New company will handle the project’s operational tasks going forward
With its official registration at the Ulm Local Court, the new Albert Einstein Discovery Center Foundation gGmbH has now begun operations. Through this nonprofit limited liability company, the association will consolidate the project’s operational tasks effective immediately, thereby putting the work on a professional footing. “What the association—which now has more than 1,300 members—has built up to this point is remarkable. For negotiations with major donors and sponsors, for legally sound contracts, but also for the concrete planning, implementation, and ultimately the operation of the Albert Einstein Discovery Center, we now need a structure that is specifically designed for these purposes,” says association chair Dr. Nancy Hecker-Denschlag, explaining the move. The term “Foundation” was deliberately included in the company name. “Internationally, this term immediately signals to potential supporters that this is a nonprofit project worthy of support. However, our goals can be achieved much more easily under the legal form of a gGmbH than under that of a traditional foundation,” says Nancy Hecker-Denschlag.
Dr. Joachim Koenen was appointed as the sole managing director of the gGmbH and will serve in this capacity on a volunteer basis. Close coordination with the association is ensured by the president, Dr. Nancy Hecker-Denschlag, and her deputy, Jens Burkert, who serve as co-managing directors. “As a physicist, I’ve been closely connected to the idea of the Albert Einstein Discovery Center for years and have known Nancy Hecker-Denschlag since her early days in Ulm. When she asked me if I’d like to take on this role, I didn’t have to think twice,” said Dr. Joachim Koenen. He is one of the “First 11” major donors and has many years of experience in corporate management. In 1997, together with Dr. Olaf Hollricher and Dr. Klaus Weishaupt from the University of Ulm, he founded WITec GmbH (Wissenschaftliche Instrumente und Technologie GmbH). The company grew into a world-leading manufacturer of high-resolution optical microscopes and Raman imaging systems. In September 2021, WITec was acquired by the British Oxford Instruments Group. Koenen initially remained active as managing director, but in 2024, “ ” transitioned to a senior management role. “I am delighted that we were able to bring on board Jo Koenen, such an experienced entrepreneur who, as a physicist, also understands the substance of what we are aiming for with the planned immersive experience centered on the life and work of Albert Einstein,” says Nancy Hecker-Denschlag. “This allows us to move forward with great optimism as we take the next step in realizing our future project for Ulm.” Among the new company’s first tasks are developing a business plan and updating the feasibility study. Also on the agenda are planning a sponsor event and a visit to the Hebrew University in Jerusalem to strengthen bilateral relations.
Advisory Board and Board of Trustees Support the Work
The management team is supported by an advisory board comprising Dr. Bernhard Hock of the Pressedruck media group and Dr. Henning von Sethe, head of the legal department at Volksbank Ulm-Biberach. In addition, a high-profile board of trustees advises the gGmbH and anchors the project within the city, the academic community, and the business sector: Ulm’s Mayor Martin Ansbacher, Prof. Dr. Michael Kühl (President of the University of Ulm as of October 1, 2026), Dr. Jan Stefan Roell (President of the Ulm Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Stefan Bill (Chairman of the Board of Sparkasse Ulm), and Stefan Hell (Spokesperson for the Board of Volksbank Ulm-Biberach eG).
Nothing will change for members and supporters of the association
Memberships and donations will continue to be handled by the association as before, and donation receipts will be issued as usual. All information on supporting the project is available at https://einstein.center/spenden/?lang=en.
