cultural transformation. This and attitudes of the people in a particular region and support should be aggressive and include an open dialog are able to transfer this knowledge to a global company. “Diversity with all important groups in society. We’re not talking This type of diversity leads to a greater ability to exploit and about some parlor discussion here. Instead, we have to the economic and creative potential of people, which figure out what we really want to achieve with integra- results in a higher level of innovation and productivity. tolerance tion. We need to stop thinking in outdated categories That’s the secret to Germany’s export success and begin at such as “us” and “them,” and we also need to agree on the reason why our country finished far ahead of Chi- what the “German identity” should be. The tragedy of na with the world’s highest current account surplus home.” the German debate on integration is that it draws lines in 2013. Some of our neighbors in Europe find this rather than welcoming the diversity that benefits us all. economic power threatening, which is another rea- The strange thing is that Germany has always been son why our politicians should avoid a lecturing tone a diverse nation. The Ruhr region is a living example of and instead put more effort into furthering European 180 years of successful immigration. Practically ev- integration. The risks and opportunities associated eryone here is a product of recent or past immigration, with the crisis in Europe have been very unevenly which makes the region a true melting pot. Many im- distributed up until now—and not always to our dis- migrants in the Ruhr region also continue to practice advantage. You can see this in the type of people who their cultural traditions. Still, this mix of cultures has are voting with their feet: Most of the people who are also created a completely new and independent cul- coming to us from Poland and crisis-ridden countries ture that includes everyone who lives here—an exciting such as Spain and Portugal are young, motivated, and force for both diversity and solidarity. highly educated. German companies welcome skilled With this in mind, the Chancellor should couple the specialists with open arms and have long since begun introduction of a minimum wage with immigration recruiting young qualified employees from all over legislation that doesn’t scare people away but instead the EU. Special agencies have even been established invites them to help our country grow, and to partici- to recruit foreign experts in certain fields, and these pate in its prosperity.

Illustration: Hendrik Abrahams Hendrik Illustration: agencies also handle all the bureaucratic formalities. The time has come to open the gates even further.

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All of the members of the residential unit have dinner together three times a week. A different team does the cooking every day. The others only have to show up and find a place to sit next to their neighbors on the outdoor terrace

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why we

why cook shareif you can eat in the common dining room? why buy a lawnmower if your neighbor has one? In Denmark, many people live in communities that bring together young and old people, single parents and couples. The Danes call these cohousing communities bofællesskaber. In a world of increasing social alienation, is this a model with a future? Marlene halser visited the Munksøgård cohousing project near Copenhagen in order to find out

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When Tina Mollerup comes home from work at half past five, she doesn’t turn on the stove—at least not always. On three days a week she, her husband Jens, and their 14-year-old son Mads don’t have to bother about making dinner. Someone else does it for them. “We just walk over to the community center,” says Mollerup, a 44-year-old woman with short blond hair, as she closes her front door behind her. She doesn’t have to lock the door, be- cause break-ins are very rare in Munksøgård. She leads the way along a gravel path between flowering lavender bushes toward the community center, which is painted pale blue and has a pitched roof decorated with shiny pieces of shell. Inside, dinner is already being served, and the room “When we smells of vegetables and cooked fish. Each of the Mollerups don’t want grabs a plate, fills it, and takes it out to the terrace, which is to be alone, glowing with evening light. A neighbor has brought along a jar of pesto. “I made it with fresh basil from my garden,” she we don’t call says as she passes the jar around the table. anyone up. This idyllic scene looks like a social utopia, but in Den- mark it’s nothing special. Munksøgård, which is located on We just go the outskirts of Roskilde, about 30 kilometers west of Copen- outside.” hagen, is only one of several hundred cohousing communi- Kristian Nykrog, 28, ties called bofællesskaber, which literally means “living to- lives with his girl- gether.” The residents of these communities live in their own friend Lærke Stevraot houses and apartments, but they share many of the objects in a one-bedroom and tasks of daily life, such as making dinner, using washing apartment in the resi- dential unit for young machines and lawnmowers or sometimes cars. About eight people. He maintains percent of Danes live in such communities, according to the the community’s IT system and is respon- British newspaper The Guardian, and there are similar proj- A total of 240 people live in the five residential units ects in the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden, the USA, Canada, sible for making sure the lawn is mowed New Zealand, and Australia. There are 300 such communi- regularly ties in the Netherlands alone. “We wanted to buy a house,” recalls Tina Mollerup, a The idea of communal living is not new. The English biologist. Back then she was pregnant with her daughter statesman Thomas More invoked it in his philosophical work Emma, who is now 16. “People who are starting a family Utopia in 1516. The Israeli kibbutzim also work on a similar think a lot more about how they want to live.” Because Jens principle: efficiency through the division of labor. The need Mollerup is also a biologist, the couple decided they wanted for such communities seems to be growing, because more to do the least possible damage to the world—and they want- and more of them are appearing all over the world. Is bofæl- ed to be part of a community based on mutual assistance. lesskaber the antidote to the growing sense of rootlessness In 1997 they went to a meeting at which Munksøgård, at that and alienation that more and more people are feeling? point no more than a concept, was presented. “We were so

Every morning, Sarah Assenbjerg is out in the meadow with her daughters Anna Alija and Kaya—and with Gorm, the Scottish Highland breeding bull Anne Schönharting/ Ostkreuz Photos:

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impressed that I immediately said to my husband, ‘Drive to the cash point this evening and withdraw 5,000 kroner so that we can register for this project.” Tina Mollerup’s spon- Tina and Jens taneity paid off. By the next day, so many families had al- Mollerup value ready expressed their interest that the parties entitled to buy their privacy the available plots of land had to be chosen by lot. During the three years it took to build their house and get it ready to move into, the Mollerups’ son Mads was born too. “And then we decided to build the blue house,” Tina Mollerup recalls, referring to the community center. “At that time there was a TV show in which four men built a straw house together in ten days. It looked so easy that we thought we could do it too.” The ten days became a hundred, and many things had to be done several times over, torn down, and tried again. “The work bonded us together,” she says. “In this kind of project you get to know people really well.” Now the blue house is enthroned in a slightly raised spot at the entrance of a horseshoe-shaped complex consisting of Jakob Lintrup, 36, 20 single-family homes—one of five such residential groups fishing with his chil- in Munksøgård. The houses’ front doors all face the grassy dren Magne, Falke, square in the center of the horseshoe, and there are no fenc- and Saga. Together with his wife Trine es. The houses can only be reached by walking through the Christiansen, they common area, which includes the big kitchen and the laun- live in the residential dry room with several washing machines. This is typical of unit for families. “We the Danish bofællesskaber: They are designed to allow the wanted to be part of something bigger,” inhabitants to meet as often as possible so that they can be- he says come cooperative neighbors and, in the best of cases, friends. Tina and Jens Mollerup A community with fixed rules When We Want to Be Alone, “We wanted to make it impossible for people to just sidle into We Simply Shut the Door the community,” says the 44-year-old environmental engi- neer Anna Levin-Jensen. She and her husband Lars, together Why do you like living in always got someone with four other founders, designed the plan for Munksøgård Munksøgård? to play with, so they’re in 1995. “Before that, we used to live in a completely normal The best thing is the great never alone. When Mads apartment house,” she says. “The only thing we’d ever say neighbors. After so many and Emma were little, there to our neighbors was ‘Hej’.” They didn’t want that to years, people know each we sometimes had three happen in Munksøgård. They wanted to flee the isolated other very well. I don’t or four children here for lifestyle and anonymity of city life and to deal responsibly talk to some people all that dinner—or none at all, with their physical environment. Both of those goals can be often, but others are prac- because some other family reached more easily in a community. tically part of the family. was feeding them. Then “We don’t have a janitor or any employees here to take We’re there for one anoth- too, there are no cars in care of the upkeep of the complex,” says Anna Levin-Jen- er when a couple is getting Munksøgård, so there is sen as the last sunbeams of the day make her winter garden divorced or there’s a death less risk of an accident. How the concept came to be The first glow. “We do everything ourselves.” Every resident has in the family. In such cases Besides, our children learn bofællesskab was to join a work group, and there’s plenty of work to do. The the person doesn’t have to at an early age that other created in Denmark environmentally friendly heating system and the organ- do a lot of explaining, be- people need space too, that in 1967 as the result ic wastewater system have to be operated and maintained. cause we’ve gone through you have to consider other of an article by the author Bodil Graae The buildings, paths, and playgrounds have to be main- a lot together. The older people’s needs, and that ev- entitled “Children tained and repaired, snow must be shoveled in the winter, we get and the less the eryone is jointly responsible Should Have a Hun- the small organic food store has to be operated, and someone children need us, the more for the way we live togeth- dred Parents” in the has to manage the finances. Because the work groups oper- Jens and I appreciate this er in the community. It will Danish daily newspa- community. Another great be easier for them to enter per Politiken. Shortly ate across residential units, the people from the various units thereafter, 50 families interact with one another on a regular basis. Everything is thing is the fact that you can into social relationships and joined together and regulated down to the smallest detail. In every community withdraw from the group work in teams later on. I’ve founded Sættedam- center, lists on the wall indicate whose turn it is to cook and whenever you want. All the also noticed that Mads and men, the world’s first who is allowed to use the washing machine at what times. people here have their own Emma find it very easy to cohousing project, near the city of “When we were planning Munksøgård, we wanted to re- houses or apartments and make contact with other Hillerød in northern flect the entire society,” says 46-year-old Lars Levin-Jensen, can simply close the door people. Denmark an engineer. The community was to offer accommodation behind them if they want to Will you always live in to young and old people, people with or without children, be alone. The social life at Munksøgård? prosperous families and poorer ones. That’s why each of the Munksøgård is very active, That’s hard to say. Some- five residential units in Munksøgård has a different owner- but it’s not obligatory. times we dream of living ship model. “There are the bought houses,” Levin-Jensen Do the children in somewhere else. But then enumerates. Both he and the Mollerups live there. “There are Munksøgård grow up we visit friends and ac- also three units with rented apartments.” One of them is for differently than the chil- quaintances and we once young people, who must be 35 or younger when they move dren elsewhere? again realize how good we in. Another unit is for seniors, and a third unit is for families They certainly do. They’ve have it here. and single parents. Residents in need of financial support re-

