Vector Stiftung
Vector Stiftung is a Stuttgart-based charitable foundation founded in 2011 that deploys approximately €12 million annually across ~650 MINT research, education, and social engagement projects in Baden-Württemberg, funded by dividends from its 60% stake in Vector Informatik GmbH.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersStuttgart, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Vector Stiftung does
Vector Stiftung is a Stuttgart-based charitable foundation (Stiftung bürgerlichen Rechts) founded in 2011 by Eberhard Hinderer, Martin Litschel, and Dr. Helmut Schelling, all co-founders of Vector Informatik GmbH. The foundation holds 60% of Vector Informatik GmbH and finances its activities through dividends from this equity stake, deploying approximately €12 million annually across roughly 650 projects and donations, with €11.6M expended in 2025 and over €100M in cumulative charitable deployment since inception.
The foundation operates three programmatic pillars: technical-scientific research (Forschung), MINT education (Bildung), and social engagement (Soziales Engagement), the last geographically focused on Baden-Württemberg. Key programs include "Mkid – Mathe kann ich doch!" for mathematics education, "MINT@School" for school STEM projects, "Forschung für den Klimaschutz" and "MINT-Innovationen" open research calls, a junior research group track "MINT für die Umwelt", and Housing First Baden-Württemberg — six model projects co-financed with the state ministry targeting homelessness. Recipients span 532 schools, universities including KIT and Universität Konstanz, municipalities, and social-sector NGOs.
The go-to-market is community-led and application-based: grants flow through an online portal (portal.vector-stiftung.de) and structured open calls (Ausschreibungen), with the WissensWert event series providing public engagement. Vector Stiftung has no commercial pricing model and generates no product revenue; its sole revenue stream is dividend income from Vector Informatik GmbH. The organization is lean (1–10 employees) and self-describes as one of Germany's largest technology-focused foundations.
Vector Stiftung firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vector Stiftung
- Legal name
- Vector Stiftung
- Website
- https://vector-stiftung.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Vector Stiftung is a Stuttgart-based charitable foundation founded in 2011 that deploys approximately €12 million annually across ~650 MINT research, education, and social engagement projects in Baden-Württemberg, funded by dividends from its 60% stake in Vector Informatik GmbH.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vector Stiftung industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charitable Foundation and Grantmaking
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC), Research Grants, Fellowships & Stipends (International) (EDAIAOAJ), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)
Keywords
Where Vector Stiftung is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stuttgart
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Vector Stiftung business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Others
Revenue model
- Dividend Income: Vector Stiftung is a company-linked foundation (unternehmensverbundene Stiftung) that holds 60% of the shares of Vector Informatik GmbH. The foundation finances its charitable activities through dividends received from this equity stake. This provides a sustainable, recurring revenue stream for their grant-making activities.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Vector Stiftung product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vector Stiftung is a charitable foundation that funds approximately 650 projects per year with roughly 12 million euros across three program areas: technical-scientific research (with focus on climate protection and MINT innovation), MINT/STEM education, and social engagement (combating homelessness and youth unemployment) in Baden-Württemberg. Its activities are financed primarily through dividends paid by Vector Informatik GmbH, in which the foundation holds a 60% share.
Product overview
Vector Stiftung is a company-linked charitable foundation (unternehmensverbundene Stiftung) established in 2011 that does not offer commercial products. Its activities are organized into three main programmatic areas: Research (Forschung), Education (Bildung), and Social Engagement (Soziales Engagement). The foundation funds approximately 650 projects annually with around 12 million euros. Key programs include Mkid – Mathe kann ich doch! for MINT education, MINT@School for school-based STEM projects, research funding for climate protection, the Housing First social housing initiative, and the WissensWert public lecture series on future-oriented topics.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mkid – Mathe kann ich doch!
Quantifiable outcome
- 532 schools in Baden-Württemberg have benefited from foundation funding
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Vector Stiftung
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Vector Stiftung technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Vector Stiftung partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Ministerium für Soziales, Gesundheit und Integration Baden-WürttembergcoreJoint funding partnership for Housing First projects in Baden-Württemberg. The foundation co-finances six Housing First model projects with the state ministry, with both parties sharing the goal of combating homelessness in the region.
- aim – Akademie für Innovative Bildung und ManagementmajorVector Stiftung supports the 'Sprache fürs Leben' (Language for Life) program, which has been operated by aim since 2006. The foundation provides additional funding to extend the program to more schools in northern Baden-Württemberg.
- Diakonieverband Dornahof & Erlacher Höhe e.V.majorPartner organization for 'Housing First Schussental' project, implementing the Housing First approach in the Ravensburg area.
- Stadt HerrenbergmajorMunicipal partner for 'Erst.Ein.zu:Hause' Housing First project, providing housing support services for people experiencing homelessness.