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ceive a rent subsidy from the government. “And then there’s also a unit that is organized as a cooperative. There all of the “In this residents own a share of the complex,” he explains. community, Projects like Munksøgård are attempting to artificially create a system that used to work automatically. “A village I know that community was self-sufficient because everyone did the if I ever need work he or she was best suited for,” says Lars Levin-Jensen. help, some- “There was the blacksmith and the farmer, the innkeeper and the grocer. The people knew one another, they knew one will be each other’s cares and needs, lived together in peace, and there for me” solved their problems at the local level.” Bodil Arlif, 69, has Today many people once again want to be part of such lived in Munksøgård a community, says Levin-Jensen. He believes this is a kind ever since it was of countermovement against a world that is increasingly fo- founded. Conflicts cusing on individualism, where people move far away from have cropped up repeatedly, she their families because of education or jobs and are increas- says, for example if ingly left to fend for themselves. This is an approach that someone wants to many communities in Germany are also taking, on a small regulate something scale, by means of multigenerational houses and commu- too strictly. “As a result, we seniors in nally organized residential projects. “I might not know all of particular learn that the 100 families that live here really well,” says Levin-Jen- you should some- sen. “But I can ring the bell at any door in Munksøgård and times just let matters Lars Levin-Jensen is an engineer nobody will ask me, ‘Who are you?’” take their course,” and a co-founder of the Munksøgård she says community. He evaluates ideas according to their feasibility Two girls with lots of aunts In house number 43, Sarah Assenbjerg is preparing to carry her six-month-old daughter Kaya in a green shawl wrapped Lars Levin-Jensen around her body. Together with her two daughters, she’s go- ing out to take care of the cows. Eight-year-old Anna Ali- We Never Throw Anyone ja grabs her unicycle and pedals, arms flapping, down the Out of Our Community gravel path past the Bobby-Cars, plastic toys, and tricycles. “I was born on a farm in Jutland, and for my 25th birthday Why did you start to cre- Most of the interaction my parents gave me a cow,” Sarah Assenbjerg, a 34-year-old ate Munksøgård in 1995? takes place within the indi- teacher, tells us as we stroll toward a pasture. Her herd has My wife Anna was invited vidual residential units, but now grown to seven head of cattle, and she takes care of them to the first meeting in her the individual work groups together with two other women from Munksøgård. After capacity as an environmen- operate across the units. arriving at the pasture, she scratches the strawberry-blond tal engineer. She had no They keep Munksøgård hide of a massive Scottish Highlands bull. “We regularly time, so I went instead. And going. For example, after drive to breeding shows with Gorm here,” she explains. I stayed with the group, it snows a work group Sarah Assenbjerg has lived in Munksøgård since 2002. because I liked the idea shovels the paths clear. And She too came here because of the sense of community. “I of helping to design an when there’s no hot water, simply like to share things with other people,” she says. environmentally friendly the heating group repairs Besides, good neighbors are very important to her. “I’m di- and sustainable village. the damage. Besides, these vorced from Anna Alija’s father,” she says, and Kaya’s father As an engineer, I always groups divide up the work is not interested in his daughter at all. “So now only the two primarily focused on exactly in such a way that the young girls and I are left—the three of us and lots of aunts,” she says. how such a project could people do the heavy phys- A neighbor whose grown-up son has moved out helps be implemented. After all, ical work such as painting her with the children whenever she can. “When I’m getting good ideas are useless if the houses. In many cases, ready to go to the train with all of my stuff and the pram, she they can’t be realized. So the seniors can’t do that often comes over and asks me, ‘Wouldn’t you rather have me I worked together with alone. In return, they bake drive you?’” Sarah Assenbjerg says. Or the neighbors invite others to look for practica- cakes and feed the people her and the girls over for dinner, so that the vegetables from ble solutions for our heating who are scrambling up and the garden don’t go to waste. It’s all spontaneous and un- system based on renewable down the ladders. planned. “I’m no good at asking people for help,” she admits. energy sources and for our What happens if one of Bodil Arlif, who is now 69 and retired a few months ago mechanical wastewater the residents refuses to after working for almost 50 years as a nurse, is in a similar system. The social structure join in the work? situation. “Through my work I realized how quickly old was planned after that, in There are no sanctions. people can become isolated and lonely. I didn’t want that Illustration: KircherBurkharhardt Infografik KircherBurkharhardt Illustration:

the second step. The only thing we can do to happen to me,” she says. The word “old” doesn’t really fit | What role does the social is to repeatedly point out this wiry woman who only has a few laugh lines around her aspect play today? that everyone living here wide-awake blue eyes. Nonetheless, she moved to Number A very big role! Because we in Munksøgård should be 88 of Munksøgård’s 100 residential units in December 2000. share everything, we can involved in at least one of “I’ve been divorced since the 1980s,” Bodil Arlif tells us Bodil Arlif in the veg- manage our operation much the groups. If somebody as she walks briskly down the gravel path that leads from the etable garden. In the more sustainably. refuses to do that, there’s old farm in the center of Munksøgård to the seniors’ unit. She evening the seniors throw a party in their How does cooperation nothing we can do. We regularly leads guided tours around the unit. Only the twit- community center in work in daily life? never throw anyone out. tering of birds and the sound of the wind can be heard. It’s order to taste the new

noontime, and most of the two-story houses in this sprawl- potatoes together Anne Schönharting / Ostkreuz Photos:

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ing compound are empty. Most of the 240 residents are at work, at school or at the university, or have been brought to the daycare center by their parents. “My son lives in Copen- Lively Communities hagen,” says Bodil Arlif. She has no grandchildren, so she Something More Than an has found other tasks to do in Munksøgård. She works in the tourist group and on a team that does maintenance work on Empty House the wastewater system. “Recently I also started to work at our small organic food store on two afternoons a week,” she What is so special about ers. By contrast, cohousing says. She doesn’t seem to have any time to be bored. cohousing? reduces people’s desire to “It’s not so much that young people and old people sup- Charles Durrett: The consume, at both the prac- port one another here,” she explains. Instead, mutual assis- Danish concept bofæl- tical and the psychological tance takes place within the individual residential groups. lesskaber literally means level. The houses can be “For example, when one of the seniors is ill, the others make “living together.” In a a bit smaller if there’s a sure someone brings him or her something to eat from the world where families are community center where community kitchen.” This is a model that more and more increasingly drifting apart, you can put up guests once pensioners in Germany are trying to implement by means there’s nothing more valu- in a while. And nobody has of “senior cooperatives.” In case of an emergency, someone able than neighbors who to buy expensive kitchen is always there for you—someone who knows how you are are there for you—people appliances if the commu- doing and will take care of you. “That gives you a feeling of you can turn to during all nity kitchen is optimally security which you normally don’t have in the anonymity of the daily dramas when equipped. a big city,” she says. you would normally seek How does architecture Right now, Bodil Arlif is in a hurry, because she has to help and advice from your support this process? get to a meeting in Roskilde. “There’s a group there that finds relatives. At the psycho- McCamant: A vital aspect housing for refugees in the city,” she says. She intends to be logical level, such cohous- of cohousing projects is the back before dinner in the common room. “Today we’re go- ing projects clearly show smooth transition between ing to have a potato party,” she says with pleasure before she that there’s nothing more private areas and commu- dashes toward her one-bedroom attic apartment . She wants Marlene Halser beautiful than interperson- nal ones. The kitchen is enjoys the to be back when the bell in front of the community center anonymity of her al relationships. located at the front of the rings for dinner just before six o’clock, because then every- one-bedroom Kathryn McCamant: house, so that when you’re one will once again be sitting together around the table. apartment Privacy is important, but cooking you can look out in our pursuit of privacy the window and watch we’ve often lost sight of the children playing. That our need for community. way you can also see who’s Of course you can hop into coming and going so that your car and visit friends, you can pick up your mail or join other people to or take your empty bottles pursue your hobby, but it’s to the recycling container. not the same thing. There’s Or you can call out to your a lack of spontaneity. You neighbor and ask him for can’t just go outside and his recipe for the delicious immediately be in the dish you recently ate. The midst of a group. People private area directly in who live in a cohousing front of your house is right community are looking for next to the common area. a healthy balance between These smooth transitions community and privacy. make it very easy and When these people come natural to walk over from home in the evening, they your own kitchen to the want to have something communal kitchen without The houses in Munksøgård are laid out in a horseshoe pattern. From their big, more waiting for them thinking too much about it. sunny kitchens the residents can see the shared inner courtyard than just an empty house. What are such commu- Charles Durret and Kathryn nities contributing to McCamant studied architecture society? in Denmark in the 1980s. There Durrett: More and more they first came into contact with women have been work- bofællesskaber—communally organized housing projects that ing outside their homes have existed in Denmark since since the 1960s. Fewer 1967. During the 1980s they children are being born. repeatedly returned to Denmark Working hours are grow- in order to visit 187 of these cohousing projects and study 46 ing longer. All of these of them in depth. After returning developments have caused to the U.S. they published a people to grow apart book in which they thoroughly from one another and live researched the principle of what they called “cohousing.” This increasingly isolated lives. interview was printed with the In order to be satisfied, kind permission of the U.S. people become consum- Cohousing Association.

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EVMAG_0114_EN_1621_M+W_MehrGenHaus.indd 21 01.09.14 16:00 Make the Best Of It!

Evolution, not revolution: We can’t impose our will on the world. We have to adjust to the way things are. That’s not the end, it’s a beginning—life is a challenge

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EVMAG_0114_EN_2229_M+W_BIldstrecke.indd 22 01.09.14 16:02 23 People and Values photo gallery

The photograph comes from the photo book Before They Pass Away by Jimmy Nelson, which was published by teNeues Verlag

www.teneues.com www.beforethey.com BV, Pictures Nelson Jimmy Photos:

Surviving in the Arctic means forcing this harsh natural environment to yield up just enough life to ensure one’s own survival. That may mean standing for hours above a hole in the ice until a seal pops up for a breath of air, or huddling in an igloo for days until a snowstorm subsides. In the icy Arctic, nature is stronger than man, but this hunter’s gaze reveals his confidence. He knows what counts

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EVMAG_0114_EN_2229_M+W_BIldstrecke.indd 23 01.09.14 16:02 24 People and Values photo gallery

Wired up: Weaver birds build several of their elaborate nests (top) simultaneously in order to impress the female of the species. Harvest mice (bottom) are less talented, but they can at least use grasses for their constructions. Yet the nest-building instinct remains strong even if no grass is available. Collared doves used the materials they found at a nearby junkyard and laid their eggs on wires

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EVMAG_0114_EN_2229_M+W_BIldstrecke.indd 24 01.09.14 16:02 EVMAG_0114_EN_2229_M+W_BIldstrecke.indd 25 01.09.14 16:02

Photos: Ingo Arndt 2 ⁄ 2014 the magazine from evonik industries

EVMAG_0114_EN_2229_M+W_BIldstrecke.indd 26 01.09.14 16:02 27 People and Values photo gallery Photo: Stefan Rampfel/ epd Rampfel/ Stefan Photo:

The college town of Göttingen is proud of its enlightened and civic-minded spirit. Nonetheless, there were protests when the construction of a mosque began seven years ago. Local citizens were afraid it would cause a shortage of parking spaces. But ever since the completion of the splendid mosque with its four minarets, the neighbors are no longer feel wary. Many of them regularly stop by for a chat and a cup of tea

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EVMAG_0114_EN_2229_M+W_BIldstrecke.indd 27 01.09.14 16:02 28 PeoplePeople andand ValuesValues photo gallery

The Chinese performance artist Liu Bolin likes to melt into the background—whether it’s a refrigerated display case or a wall covered with graffiti. This wall full of mobile phones is yet another “Where’s Liu?” puzzle. The artist’s message is clear: Who is dominating whom? And what is happening to the human element as technology moves so unmistakably into the foreground?

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EVMAG_0114_EN_2229_M+W_BIldstrecke.indd 28 01.09.14 16:02 People and Values Photo: Bulls / Barcroft Media Bulls / Barcroft Photo:

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EVMAG_0114_EN_2229_M+W_BIldstrecke.indd 29 01.09.14 16:03 business and society Facts+ - + Figures

blue card Immigrants Wanted: Traveling Skills Managers

When Dortmund plays, Evonik shares the field

Is blue the new green? It seemed like a good idea: The EU decided Anshu Jain to create its own ver- The Deutsche Bank sion of America’s Green CEO was born in India. Card to attract highly A citizen of the UK, Jain qualified professionals succeeded Josef Acker- from abroad. mann, who is Swiss The bar was set high The new EU card can only be issued to individuals with a uni- With Borussia to the Champions League versity degree who also Marriage of convenience or passion What’s Group’s brand recognition stood at 47 percent possess an employment the link between soccer and the chemicals right after the Evonik name was introduced contract or have been given a binding job industry? In the case of Evonik and Borussia in 2007. Today, 64 percent of Germans are offer that includes a de- Dortmund (BVB), the relationship “isn’t based familiar with Evonik—half of them because fined minimum salary. Klaus Kleinfeld Kleinfeld is from Bremen. on sentimental passion between two Ruhr of BVB. More importantly, people who know Before becoming CEO of institutions that found each other; instead, it’s Evonik through the black and yellow BVB jer- Already there US aluminum manufac- a marriage of convenience,” says Evonik CEO seys view all aspects of the company’s image Only 8,879 Blue Cards were issued for turer Alcoa in 2010 he Klaus Engel. So it makes sense that Evon- much more positively. All that’s missing now was CEO of Siemens Germany in the first ik—BVB’s main sponsor—recently renewed is for BVB to win the Champions League title. 11 months after the its contract with the club until 2025 and also card’s introduction on purchased around nine percent of BVB’s capital August 1, 2012. A total Do you know Evonik? of 996 spouses and stock. This capital injection of around €26.7 589 children were also million will boost the club’s competitiveness 64% given permission to both nationally and internationally. Evonik In- “I know General public enter the country. Only

Evonik” /eyevine Hayesn Lyndon Illustration; dustries will also benefit, as its association with 95% 2,536 people actually | Business and financial decision-makers entered; the rest simply BVB makes its brand more well known in Ger- changed their status be- Bernard Fontana many and around the globe. This is important, “I know 50% cause they were already Fontana worked for steel especially since the specialty chemicals group Evonik as General public in Germany. company Arcelor-Mittal the BVB 74% generates 75 percent of its revenues abroad. The sponsor” before he became CEO Business and financial decision-makers of Swiss cement manu- facturer Holcim in 2012

integration policy An initial finding is that and Canada (72). Slovakia aspirations and reality are (36), Cyprus (35), and Swedes: The Best often far apart. The study Latvia (31) occupy the assigned a maximum of lower end of the rankings. 100 points for integra- With 57 points, Germany Integrators tion; the average score is only slightly above the Muhtar Kent All people are equal— MIPEX study focuses on was 52. Sweden is the average. Although it does The son of Turkish supposedly. A country’s legal aspects of integration leader with 83 points well in the labor-market diplomat Necdet Kent laws show the extent to in order to compare the (pictured here is the category, it falls far behind has been President and which this noble prin- situation of immigrants Stockholm-born musician other countries in terms CEO of Coca-Cola since ciple is actually put into in 31 countries in Europe Neneh Cherry). It’s of anti-discrimination and

2008 practice. That’s why the and North America. followed by Portugal (79) equal treatment. Graeme Robertso (2), ddp images images, mauritius Getty dpa, Photos: imago, Images,

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EVMAG_0114_EN_3031_W+G_FACTS02.indd 30 01.09.14 16:04 31 business and society facts+figures

Per-capita increase in income due to European integration in the Europe Pays off period 1992–2012 The EU dividend What has the single European market achieved? Germany 40.1 A lot, says the Bertelsmann Denmark 34.7 Foundation. The study found that Greece 11.8 the more a country focuses on France 10.3 economic integration, the more it Cumulative increase in per-capita benefits from the EU. Italy 8.4 income in percent major German companies UK 1.2 Source: Bertelsmann Stiftung/Prognos have6 chosen82 integration over confrontation by staffing supervisory boards with equal numbers of shareholder and employee representatives. This proves that Karl Marx was wrong: Capital and labor often have the same interests EConoMiC 3 questions for MaGnET Sabine Micevic “It’s important to us to be a reliable neighbor”

Why was your also work with the 1location hon- local handball club to ored, Ms. Micevic? organize school hand- The German Chemical ball tournaments and Industry Association other events. in North Rhine-West- phalia presented Have you got awards to compa- 3 any new ideas? nies that have done We’re not so much exemplary work as interested in big proj- good neighbors—and ects as in maintaining we were one of them. contact with the London is booming as Such recognition is community. We’re a financial center, and really great for every- always looking right German and Chinese one here, especially in our own backyard investment in the British economy is since we get a lot of to see where we can increasing volunteers when we help out with a little support schools and funding and volunteer clubs and reach out to work. It’s important Home is Productive for investment (42 companies. Investors the community. to us to be a reliable great—but it’s Nearly half of all percent), but Europe from China (including neighbor. expensive. Still, German industrial is also becoming more Hong Kong) acquired Were you companies plan to attractive, as the per- 120 companies and/ 2 surprised? Sabine Micevic, many German invest abroad by the centage of German or holdings in Europe Naturally, we were communication manager of companies that end of the year. One companies investing last year, according to very pleased. Howev- Evonik’s location in Krefeld, recently accepted the Re- go abroad don’t third of the 2,500 within the EU rose a study by the Ernst er, we also know that sponsible Care Award NRW go that far, as 46 companies surveyed from 40 percent in & Young consulting we’ve always had a on behalf of the plant. percent of them by the Association of 2012 to 46 percent firm. Germany and special relationship invest in Europe. German Chambers last year. Still, China the UK are the most with the community of Commerce and In- remains the coun- popular countries here. Our plant is That’s more than dustry are expanding try where German among Chinese located in a resi- the share that production capacity investors are building investors. The 25 dential area, so it’s You’ll find more reports invests in China abroad, and half are the most manufactur- German companies important for us to on community relations at stepping up sales ing plants in order to that were the target be good neighbors. several Evonik locations and customer service enter the market. of Chinese investment For example, we’ve in the latest Sustainability activities. China’s interests in 2013 included the been supporting Report (page 24), and on the Internet at: corporate. new leader The Chinese are also forklift manufacturer a local school for evonik.de/de/presse/ China remains a becoming more in- Kion and Telefunken years through joint publikationen/cr-report/ popular location terested in European Semiconductors. teaching projects. We pages

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The revolution is hidden behind gray steel cabinets and colorfully painted instruments. Still, it marches on relentlessly: Machines are being networked with people and organizing, monitoring, and optimizing themselves. The Internet has arrived in the factory and raised each manufacturing process to a new level. Welcome to the age of Industry 4.0! When Machine Talks To Machine

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EVMAG_0114_EN_3237_W+G_Industrie_4.indd 32 01.09.14 16:06 33 business and society report

The factory of the future looks like yesterday’s factory—at least from the outside. Nevertheless, companies from around the world send pro- duction planners into its brick buildings. For industrial experts, the answer to the question of what the future 1.0 will bring is not to be found in Silicon Valley or in high- 1712 The steam engine is first used tech plants in the booming regions of Asia. Instead, the to pump groundwater out of answer is right here in Germany—at the Siemens elec- mines. The first steam engine tronics plant in Amberg, where the Group manufactures that actually operates reliably is programmable controllers that are used to operate ev- built by Thomas Newcomen in erything from car washes and hydroelectric plants to 1712. However, its widespread use doesn’t come about until bottling facilities and ski lifts. Visitors here aren’t inter- James Watt increases its effi- 1733 ested in what the plant produces but rather how it pro- ciency six-fold 50 years later John Kay invents the duces. That’s because products made in Amberg control flying shuttle. The their own production. mechanism automat- ically moves loom The foundation here is a barcode that is attached to shuttles back and every component—even a tiny screw. The barcode is like forth, which makes the an integrated memory that stores job order and produc- work of weavers easi- tion data. More than a thousand scanners monitor all er. The flying shuttle is manufacturing steps in realtime, and a software system followed 30 years later by the first industrial uses the data thus collected to define all production pro- spinning frame—the cesses. Workpieces communicate with each other and spinning jenny with the machines that process them. Machines coor- dinate processes and autonomously monitor and correct The path to themselves. The defect rate here is nearly zero. Industry 4.0 Machines give the orders Industrialization began when machines started helping The Amberg plant demonstrates today how products will people. That was Industry be made around the world tomorrow. Companies, re- 1.0—the point of departure for searchers, and governments are spearheading a major a path on which we are once transformation that will lead to what experts refer to as again entering a new stage “Industry 4.0.” Their vision is to link everything from 1783 design and development to production, sales, and cus- The first function- tomer service via the Internet. Production in the world of ing steamship—the tomorrow will feature permanently networked stations 42-meter paddle steamer Pyroscaphe, is and elements in a system where machines and compo- constructed by French nents organize, monitor, and optimize themselves. inventor Claude Fran- This will turn existing industrial principles upside cois Jouffroy d’Abbans. down. Central control of manufacturing operations will It plies the Saone river for 16 months become a thing of the past, to be replaced by flexible and virtually autonomous production. “Our economy is on the verge of a fourth Industrial Revolution,” is the mes- sage proclaimed by Germany’s Ministries of Education and Research and of Economic Affairs and Energy. First, the steam engine revolutionized work; then the assembly line enabled mass production. Most recently, electronic systems and computers made production automation 1.0 possible. Now, the global data network is beginning to fundamentally transform industry. German industry needs to move fast because Ger- mans aren’t the only ones facing global competition, volatile markets, shorter innovation cycles, and rising 1786 demand for small batches of custom-manufactured The power loom doesn’t need a weaver: products. Both the USA and Asian countries are quickly The machine is fully moving forward with the digitization of industry. China automatic and runs on is investing extensively in systems that link its mechan- steam ical engineering and IT expertise, and Chinese compa- nies are making targeted acquisitions of suitable man- Graphic: KircherBurkhardt Infographic KircherBurkhardt Graphic: ufacturers around the world. The US government is 1.0 2 ⁄ 2014 the magazine from evonik industries

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1.0 34 business and society report

now investing around US$2 billion in a research and development program known as “Advanced Manufac- turing.” However, the USA isn’t just ambitious in terms of government funding: General Electric, for example, has launched an “Industrial Internet” initiative that seeks to link not only production equipment but also entire industrial infrastructures. GE’s partners in the project are IBM, Intel, Cisco, AT&T, and a German part- ner—Bosch. Ready to make the leap The German have put their faith in the mechanical engi- A computer system controls the force of Weidmüller’s neering, chemical, medical technology, electrical engi- stamping and bending machine for each individual clamp neering, and automotive industries. While these industries do manufacture sophisticated and top-selling global prod- ucts, it’s not possible to make the digitization leap with Innovative Industry inflexible production lines, says Markus Glück, Professor Eyes and Brain at Work of Mechanical and Process Engineering at Augsburg Uni- versity of Applied Sciences. “The optimization potential for The flap pops up and a tool appropriately within linear production organizations has been exhausted,” he small metal clamp flies out fractions of a second. This states. In other words, Germany’s factories need to rein- into the reject box. This ensures consistent quality vent themselves. Some industrial leaders understand this, happens every couple and minimizes waste. as industry and business associations have clearly stated of seconds, but only for The system also prevents that the merging of information and manufacturing tech- demonstration purposes, downtime, and so lowers nologies should be given top priority. Germany’s National since the stamping-bend- costs and energy consump- Academy of Science and Engineering (Acatech) reports ing machine has been tion. Last but not least, that if networked production were to become a reality, producing perfect clamps new orders can be handled productivity would increase by as much as 30 percent. for quite some time. If the in just a few seconds: A That’s why industrial groups such as Siemens and machine is switched to an- technician can reset the Bosch—but also medium-sized companies such as the other mode, an “eye” and a system with two or three drive system specialist Wittenstein, the automation ex- “brain” ensure it no longer strokes on a touchscreen. pert Festo, and the Weidmüller electronics company— produces faulty parts. Such quick changes enable are moving ahead full steam with Industry 4.0 projects. Weidmüller, a manufac- products to be manufac- Their goal is an intelligent production system that man- turer of small electronic tured precisely in line with ages complex operations, doesn’t break down, and reacts components based in Det- customer requirements, flexibly to changes to the production process. mold, Germany, has arrived and in small volumes, Cyber-physical systems (CPS) are the basis for this. in the future. The “eye” even as they ensure low They use embedded data-storage devices, radio chips, of the stamping-bending production costs and short sensors, and software to link components, transport machine is a special camera delivery times. CPS stands for systems, tools, and machines via the Internet. All the cyber-physical that measures every Weidmüller, which has systems—tools or data needed for manufacturing processes is stored in the component; the “brain” 4,400 employees, invested machines whose intelligent components and machines, all of which can is a computer program. €1.5 million in its digital embedded sensors communicate wirelessly via Internet protocols, exchange When the camera detects production automation and software pro- information, coordinate process steps, and control one grams allow them to deviations in material thick- project, and the company communicate with another. This decentralized autonomous organization ness, the computer adjusts already has new ideas in one another via the exists in a completely networked system that merges the the force of the machine the pipeline. Internet virtual (cyber) and real (physical) worlds. “The factory of 2.0