- Stadt HeidelbergmajorMunicipal partner for 'Housing First Heidelberg' project.
- Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe gGmbHmajorPartner organization for 'Raus aus der Wohnungslosigkeit – rein in die Zukunft!' Housing First project in Reutlingen.
- Diakonisches Werk FreiburgmajorPartner organization for 'HILA – Housing First für Frauen' project, providing specialized housing support for women experiencing homelessness.
- Stadt EsslingenmajorMunicipal partner for 'Housing First Esslingen' project.
- Stifterverband für die Deutsche WissenschaftminorFoundation is a member of the Stifterverband, Germany's largest private science funding organization.
- Stiftungsnetzwerk Region Stuttgart e.V.minorFoundation is a member of the regional foundation network based in Stuttgart.
- Nationales MINT Forum e.V.minorFoundation is a member of the National MINT Forum, a network focused on STEM education promotion in Germany.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Vector Stiftung competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- VolkswagenStiftung: One of Germany's largest science and technology foundations, funding bold and unconventional research across MINT disciplines with open calls. Most directly comparable to Vector Stiftung in programmatic focus, scale of MINT research funding, and commitment to junior research groups.
- Klaus Tschira Stiftung: German foundation specifically focused on STEM education, natural sciences, and computer science. Highly comparable to Vector Stiftung in thematic concentration on MINT and commitment to K–12 STEM pipeline plus research funding.
- Joachim Herz Stiftung: Hamburg-based foundation focused on STEM education, science, and economic education. Comparable to Vector Stiftung in dedicated MINT K–12/early-career programming and structured grant-making partnerships with universities.
- Fritz Thyssen Stiftung: German foundation supporting science and research across universities and institutes. Comparable to Vector Stiftung as a research-focused funder with structured grant programs and academic partnerships, though with broader disciplinary scope beyond MINT.
- Dieter Schwarz Stiftung: German foundation focused on education, science, and youth development, anchored in Baden-Württemberg. Comparable to Vector Stiftung in regional southwest Germany focus, K–12 STEM emphasis, and company-linked (Schwarz Group) funding base.
- Siemens Stiftung: Company-linked foundation of Siemens AG focused on STEM education, social innovation, and international development. Comparable to Vector Stiftung as a corporate-foundation funder of MINT programs with structured open calls and partner-driven delivery.
- Carl Zeiss Stiftung: Company-linked German foundation funding STEM research and education with a regional concentration in Baden-Württemberg/Thuringia. Most analogous peer to Vector Stiftung in combining a regional southwest Germany footprint with MINT research grants and university partnerships.
Others
- Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft: Germany's largest private association of science-funding companies and foundations; Vector Stiftung is a member. Comparable as ecosystem infrastructure for German science philanthropy rather than a direct grantmaking competitor; relevant for benchmarking funding capacity and policy influence.
Broad incumbents
- Bertelsmann Stiftung: One of Germany's largest operating foundations with deep policy and education focus. Comparable to Vector Stiftung as a major German company-linked funder of education and social research, though vastly larger in budget and broader in thematic scope.
- Robert Bosch Stiftung: One of Germany's largest corporate foundations with a much broader thematic scope (education, health, society, international relations). Comparable as a Stuttgart-based company-linked foundation with major German MINT and social programming, but operates at significantly larger scale and national scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Vector Stiftung social profiles
Digital presenceVector Stiftung financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vector Stiftung leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Vector Stiftung funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vector Stiftung M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vector Stiftung
What does Vector Stiftung do?
Vector Stiftung is a charitable foundation that funds approximately 650 projects per year with roughly 12 million euros across three program areas: technical-scientific research (with focus on climate protection and MINT innovation), MINT/STEM education, and social engagement (combating homelessness and youth unemployment) in Baden-Württemberg. Its activities are financed primarily through dividends paid by Vector Informatik GmbH, in which the foundation holds a 60% share.
Is Vector Stiftung a public or private company?
Vector Stiftung is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Vector Stiftung founded?
Vector Stiftung was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Vector Stiftung based?
Vector Stiftung is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Vector Stiftung make money?
One revenue line is on record: dividend Income.
Who are Vector Stiftung's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are VolkswagenStiftung, Klaus Tschira Stiftung, Joachim Herz Stiftung, Fritz Thyssen Stiftung, Dieter Schwarz Stiftung, Siemens Stiftung and Carl Zeiss Stiftung. Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Bertelsmann Stiftung and Robert Bosch Stiftung.
Does Vector Stiftung have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vector Stiftung.
What industry is Vector Stiftung in?
Vector Stiftung's product category is Charitable Foundation and Grantmaking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAI, Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAC, Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking. Its NAICS code is 813211.