2.0 2.0 1866 1833 The dynamo invented by No, Henry Ford didn’t invent 1837 Werner von Siemens is a the assembly line: Ship’s Messages can now be revolution—the world’s first biscuits are transported this transmitted electrically, electric machine way as early as 1833 thanks to Samuel Morse’s telegraph

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the future will not have a pyramid-like structure con- problems that normally aren’t discovered until the final sisting of electrical components that communicate via approval stage. wires,” says Detlef Zühlke from the German Research Autonomous production will reduce downtime to a Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) in Karlsruhe. “It minimum and ensure that machines will always operate will be a network of elements that autonomously link up at optimal capacity. All of this will lead to lower energy with one another via the Internet.” consumption in the factory of the future. Machines that Scientists and industry representatives agree that aren’t being used will also shut themselves off. Material this new form of production will mark a revolution. Still, consumption will decline as well because there will be it won’t happen from one day to the next, says Glück, but fewer rejects, and this will ease the strain on scarce re- will instead “evolve in steps taken over many years.” sources. The drive system specialist Wittenstein has iden- Companies like Weidmüller are already taking such tified electricity reduction potential of up to 40 percent steps. The manufacturer of small electronic components here and also plans to achieve zero-emission production. such as serial terminals and contact bridges possesses a “This key component for the production system of the future: Pioneers: The automotive industry a flexible manufacturing facility (see page 34), which Certain elements of future production are already in revolution is still just a prototype, however. “We’re refining the place in some sectors such as the automotive industry, on will be an self-correction concept step by step,” says Weidmüller’s whose assembly lines vehicle bodies communicate their Chief Developer, Jan Stefan Michels. His plan is to soon model details to machines and workers via radio (RFID) evolution have entire production lines monitoring themselves and chips. Information and automation technology also now that will improving products if necessary by communicating account for 30 percent of manufacturing costs in the me- occur in with one another in a system in which employees “can chanical engineering sector—and that figure is rising. operate any machine from any location in the factory.” Mechanical engineering and computers actually many small have a long history together: Back in the 1970s, the fully steps” Goodbye to high volumes automated factory was considered the wave of the future. Prof. Markus Glück The biggest benefit of intelligent technologies is the po- The wave fell flat, however, due to slow computers and teaches mechanical tential they offer for customized solutions. Conventional complex software. Over the last several years, however, and process engi- manufacturing plants are designed to produce large vol- prices for sensors and systems that can store and evalu- neering at Augsburg umes of identical or similar products. Constant retrofitting ate huge amounts of data have declined rapidly. This de- University of Applied Sciences. He advises and reprogramming is not an option here because it takes velopment, along with major IT advances, is now paving companies to prepare time and is therefore expensive. However, smart factories the way for the industrial Internet. “The basic technology for the new world of do everything fast because their networked components needed already exists,” says Zühlke. “Now, we’re trying production in good and machines automatically adapt themselves to new or- to use it to create the overall framework.” time so as not to get ders, and the production control system automatically rec- Several obstacles still stand in the way. One involves swept away by it ognizes new devices or even entire production units and the attitude among some business leaders: Where- integrates them into manufacturing processes. as international industrial groups such as Bosch and Such networking will allow Industry 4.0 to establish Siemens cooperate with companies around the world a new system of realtime production. The flexibility of on the digitization of their production facilities, some intelligent industry will even enable changes to be made medium-sized firms are much more cautious. They after production has already started. Order cancella- ask themselves, what happens to their data in such tions will no longer pose a problem either, and not even a breakdown will be able to slow down the processes. Graphic: KircherBurkhardt Infografik KircherBurkhardt Graphic: | That’s because if one machine fails, the products being manufactured will use the network to locate another machine that can take over. Machines will also auton- omously initiate their own maintenance, repair, and 1940 corrective processes. They will order new components, While working with photocells Photo: Weidmüller PR PR Weidmüller Photo: monitor their own condition, and detect product-quality made out of silicon, US scientist Russell Ohl invents the photodiode, which 1879 is still used today as Thomas Edison invents the the standard light incandescent light bulb sensor three years after the first telephone was built 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 1921 Robots enter the 1876 world—at least The spark-ignition as a concept—in engine is developed Karel Capek’s 1941 ten years before the play Rossumovi Konrad Zuse builds the first automobile is Univerzální Roboti world’s first computer— built the Z3. America responds in 1946 with ENIAC

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EVMAG_0114_EN_3237_W+G_Industrie_4.indd 35 01.09.14 16:06 36 business and society report “All Things Will Be Part of the Internet” Interview with Volkmar Denner

Dr. Volkmar Denner Sensors provide basic that billions of them Dr. Volkmar Denner has his eye on the information; their data can be employed. For is moving fast as he future. Denner, 57, is used to create a vir- example, a combined seeks to speed up the development of began his career at tual depiction of reality. sensor for monitoring new products and Bosch as a develop- Sensors measure air air pressure, humidity, business models at er. Since 2012, he’s pressure and tempera- and temperature has Bosch. The com- been Chairman of ture and detect motion, an edge length of only pany’s CEO views Bosch as a pioneer the company’s Board acceleration, brightness 2.5 millimeters—and for Industry 4.0 of Management etc. They get energy the units keep getting !! from tiny batteries and smaller. Researchers Interview their data is sent to the around the world are Stephan Burgdorff Internet by minuscule studying ways to get transmitters. sensors to supply their What kinds of things own energy from !! Dr. Denner, Bosch can sensors detect ambient vibrations to assist us here. Still, mechanical defect and leasing contract be produces sensors and control? and heat, or from tiny no one can manage needs to be repaired by adjusted. for the Internet of A sensor on a base- solar cells. This would the Internet of Things a technician. Sensors What type of busi- Things and related ment door can trigger eliminate the need for alone. New alliances provide information ness opportunities services. How does it an alarm if someone batteries. are necessary—we’re on the real world, do you believe this all work? tries to open it from Will the world you cooperating with Cisco software calculates trend offers? Denner All things can outside at night. Other describe be run by and ABB, for example. the proper reaction If everything is net- be part of the Internet sensors can detect Internet companies? Are sensors all that’s to events that occur worked—for example, and use it to exchange deviations from a Bosch is already an needed for the Inter- there. For example, if a mobility systems, data. Examples include wind turbine’s normal expert in the produc- net of Things? logistics company auto- vehicles, power plants, !! washing machines, vibrations and alert tion of machines and No, there’s another matically knows when smartphones, shipping heating systems, technicians to a poten- devices. We build reli- important level beyond a customer’s inventory containers, and one’s !! vehicles, clothing, tial imbalance. able packing machines, machines and applianc- is low, it can also auto- own home—then the windows, doors, wind How much does all of vehicle control units, es and their sensors— matically arrange new Internet of Things turbines, electricity this cost? and energy storage the software level. deliveries. If a leased can offer completely meters… Sensors and their devices and are making Software is needed to vehicle is driven too new services that will And sensors control batteries and trans- all of these Internet-ca- evaluate the flood of many kilometers in too change the way we live their communica- mitters are now so pable. We have several sensor data and deter- short a time, a system and also generate huge tion? small and inexpensive thousand IT experts mine if a machine has a could suggest that the business potential. 3.0 4.0 1944 The British install 1989 transponders in their 3.0 4.0 fighter planes. These Tim Berners-Lee defines are the precursors of HTML and the URL— today’s omnipresent the syntax of the World RFID chips Wide Web 3.0 4.0 3.0 4.0

1971 1969 microprocessor on the systems would be immune market—the Intel 4004

This is HTML

to a complete shutdown, the US Defense Depart- ment launches Arpanet— the precursor of the Internet

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partnerships. Sharing information means revealing between suppliers, manufacturers, and customers. Al- strengths and weaknesses, so propitiatory know-how though data is transferred over the Internet, the data itself and skills have to be protected. is the product of many different IT systems. Standardized The question of which data can be shared, and which data formats and universal interfaces will therefore be cannot, will therefore need to be clearly resolved within necessary if end-to-end industrial communication is the participating companies. Detmold-based electronics to be seamless. It all hinges upon the market for virtual manufacturer Weidmüller shows how such data sharing goods, which the USA has dominated for decades now. can work. The company even cooperates with local busi- Classic industry thus finds itself playing an unfamil- ness rivals in a regional network of more than 120 compa- iar role—that of appearing to be lagging behind in a deci- nies looking to develop new production technologies and sive forward-looking business sector. The situation is a bit bring them to the market. Weidmüller reveals some infor- like a race between two systems, where the virtual world mation while very deliberately keeping other data private. is challenging the real one. As Glück points out, this is a model initiative because According to Siegfried Russwurm, a member of the it shows that cooperation is better than going it alone Siemens Managing Board, many German companies when companies share the same interests and goals. Au- have a head start. “We know how production works,” he tomation, globalization, and digitization are issues that says. Siemens is actually considered a pioneer in linking precede direct competition, says Glück, which is why it’s the virtual and physical worlds. Even as the company important to team up with domestic competitors in these was growing as an industrial automation supplier, it was Graphic: KircherBurkhardt Infografik KircherBurkhardt Graphic: | areas: “After all, your other rivals abroad never rest, ei- also investing massive amounts of money in information ther.” These rivals are primarily the software giants—and technologies. These days, Siemens employs 17,000 soft- many of them are based in the USA. ware developers. As Russwurm points out, Siemens now Daniela Schröder Software really could be crucial in the long run, since writes for the mag- knows more about software than US Internet companies networked production systems need to use common azines Impulse and know about production. Those who don’t believe him can

Photos: GettyPhotos: Images standards in order to ensure smooth communication Reportagen visit Amberg and see for themselves.

Sensors and RFID chips exchange information between machines and workpieces more or less in realtime

!!

The job of humans is to define and alter the jobs that machines should do

Interacting machines can organize processes autonomously to a large degree, thereby eliminating most of the need for human coordination 3.0 4.0 Smart glasses display in the user’s field of vision the tasks he or she needs to perform as determined by machine software The factory of the future appears unchanged from the outside. The invisible yet revolu- tionary transformation occurs in the factory’s processes

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business and society perspectives HERE’S TO THE NEW

1987 Wilderness in the heart of Berlin. The Wall made Potsdam- er Platz a no-go area

Germany was always intended to be reunited. The founding fathers wrote it into their constitution—the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany. Yet 40 years on, the people of West Germany had come to accept the coexistence of the two Germanies. And then the wall came down. The view from the West

For me, the night of November 9, 1989, when the to them, I’m coming from the office and I haven’t drunk Berlin Wall was overrun by the people of East anything but coffee. From the office, at this hour? But the Germany, began with a newsflash from Reuters wall has fallen, man!! The police officer nodded phlegmat- at 7:04 p.m.: Wall Opened. At that time I was the Editor in ically and replied, “Now you’ve really got to blow hard.” In 1989 Michael Jürgs was Editor in Chief of Chief of Stern magazine. In the following hours we threw This was followed by weeks of genuine real-life mad- Stern. A leading article out all the texts and photographs we had planned for the ness. One of my lead articles, three weeks later, bore the on the fall of the Wall next issue, and we produced a memorable special issue for title “Should the East Germans Stay Where They Are?” In was to cost him his job the following Monday, November 13—the weekday that the article I expressed my admiration for the courage of our competitor, Der Spiegel, had traditionally claimed the East Germans, who seemed strangers to me as well for itself. This special issue was distributed directly from as to others, and also the fact that “a united fatherland” trucks to the general public in the East. didn’t play a very big role in my dreams of a united Europe. I drove home at 3 a.m. On the way I was stopped by the Four days later I was fired. My life too has been radically

police and asked to blow into a breathalyzer. Listen, I said changed by reunification. What remains is my curiosi- Muhs/Ostkreuz Andreas Photography:

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business and society perspectives HErE’s To THE NEw

2014 Being in the middle of Berlin now means being in the center of the action

Although “really existing socialism” was only slightly socialist 25 years ago, East Germany was—still—a reality. In Leipzig and elsewhere, people began holding huge demonstrations on Mondays. That summer, vacationers were fleeing to the west. And then the wall came down. The view from the East

In the life of a woman as well, there are nights with knocked on my door. He said there were some she never forgets. One of them was November weird images on TV, of people dancing on the Berlin 9, 1989. By the standards of the German Dem- Wall with champagne bottles in their hands. Right ocratic Republic—the GDR—I was at that time a “ref- away, I was wide awake. The death zone as the scene Angela Elis grew up in ugee from the Republic,” which meant that in order to of wild dancing? No shooting? The Wall had opened as the German Democratic travel from my new home in Frankfurt to West Berlin I easily as a garage door? republic. In 1988, as had to fly. Otherwise I would risk being arrested at the It didn’t take me long to get to the border, which a student, she visited border between the two Germanies. This November 9 was now separating the western part of the city from her uncle, who lived in the west. she never was just as exciting as many of my days back then, be- the eastern part without any weapons rattling. Every- returned cause my life in the West had not yet become a daily thing seemed completely surreal and overwhelming. grind. I walked along the streets looking around and During these minutes, which immediately burned absorbing everything like a sponge. As I was getting themselves into my brain as historic memories, I was ready for bed around 10 p.m., a friend I was staying simultaneously enveloped by gentle melancholy. It

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business and society perspectives

ty as a reporter. I started to find out more about the East, which had been unfamiliar territory to me until then. And over the years I found out more and more. One reason why the heroes of the “German autumn” were soon forgotten, and why even the heroes themselves soon forgot “We we will how bold they had been, is that their heroic deeds are now only remembered on holidays. Almost 25 years later, there soon once is no monument to remind us of this bloodless revolution. again trans- Such a monument would be a source of justified pride for those it commemorated. After all, the revolution of 1989 form the new has been the only successful one in German history. federal states Nonetheless, many West Germans still believe they are the ones who are basically responsible for the reuni- Until 1990 the Oberbaumbrücke marked the border be- into flourishing fication. They boast that their superior political system tween the GDR and West Berlin. Today it is the hallmark of landscapes” won, and that they, its representatives, are the true vic- the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg neighborhood tors. That’s because many people equate the GDR’s rotten Chancellor Helmut system with the behavior of its citizens—as though the Kohl on July 1, 1990— people living in the “workers’ and peasants’ paradise” the day on which the had not had earthly lives of their own, with love, friends, currency, social, and economic union offi- and families. Former citizens of the GDR, in turn, feel cially came into effect they are being personally attacked if they hear criticisms of their government’s evil deeds—even though there are plenty of reasons for criticism—as though they had been living in cages under constant surveillance by gangs of Stasi spies. That’s why I was often confronted by choirs of offended former East Germans whining, “You’ve never been interested in our personal biographies!” My stan- dard reply—that they shouldn’t take my reports per- sonally, because I’m not interested in the biographies of complainers from the West either—didn’t help matters. West Germans have so far paid about €1.2 trillion to ther State, but they have also lost Mother Musty, the caring rebuild the East, and they don’t want to continue doing mother who kept them warm. Ever since reunification, so; they claim that there are now towns in the East that they have felt like orphans. have more money than towns in the West and should But whatever their political inclinations might be, therefore actually be paying a solidarity surcharge for the they can also point to a “mother of the nation”—Angela West. They point out that cities in the Ruhr region are de- Merkel, who is one of their own. There’s no better exam- teriorating to the point where they can no longer support ple of successful integration than Merkel’s political ca- their own kindergartens, swimming pools or theaters. reer. Initially the deputy speaker of the GDR’s last freely Some say that the funds should be spent where they elected head of government, Lothar de Maizière, today Angela Merkel create the most jobs in the East and the West, according she is the Chancellor of a free and united Germany and “The old federal to the clustering principle rather than the watering-can the very personification of the fact that “what belongs states will be able to method. Others also argue that there are good ideas com- together has grown together.” learn from the East and its experiences,” ing from the East, such as the concept of citizens’ work- said Angela Merkel groups that reduce local unemployment; this idea came Informer alert! in September 2013 from Reiner Haseloff, who was originally the Minister of Nonetheless, East German socialization alone cannot concerning the reuni- Economic Affairs and is now the Premier of the (eastern) explain how a woman like the Chancellor competed so fication process federal state of Saxony-Anhalt. successfully with her male rivals from the CDU party of The grumbling discontent of former GDR citizens has the West, why she was so familiar with the rules of the additional causes besides the normal nostalgia. According male world, and why the behavior of the alpha males left to the psychoanalyst Hans-Joachim Maaz from Halle, East her unimpressed. Today’s Chancellor is typified by her Germans have liberated themselves from their strict Fa- special leadership qualities. In the former GDR, certain survival skills were acquired early on: mistrust and cau- tion regarding state spies of every kind, and knowledge In the GDR, fried chick- ens were called “broil- of how to maneuver into the best positions in the hunt ers.” That wasn’t the for advantages. only neologism created Maaz believes Merkel has been helped by the self-im- in the first socialist state age of the typical Eastern woman, but even more by the on German soil. Ham- burgers were renamed archetypical traits of all GDR citizens. “In addition to the “griletta,” and consci- mass effects of an authoritarian system like that of the entious objectors were GDR, the system also generates individual psychologi- called “spati,” a name cal protective mechanisms and outstanding powers and derived from the German word for shovel, because abilities,” he says. In the early days, Helmut Kohl’s pa- they had to work on con- tronizing phrase for Angela Merkel was “my girl.” Merkel struction crews for the demurely accepted this for a long time, thus fooling the National People’s Army men of the CDU, who did not take her seriously and did During the GDR era, this was the entrance to the Berolina not realize the East German physicist’s tactical superior- margarine plant in the neighborhood traditionally known ity until it was much too late.

as the Scheunenviertel. Today it is a gallery for modern art Because 2.1 million East Germans, mostly mem- (2) AIamy (2), Imago (8), Muhs/ Ostkreuz Andreas Photography:

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business and society perspectives

spread like a premonition that after the exhilara- tion of this night, after the tears of joy, we would face a time of bitterness. After all, what did the GDR look like back then? Cit- ies that looked like abandoned ruins, gray and dilap- idated. Cramped apartments with a shared outhouse halfway down the stairs. Trabi cars that chugged along roads full of potholes and added their exhaust fumes to air already polluted by coal-burning stoves. Visibly run-down industrial plants and publicly owned facil- ities surrounded by a degraded natural environment. And in the midst of it all, faces hardened by a second, socialist, dictatorship and stamped by deprivation. The Germans from the East, who had been abused The architecturally valuable historic staircase of the Berolina this way for over 40 years, could only briefly be in- margarine plant was painstakingly restored after reunification spired to laughter back then. Only too soon after the whirl of reunification, bitterness set in again. In ad- dition, some people from the East slipped into greed everyone had a “right to work,” whatever that work when they were offered goodies such as Western mon- looked like. Through all the changes, including the “Private jour- ey, cars, video recorders or pornographic magazines. switch from the GDR mark to the deutschmark and neys abroad by In short, the GDR was a proletarian synthesis of all the the euro shock, only a few have been unable to keep arts, and it was now to be integrated into the prosper- up. The 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall have citizens of the ous West. The two countries did not really have very primarily meant a gigantic effort to adapt to constantly GDR are pos- much in common, despite the posters raised into the changing demands and living conditions. sible without sky proclaiming “We are ONE people!” We subse- Many dilapidated East German ruins have become quently endured paternalism and devaluation by peo- beautifully renovated historic buildings, and barren travel passes” ple who for decades had felt closer to France and Italy former mining sites have become flourishing land- Communist party official than to us, and who were suddenly being asked to do scapes. First-rate vacation destinations have arisen Günter Schabowski read more for us than simply send us bananas. Now they from Rügen to the ”Saxon Switzerland.” The freedom this announcement so were expected to share everything with their brothers to travel, like freedom in general, is wonderful. How- clumsily that its full im- and sisters from the East, including their favorite tour- ever, you have to be able to afford it. And it’s mostly the pact was only understood after some questions ist beaches on Majorca. As a result, the Saxon dialect people in the West who have lots of money, and have were asked. The Berlin can now be heard all over the world. always had it. They have used this money to buy the Wall fell that evening And what about the East Germans? Since then al- most beautiful villas, from Binz to Radebeul, as capital most everything has changed for them, from street investments. names to the need for unemployment insurance— Education is also a valuable asset, but it doesn’t help which was not necessary in the GDR, because there much if you have received it in the GDR and therefore don’t have a prestigious degree in your pocket. And being professionally successful in a globally orient- ed economy requires a certain worldliness that can’t Bananas were originally be acquired overnight. We have always tried hard. In only available “under the counter” in the GDR. 1988 we crowded together at a Bruce Springsteen con- Only people with good cert in East Berlin, surrounded by grim communist contacts knew the taste youth members, and we loudly sang along to his “Born of a banana. Starting in the USA,” even though back then the sense of being a in the 1980s bananas world citizen was only a theoretically anticipated feel- became regularly available in stores ing. Today, after the Iraq War and 9/11, it’s no longer so easy to sing that song. Comfort in the vale of tears The women in the former East Germany no longer bear so many children in times that have become uncer- Some of the dilapidated houses in the Lichtenberg quarter tain, and many of the best people are emigrating to the of East Berlin were uninhabited. Today these ruins have West because the jobs there are more attractive and become renovated historic buildings for well-to-do tenants the salaries are higher. As a result, there is a risk that in the next quarter-century the regions that have just awakened could become sad monuments to depopula- tion because of a failure of social policy in a period that is actually favorable to growth. Ronald Reagan This alone should be a reason for us to stop com- “Mister Gorbachev, plaining in the midst of plenty, to stop calling our re- tear down this wall!” unified Germany a vale of tears, and to realize that demanded the US shared sorrow can become halved sorrow and shared president of the Secretary General of joy can become doubled joy. the USSR on People say that the peaceful revolution was a small June 12, 1987 miracle, because the citizens of the GDR, who had been kept cowering and exhausted, successfully de- fended themselves against their overseers with-

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EVMAG_0114_EN_3843_W+G_Wiedervereinigung.indd 41 02.09.14 18:01 42

business and society perspectives Figures, Data, anD Facts about reuniFication

FRG GDR 1989

Area in km2 GNP per capita in euros Workforce in millions 248,709 8.6 108,33 21,852 27.7 7,248 65.8% was the percentage of employ- ment among women of working age in the GDR in 1989

Households with a telephone Population in millions “Gone Over” 1991 to 2013 in percent 96.8 17.2 3,956,380 West East

Households with a cars in percent 61,872 3,095,245 16,434 76.1 54.3 70% €105 billion i.e. €1.1 trillion of that went Solidarity Pact I: 1995–2004 on social expenditures €1.6trillion the costs oF reuniFication flowed into the reconstruction of the east between 1990 and 2010 €40 billion according to an estimate by the €82.2 billion has been invested in the eastern German Ifo-Institute “Deutsche Einheit” funds: Between transport infrastructure since 1990. This 1990 and 1994, these funds provided covered 1000 kilometers in eastern Germany. an equivalent for the “new” states By comparison, 1,300 kilometers have been of the horizontal fiscal equalization newly built in western Germany. That’s almost (LFA) between the richer and poorer €2 billion per year of the “old” states

6.8 €/m 2 5.4 €/m 2 24% 50% 28% 24% 39% 44% Rents Children in kindergartens High-school graduates One-person households

DiFFerences between east anD west toDay

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EVMAG_0114_EN_3843_W+G_Wiedervereinigung.indd 42 02.09.14 18:01 43

business and society perspectives

Mecklenburg is becoming bers of the unwanted bourgeois elite, opted out resorting to bloodshed in spite of Stasi The Ministry of more attractive as to flee to the West before the erection of the the rattling tanks. This belief in a miracle State Security served as a vacation region Berlin Wall in 1961, they left a gap behind in the “sword and shield” because it has wide helps us to overcome outdated beliefs about of the communist party. stretches of unspoiled their old homeland. And that’s why it’s tak- what works and what doesn’t. It helps us Up to 200,000 “unof- nature. Its population is ing longer than expected to build up civil to ignore principles that have become ob- ficial collaborators” decreasing. At the time society in the East. It has grown up in cities stacles, try out new things, and think ex- provided comprehen- of reunification it was such as Dresden, Leipzig, Weimar, and Pots- traordinary thoughts. sive surveillance of the 1.9 million, but is now 15 population percent lower dam, where “Wessis” and “Ossis” work and So why not impress the Wessis with im- play together as a matter of course. But in the provised sparklers, before they set up me- states of Brandenburg, Saxony, and Western morials to our “Little Miracle of Leipzig”? Pomerania the political landscape has with- Light them up and let them spray their “What ered away or is being revived by right-wing magical little stars. Because impressing populists or left-wing opportunists. A quip of through improvising is the core expertise belongs Treuhand (“Trust”) was Germany’s current President, Joachim Gauck of the GDR-hardened citizen. established to either together is aptly sums up the disappointment of many close down or privatize Ossis in 1989/1990: “We dreamed of Paradise Impressing by improvising the nationally owned growing and woke up in North Rhine-Westphalia.” During the West’s acquisition of the East, industries of the GDR— in other words, to put together” That explains why Germans from the East we’ve learned from the flood of manag- them into ”trusted” still have the feeling that they’ve lost some- er handbooks that you have to “make the hands thing vital, and thus a part of their identity, as most of your strengths.” Dear fellow citi- a result of reunification: their dreams. For de- zens in the West, of course that means you cades they dreamed of having more freedom. shouldn’t focus on our weaknesses either. This longing hovered beyond their reach on On the contrary, in the GDR’s economy of the horizon because their system had walled scarcity we’ve learned how to make some- Willy Brandt concisely summed up the conse- them in, but the feeling in itself warmed thing out of nothing, and that’s a very useful quences of the fall of them. When this longing was suddenly ful- survival skill. That makes us, for a change, the Berlin Wall filled, everything grew cold around them. richer than people from the West, because “The path it means we are more imaginative and in- Saxon dialect in the Hofbräuhaus novative than those who could always buy toward Nowadays it’s not unusual for a waitress in everything they wanted on overstuffed su- reunification the Hofbräuhaus in Munich to speak the permarket shelves. This kind of expertise Saxon dialect; thousands of West German will probably also help us overcome the was an students are studying in Greifswald, Jena or obstacles of the future. The “whining Wes- exhilarating Dresden and enjoying it rather than being si” may still not deserve the “better Ossi,” homesick for the West; and the nation’s fu- but he could learn something from him if time” ture elite is headed for the universities where he is ultimately willing to integrate either they can get the best education, whether it’s him or himself, in the knowledge that we Pedestrian crossing in the East or the West. So it’s fair to suspect belong together even if not everything fits man Not everything that unification has finally been accepted by together. Anyway, the last person to be in the East was bad: the general public. The mission of integra- Today these GDR born in the GDR will probably have died by figures can be seen tion has been accomplished. about the year 2089. German President all over Berlin In case West Germans still complain In terms of psychodynamics, in the past Joachim Gauck was a about East Germans or vice versa, one can member of the New 25 years the East and the West have formed Forum in Rostock during point to reassuring signs of normality: Many something like a pathologically function- the reunification period people are returning to their eastern home- ing unit with a traditional role division: and was elected to the land from the “foreign” West, the westward One had the image of a loser, never felt ad- GDR Parliament in 1990 migration has stopped, and some West Ger- equate, and always lagged behind expecta- mans are even discovering a new homeland tions, whereas the other was the grand one in the East, where they never wanted to go. whose achievements were always supposed As a result, the question of how people are to be looked up to and admired. However, doing in this reunified Germany will stop be- this gap ultimately generates frustration ing relevant when the answer is “It’s all right. and alienation, and this sense of “above Soli The cost of Sometimes better, sometimes worse.” When and below” is exhausting and very irritat- Ostalgia Nowadays you German reunification the real children of German unity, who were ing. The alternative is to forge ahead into can drink Club-Cola has been covered still preschoolers when the Berlin Wall came new ways of living and experiencing, and without wearing a com- since 1991 by the down, are determining the fate of the nation, to build up a sense of cooperation that is munist youth shirt. East solidarity surcharge. German products are The income from this the differences between East and West will based on reconciliation, appreciation, car- readily available, even surcharge in 2012 was merely be perceived like the ones between ing, and contact and is sustained by empa- if you’re not nostalgic well over €13 billion North and South. They exist. So what? thy and curiosity about one another. about the GDR

Michael Jürgs was born in Ellwangen Angela Elis grew up in Markkleeberg in 1945 and has lived in Hamburg since near Leipzig. She left the GDR in 1988, 1973. He has been Editor in Chief of and after reunification she joined the Stern and Tempo magazines. Together TV broadcaster MDR as a presenter. with Angela Elis he wrote the book Today she works as a communication

Photography: Alamy (2) | Illustration: KircherBurkhardt Infografik KircherBurkhardt | Illustration: (2) Alamy Photography: Typisch Ossi. Typisch Wessi. coach in Freiberg, Saxony.

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EVMAG_0114_EN_3843_W+G_Wiedervereinigung.indd 43 02.09.14 18:01 research and technology Facts+ - + Figures 3 questions for Dr. Georg Oenbrink “Research thrives on communication and networking”

system to mask the unpleasant taste of certain substances in medications; a chemi- What do you ex- cal sensor that can re- pect the “Evonik 1 liably report the loss of Call for Research oil or other lubricants Proposals” (ECRP) in normal machine to achieve? operations before a We’re looking for problem occurs; and new ideas and ap- a coating with special proaches. The feed- properties that can be back we received on applied in the coldest ECRP 2013 was very state possible. encouraging. A total of 15 project propos- How do the als were submitted, participating re- many of which 3 searchers benefit? included completely Research today thrives new approaches to on communication solutions. Some even Where’s the driver? and networking. came from profes- The car of the future Google’s Brave New Naturally, we benefit sors we had never doesn’t necessarily from cooperation with heard of before. need one Automobile World proven experts, but Crowdsourcing, The car of the future doesn’t need anybody to steer, accelerate, or university researchers which is currently a brake it. The engine, transmission, electronics, and the Internet are also rewarded with hot topic, thus deliv- are to be integrated into a complete system that will enable a prize money of up ered on its promise completely new dimension in driving—at least, that’s the current to €10,000 and the to integrate new goal of automakers. They know that this can’t be done without chance to receive a ideas and experts. the help of leading IT companies, which is why new alliances research contract and are being formed. For example, Daimler, Volvo, and Ferrari are funding from Evonik. What are the working with Apple, while Audi, Honda, and General Motors have 2 questions teamed up with Google and its Android system. Such cooperation Evonik is seeking Dr. Georg Oenbrink is just as attractive to the IT companies as it is to the automakers. answers to? manages the Evonik Call After all, once the necessary IT and electronic systems have been Basically, we’re for Research Proposals (ECRP) campaign, which installed, they begin collecting a huge amount of data and can interested in three will soon take place for generate profiles that include information on when users drive, technologies: a the second time. where they drive to, and who they take with them. A lot of money can be made with such data, so the question is who will it belong to—the automakers, the IT companies, or perhaps even the vehicle owners? Sunny Outlook The pioneers are Worldwide investment in renewable sources of upset—the German solar energy by technology in 2013 (in billions of US$) power industry has hardly Solar 113.7 profited from the boom Wind 80.1 Vision Hearing Touch in their field. Last year, The device on the roof is Cell phones and naviga- Sensors in the car’s skin nearly US$114 billion Biomass and waste 8.0 a type of giant eye that tion and audio systems provide information was invested in the indus- Microhydro 5.1 scans its surroundings are operated by voice on light conditions, try worldwide—signifi- Biofuels 4.9 with a laser beam. The commands. For example, temperature, and pre- cantly more than in wind data it collects is pro- drivers can tell a self-driv- cipitation. The central Geothermal 2.5 Sources: UNEP; power—and 23 times Bloomberg New cessed by a high-perfor- ing vehicle to pick them computer uses this data

more than in biofuels. Tidal 0.1 Energy Finance mance computer up outside the garage to control the vehicle Graphic Corbis Imago, Alamy, PR, Google Fotolia, Focus, / Agentur SPL DESIGN/ LAGUNA Photography:

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EVMAG_0114_EN_4445_F+T_FACTS03.indd 44 01.09.14 16:20 EVMAG_0114_EN_4445_F+T_FACTS03.indd 45 Tomorrow Today and product forproduct PLEXIGLAS. ture into akey primary oxide-hydrogen gas mix monoxide/dia carbon - byproduct consisting of convert anindustrial waste. microbes The raw materials from order valuable to extract by 3.5 billionyears in clock strain ofabacterial turned back the genetic Evonik researchers have factories Primeval chemical government. by the German federal stitutes isbeing funded with several research in- Hydrogen) jointproject SusHyThe (Sustainable precious-metal catalysts. having to useexpensive of sunlight, andwithout hydrogen with the help technique for producing Evonik isworking ona sunlight from Hydrogen number ofbyproducts. time andwithout alarge of bacteria, for the first produced with the help serine ables to bedirectly Evonik. platform The en- created by researchers at to platform atechnology this has changed, thanks used to bedifficult—but for example. Producing it for treating tuberculosis, an active agent indrugs aminoacidserineThe is amino acids Customized thinking ahead thinking

- example? while skiing, for somersaults— perform they brains take when do people’s actions What Integrative MedicineIntegrative With a Little aLittle With Help from Help from som IN acrobats ski from are learning Biomechanics experts for science: A leap Nature form E before the previous phase has end has phase previous the before even asomersault of phase next for the preparing start muscles and brain athlete’s an that revealed data The movements. muscle their of pattern aprecise generate thus and athletes somersaulting of activity muscle the measure to electrodes using in succeeded has Basel of University the at of & Calorimetry Biomechanics A group research subconscious act corresponds to to corresponds act subconscious This ground. the hit feet her or his before second awhole point landing projected the on focus eyes athlete’s an as here, works coordination visual precisely how showed also camera Ahelmet ed.

2 ⁄ rs the magazine from industries evonik magazine the 2014 research and technology and research ATI facts +figures facts Au at the Center Center the at 45 LT vE - of biocompatible materials. of biocompatible implantsgrow custom-fitted made help to measurements such use to possible be should it point, some At to. exposed are latter the stress of type the with line in joints inside shape their change instead but sity - den ahomogeneous maintain not do buffers joint these that show pigs with taken measurements Initial cartilage. on is here focus The movements. of types specific on individualduring joints bear to brought forces the measure to used are Basel in center research high-tech the at studies metric Among other things, such bio calculation. matical mathe sophisticated an extremely project with women suffering from breast, uterine, or ovariancancer. Medicine at the UniversityofDuisburg-Essen are apilot conducting andIntegrative ofComplementary at thespecialists Department now catching andinternal up: Oncologists medicine/natural healing oftreatmentbring the types two together for years—and Germany is tegrative approach inthe oncology USA have beenstudying ways to mitigate ofsuch treatments. the sideeffects of the in- Practitioners time, acupuncture orthe “KneippCompress” substantially can interfereplant substancescan with treatments. cancer At the same rarely talk to aboutit. aproblem theirposes This doctors because patientsof allcancer make useofnatural healing methods, butthey 70 percent s - - the innovation pipeline at carrying outresearchcarrying and Industries workforce— Industries employees—works inan R&D department orunit R&D department ment. That’s 3.1 percent are currentlyprojects in That addsupto 26,000 percent of the Evonik ofthe percent arelocations currently or one out of every 13 or oneoutofevery 500 research anddevelop- average are registered Source: Evonik Industries AG Industries Evonik Source: patents perweekpatents on development projects invested by Evonik in by Evonik Industries. of Group revenues trademarks to datetrademarks Evonik Industries patents and7,500 has recently been Evonik Industries 7.7 09 in figures in 35 €394 million 283 10 5

p.a. 338 9% 11 365 12 382 13 394 01.09.14 16:20 46 research and technology house call DIN EN ISO 12402-2 EN DIN

Life jackets A life jacket has to save lives—it’s not enough for it just to keep a body afloat somehow. The DIN EN ISO 12402 standard stipulates that life jackets must be designed to automatically turn a person on their back so that their head remains above water. This ensures they will continue breathing and won’t drown if they’re unconscious. Different DIN standards exist for various bodies of water and the different weights of people who wear life jackets. The most stringent is 12402-2, which ensures safety on the high seas and under the most adverse conditions

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EVMAG_0114_EN_4651_F+T_DIN_Institut.indd 46 01.09.14 17:04 47 research and technology house call

For nearly one hundred years, DIN—the German Institute for Standardization—has been ensuring the smooth functioning of all kinds of everyday activities. A visit to DIN headquarters in Berlin is like visiting the “engine room” of the export world champion—Germany SettING the StANDArDS

Misnomers abound: “The German word for paint hair, a full beard, and a soft voice, Reinmüller could eas- also means color,” says Bernd Reinmüller. “So, ily pass for a priest who somehow ended up a scientist. when Germans go out to buy ‘a can of paint,’ The DIN institute is anything but a religious ministry, the word they use is wrong. What they’re really talking however. Only numbers count here. Industrial standards about is color, which is a human sensory perception. protect us against the unpredictable—the coincidences Colors are simply the names we give to light at differ- in our high-tech world. Such standards must therefore ent wavelengths.” So what’s in what the Germans call “a ensure predictability. Standards harmonize products can of color?” “The technical terms for that would be the and processes, which is why the terms they use must be German words for paint, lacquer or coating material.” as precise as any number. English is more precise here because it distinguishes be- tween color and paint. Another misnomer is the German Preventing economic collapse word Zollstock, which is a combination of the words for Without standards no Korean automobiles could be sold “inch” and “stick”, i.e. what English calls a yardstick. in Germany, no Chinese freighter could take on French “The DIN definition uses the more accurate word Glie- containers, and your light bulb might not fit into its sock- dermaßstab, which is a stick consisting of several sec- et. DIN has been standardizing the world around us for tions that can be folded together,” Reinmüller explains. almost one hundred years. It was founded by German “Moreover, the word Zoll means inches—but we don’t industrial companies during the First World War (in De- measure in inches anymore.” cember 1917) as a standardization committee. Ten weeks Reinmüller loves such details of language. The later, it issued its first standard—for the dimensions of 50-year-old chemical engineer is responsible for chem- taper pins. In 1922, it released Standard 476 for paper ical industry standards at the DIN German Institute for formats such as DIN A 4. The institute also helped power Standardization in Berlin. Reinmüller heads two stan- Germany’s Economic Miracle after World War II: Without dardization committees, one for coatings and coating DIN standards, the country could never have become the materials, the other for pigments and fillers. “It’s im- world’s export champion. “Those who make the stan- portant to use the right terms,” he says. “That’s why we dards have the power,” says Torsten Bahke, 64, Chair- spread the gospel of proper terminology, so to speak.” man of the DIN institute, which operates as a private Spreading the gospel is an apt phrase coming from company. “Standards enable products to be sold around Reinmüller, who grew up in the devoutly Catholic city the world by companies that benefit from globalization.” of Paderborn. With his dark suit, a sweater pulled over Standards should be valid in as many places around the

a white shirt with a white collar, thinning snow-white globe as possible. That’s why only ten percent of the Schmuck Ragnar Photos:

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EVMAG_0114_EN_4651_F+T_DIN_Institut.indd 47 01.09.14 16:21 48 research and technology house call DIN 8325-2 DIN ISO 8601 DIN

Calendar week In Germany, Monday doesn’t just feel like the beginning of the week—DIN ISO 8601 stipulates that it is. The standard also defines the first calendar week of the year as beginning on the first Thursday in January Alarm clocks The DIN experts still haven’t solved the problem of alarm clocks always going off too early—but they’ve covered everything else with DIN 8325-2

standards developed by DIN apply solely to Germany, crude oil, coke, or plastics. There’s even a standard for while 90 percent are designed for international markets. burials—DIN EN 15017. Countries in Europe have created the European Commit- Modern life is complicated enough; standards simpli- tee for Standardization (CEN); global standards are man- fy it and make it more predictable. In 1975, the German aged by the International Organization for Standardiza- federal government signed an agreement with the DIN tion (ISO). Both bodies include a strong contingent from institute that made the latter the sole national standard- DIN. ISO meetings are variously held in Brazil, Japan, ization organization. The agreement also required the and Europe. institute to remain neutral and serve the public interest. The decisions made by the standardization bodies Standards make people in ever more finely woven impact our daily lives. Consider the following: We sleep networks around the globe more compatible with one in a bed (DIN EN 1161); we are awoken by an alarm clock another, so to speak. “DIN is there to make sure things (DIN 8325-2); we use the toilet (DIN EN 38); we use a work smoothly,” says Reinmüller. Companies turn to DIN toothbrush (DIN EN ISO 20126), empty the dishwasher when they want to create a new standard for a product, (DIN EN 50242/DIN EN 60436), send our kids off with “Standards a work process, or a testing procedure. Such requests are their school bags (DIN 58124), and maybe put on a pair also made by scientists, consumer associations, and oth- of sunglasses (DIN EN 1826). DIN ISO 8601 tells us that enable er “interested parties,” as DIN puts it. The institute pro- the calendar week begins in Germany on Monday rather products cesses standardization applications by consulting with than Sunday. If a baby swallows a pacifier, DIN EN 1400-1 members of the different groups in society who might be makes sure the child can still breathe because it stipu- to be sold affected by the standard. DIN has a database containing lates that the sides of the pacifier must have at least two around the the names of nearly 33,000 experts. Even the process for holes. DIN EN 71-1 stipulates that a teddy bear’s button creating a standard is subject to a standard—DIN 820. eyes be big enough to ensure they won’t be swallowed, world” DIN currently employs 411 people spread out across Torsten Bahke, and also that they’ve been pulled on many times in tests Chairman of DIN— 70 standardization committees that deal with every- and therefore won’t come loose. DIN EN 1860-2-certi- the German Institute thing from food to rolling mills, steel chains, and metal fied barbecue charcoal contains no bitumen, fossil coal, for Standardization springs. “A lot of attention is paid to details,” says Re- inmüller, who no longer spends time in labs (“we only deal with a lot of paperwork”). Still, he keeps himself

up to date on the latest trends and stays in contact Schmuck Ragnar Photos:

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EVMAG_0114_EN_4651_F+T_DIN_Institut.indd 48 01.09.14 17:05 49 research and technology house call

Button eyes for stuffed animals A standardized pharynx is a plastic tube the same size as an average child’s throat. The tube is used to test whether a toy can be swallowed by children. Because children like to take toys apart, individual toy parts—including the button eyes in stuffed animals— are also inserted into a standardized pharynx DIN EN 71-1

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EVMAG_0114_EN_4651_F+T_DIN_Institut.indd 49 01.09.14 17:05 50 research and technology house call

with leading scientists. Nearly 33,000 standards exist from the Beuth publishing company, which is owned by today. They are reviewed every five years and also -re DIN. Such purchases account for 70 percent of the insti- Coopera- worked if necessary. Each year, more than 2,000 stan- tute’s budget; the rest comes from projects conducted for tion with dardization documents are created or updated. companies and government agencies, and contributions Standardization decisions are reached by consensus. made by DIN’s nearly 2,000 members. The total DIN bud- Regulators Even non-experts can get involved in the process by con- get in 2012 was €107 million. The European Chem- testing a standard. It all sounds very time consuming— DIN is still more or less male-dominated. It was ical Industry Council and it is, since it takes an average of three years for a stan- therefore surprising that the institute staffed half of its (CEFIC) goes into dard to be approved. However, there’s also an accelerated “Development of New Activities” (ENA) department action whenever stan- procedure that can lead to a decision in two to twelve with women when it was established in 2012. Filiz El- dards for chemicals are months. Standardization is not only time consuming but mas, 32, is one such woman. Elmas, a business engineer, developed in Europe. also expensive: Companies spend around €650 million combs through databases and publications with her 20 The CEFIC represents on standards each year. However, because standards colleagues in search of forward-looking research proj- the industry’s inter- simplify production and therefore spur growth, they also ects that address logistics, Industry 4.0, biotechnology, ests vis a vis European benefit the German economy to the tune of more than smart cities, and the energy transition. Her eyes light up Union regulatory agen- €16 billion per year, according to the Fraunhofer Insti- when she talks about how she looks for the “big players cies. Whether it’s trans- tute for Systems and Innovation Research. in new research developments” and tries to “arouse their port safety or possible DIN documents do not have the force of law. Just as interest in standardization activities.” harmful effects on hu- standards are created through consensus, so too is com- This marks a new departure at DIN, which in the past mans and the environ- pliance with them voluntary. This means they’re some- simply reacted to applications, says Hermann Behrens, ment—experts from times ignored, as anyone who has ever tried to borrow a the CEFIC (including cell phone charging cable can tell you. Those who wish staff from Evonik) are to utilize a standard can buy the associated document always there to answer questions posed by legislators. The CEFIC also promotes the use of standards, self-im- posed restrictions, and recommendations in Camping tents its 30 national associ- Despite how annoying setting up a tent can ations and 94 expert be, DIN EN ISO 5912 only concerns itself with groups. The CEFIC and water resistance and flame-retardant properties its members played a role in the intro- duction of the EU’s Sleeping bags REACH regulation on Whereas campers are also interested in the chemical substances as weight and size of sleeping bags, DIN EN 13537 well. REACH requires only ensures the bags keep campers as warm as companies to register their manufacturers claim they do all the chemicals they use. The CEFIC has held workshops and produced a catalog of standard wording for the required docu- ments in order to help companies understand the process and avoid excessive expenditure. 29,000 companies and 1.2 million employees are represented by the CEFIC, whose initials stood for Conseil Européen de l’Industrie Chimique—until almost 25 years ago.

REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chem- icals. The regulation also requires all chemicals used in the EU to be approved.

2 2 ⁄ 2014 ⁄ 2014 the das magazine magazin fromvon evonik evonik industries industries Photos: Ragnar Schmuck Ragnar Photos: DIN EN 13537 EN DIN ISO 5912 EN DIN

EVMAG_0114_EN_4651_F+T_DIN_Institut.indd 50 01.09.14 17:06 51 research and technology house call

50, the Director of ENA. DIN will increasingly seize the explains to executives concepts such as “ethical behavior” initiative in the future by establishing contact with po- in the following manner: “correct or proper behavior with- tential standardization customers. Behrens refers to this in the context of a specific situation and in line with inter- as a “proactive approach,” and he gets the same look in his national standards of behavior.” It also reminds managers eyes as Elmas when he talks about it. Behrens, an electri- “that working conditions should comply with national laws cal engineer, isn’t one to be plagued by doubts. He’s very and regulations.” These are standards that any responsibly enthusiastic about things like smart cities, which will acting company will conform to as a matter of course. digitize urban life. “It’s not our job to stop technological DIN was inspired to create ISO 26000 by the consum- progress,” Behrens says. “Our job is to support those who er affairs committee of the ISO, which was strongly in develop new technologies.” favor of such a standard. Like other national standards DIN ISO 26000 is one standard that doesn’t address bodies, DIN canvassed opinion and found several asso- technology. DIN staff spent six years drawing up the ciations that expressed interest. This led to the creation 149-page “Guidelines for Social Responsibility.” DIN ISO of “this service for interested parties,” as project coordi- 26000 has been a global standard since 2010, but it still nator Reiner Hager, 38, describes it. The project allowed seems out of place. DIN to prove it could handle more than just technology Behrens, whose field is innovation, has played it issues. safe by never reading the politically charged document. However, the institute also unintentionally proved “Standardizing management systems often leads to cer- something else—namely that you can standardize tech- tification measures that generate costs,” Behrens ex- nology but not human behavior. Holger Fuß plains. “That’s why business leaders are rather reluctant to do anything in this regard.” Still, a standard that no one complies with isn’t really a standard at all. ISO 26000 mandates compliance with moral values and

Toothbrushes Their color is a question of taste, and DIN experts also have their own private opinions on aspects such as brush softness or hardness. Professionally, however, they conduct a “Bristle Tensile Force Test” (yes, it’s really called that) to ensure that each bristle can withstand a tensile force of 15 newtons. Since DIN EN ISO 20126 was expanded two years ago, every toothbrush handle has also had to undergo an impact resistance test

2 2 ⁄ 2014 ⁄ 2014 the das magazine magazin fromvon evonik evonik industries industries DIN EN ISO 20126 EN DIN

EVMAG_0114_EN_4651_F+T_DIN_Institut.indd 51 01.09.14 17:06 52 research and technology series Series: “Milestones of Chemistry”

METHIONINE Folded Amino acids are the building blocks of life. DL-methionine is one of eight amino acids essential in protein humans. A method of industrially manufacturing methionine was developed after World War II, to ameliorate the catastrophic protein shortage in post-war Germany. The use of methionine as an ani- mal-feed additive started a few years later, and it is now an important part of modern animal feed

mRNA The structure of methionine The catalytic process used to produce methionine creates two different molecules that are mirror images of each other. They are known as D-methionine and L-methionine. While living organisms directly utilize L-methionine, some animals, such as chickens, can convert DL-methionine into the L form. Hundreds of thousands of tons of this amino acid are produced every year.

L-methionine O Ribosomes, the factories with- S 2 in the cells, read the mRNA and use this information to H3C OH generate chains of amino acids Peptide NH2 (primary protein structure) chain Methionine D-methionine NH2

H3C OH S O

Effect and function Essential amino acids such as methionine need to be ingested with food. These building blocks of life can only be optimally utilized when they are present in the right proportions. If this is not the case, some of the food consumed will be uselessly excreted. If the missing amino acids are specifi- cally added, the body will optimally utilize the nutrients it ingests. Liebig’s barrel (each stave = one amino acid)

Animal feed based on Addition of plant proteins DL-methionine

selective Ribosome efficient

mRNA conveys coded

Met Met 1 information from the cell Other nucleus for the building Methionine amino acids of proteins

History of the development of methionine Other 1923 1925 1931 amino acid

J. H. Müller, a Odake in Japan W.C. Rose researcher at Colum- corrects the for- makes his first Methionine bia University, New mula and names experiments York, isolates a “sul- the amino acid with amino acids fur-containing amino “methionine” to optimize the acid,” although he nutrition of rats gives it the wrong chemical formula

1920 1930 1940

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Folded protein

The Brilliant Synthesis Expert Due to the desolate nutritional situation in Germany after World War II, researchers focused on organic synthesis and the use of amino acids. They wanted to use methionine to counteract edema caused by protein malnutrition. One of the people searching for a solution was the chemist Werner Schwarze, who had been working in Degussa’s organic chem- istry research department since 1943. Together with colleagues, he eventually found a solution by developing a tech- nically feasible method for synthesizing essential amino acids. The technique was initially used in the pharmaceutical sector before it quickly found much more exten- sive use for animal feed. Today, DL-me- 3 thionine is used on a large scale to greatly increase the nutritional value of animal The essential amino acid methionine is The freshly synthesized feed. Schwarze lived to see his invention’s needed to synthesize proteins in the ribo- proteins fold into their sustained success, dying in 2007 at the somes. The more methionine is available, final shape (tertiary protein age of 93. Since 1997, the Evonik Foun- the faster the ribosomes can synthesize dation has awarded the Werner Schwarze important proteins structure) Scholarship every year to support young scientists conducting amino acid research. Other amino acid Werner Biography Schwarze uses his knowledge of 1913 Born in Marl-Hüls organic chemistry 1931 Studies medicine at the to produce Georg August University in Göttingen methionine in order to 1933 Studies chemistry in Munich, counteract 1938 Receives his doctorate protein deficiency Methionine 1940 Contract with Degussa AG, Schwarze begins to conduct research in organic chemistry in 1943 1946/47 Schwarze manages to 1946/47 synthesize DL-methionine. Production begins one year later. Degussa creates the first technically feasible method for synthesizing DL-me- 1966 Development of Bladex thionine 1953 (a highly effective herbicide), which receives patents in 63 countries Use of methionine 1948 in animal feed 1967 Development of a manufacturing More Milestones of process for MDT Production of Chemistry can be found at: (methylmercapto-dichlorotriazine) DL-methionine begins geschichte.evonik.de/ sites/geschichte/en/ 1997 Werner Schwarze Scholarship for inventions promoting amino acid research 2007 Dies in Frankfurt/Main Graphic: KircherBurkhardt Infographic KircherBurkhardt Graphic: 1950

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EVMAG_0114_EN_5253_F+T_Methionin.indd 53 02.09.14 18:02 54 point of contact

Mari Mikkola is a 37-year-old Finn who began her academic career in the UK. She has taught applied philosophy at Humboldt University in Berlin since 2010. Her focus is on feminist philosophy—new territory for academic studies in Germany

“There Are Islands” The Finnish philosopher Mari Mikkola, 37, has made it her mission to integrate feminism into the field of academic philosophy. As a junior professor at Humboldt University in Berlin, she is doing pioneering work in this field in Germany

Social change is taking place at an ever faster mainstream. That’s why the most import- Is the liberalization regarding gender-relat- pace. To what extent is philosophy being ant impulses in the field are coming from ed issues affecting the field of philosophy? affected as well? there. The new themes that are being con- In Germany the effect can hardly be felt. Still far too little, unfortunately. The aca- sidered from a philosophical perspective Conservative academic philosophers don’t demic structures in Germany are rigid, and include reproduction, surrogate moth- feel responsible for gender issues, by con- nowadays the philosophers tend to emigrate. erhood, and artificial insemination. In trast to their colleagues in the Anglo-Amer- addition, a new methodology is being used. ican region. But there are islands—for exam- To what extent are traditional models still We’re asking what philosophical work is ple, at Humboldt University in Berlin. influencing current philosophical thought? doing to us—so the person who practices That depends on who is practicing it. In philosophy is herself or himself becoming We live in an era of constantly accelerating Germany, philosophy still depends on the the object of observation. communication. How is this influencing the specific academic generations that are field of philosophy? teaching it. In the field of education as well What would philosophical discourse look like Communication may be accelerating, but as in general, the demographic pyramid today if more women were active in the field? we’re not thinking any faster as a result. is standing on its head, so new ways of There are no specifically male or female However, new modes of communication thinking and new approaches are spread- systems of thought, so there’s no gender-spe- have become very important for philoso- ing very slowly. Because of my focus on cific discourse. The individuals who practice phy. Social media and blogs are allowing feminism and philosophy, I’m still consid- philosophy make the difference themselves. us to share ideas in practically unlimited ered an exotic outsider. It’s true that there are fewer women teach- ways. Many philosophers are exploring ing philosophy. The proportion of women new ideas and blogging about this process. What new emphases is feminism bringing to professors of philosophy is only 17 percent, Nowadays a blog is often the first step in philosophy? compared to 25 percent on average for other philosophical work. In Germany, feminism is a complex of academic fields. That’s largely due to the lack political issues. It’s different in the USA and of recognition of women, especially in this the UK, where the integration of feminism field. Another reason is the fact that feminism Further information is available at

into philosophy is part of the academic as a philosophical theme is still new territory. swipgermany.wordpress.com Getty / Fotolia Isselée Eric Images, Jäger, Malte Photo:

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EVMAG_0114_EN_5456_Outro_Poster_U4.indd 54 01.09.14 16:24 55

evonik Edition Knowledge №1

The world is complicated, but it’s not incomprehensible. Those who make an effort can soon identify essential relationships and find out which causes have which effects. Knowledge begins with the desire to understand and thus to get a better grasp of the world We’re happy to help you with this process. In Evonik Magazine we make complex relationships easy to see. To begin with, here’s a picture of the human brain. This organ integrates an astounding amount of information and processes it into knowledge

Proud as we are of our thoughts, decisions, and actions, we remain scarcely aware of more than 85% 80% of our brain’s performance 100,000,000,000 The brain is constantly at work by means of more than 100 billion nerve cells that are con-con nected with one another by synapses 200,000 The cells transmit stimuli and information via electric impulses and neurotransmitters. A single brain cell may be connected to as many as 200,000 synapses that never pause from their work We don’t knoW What We’re doing— but our brains are Well-informed

DATA HIGHWAYS The nerve tracts of the brain form complex data highways in the individual lobes in the cerebral cortex and beyond. This can be shown BRAIN STEM Presynaptic NEURO- Postsynaptic The color red shows how the by high-definition tractography, a new process neuron TRANSMITTER neuron brain increasingly follows prac- which images the fluid in the nerve fibers The brain stem is the oldest part of the ticed patterns brain in terms of the brain’s development. It is about as big as a thumb, and is located beneath the cerebrum and the cerebellum. It contains raphe nuclei, which carry out important functions related to biological MUSIC AS A rhythms MATTER OF NERVES Contact points (synapses) join the neurons Playing the violin requires some of to one another. They transmit excitation and the most complex brain performance information, partly by means of electrical ELECTRICAL impulses, and partly by means of chemical IMPULSE of which a person is capable—a messengers (neurotransmitters) masterpiece of integration

EVMAG_0114_EN_9999_GehirnPoster.indd 70 28.08.14 06:27

EVMAG_0114_EN_5456_Outro_Poster_U4.indd 55 03.09.14 15:29 Here We Are!

Mepron® lowers the feed costs for dairy cows. Methionine is now an essential part of modern animal feed. You can read why on pages 52 and 53. Power to create.

EVMAG_0114_EN_5456_Outro_Poster_U4.indd 56 01.09.14 16:25