Catalyzing Science and
Social Innovation to create Health for All and Hunger for None!
Our Vision
Bayer Foundation’s vision is to catalyze advances in Science and Social Innovation for a world with Health for all, Hunger for none. There is no meaningful progress without science and social innovation. Fundamental research and cutting-edge advances in science are the basis for progress. Social innovators bring concrete and long-lasting change to people and communities.
It is Bayer Foundation’s mission to identify and support people who can shape a better and fairer tomorrow and enable them to unlock their full potential.
![Living Good Pic Living Good Pic](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-03/Cover%20Women.png)
Our Programs
Bayer Foundation offers two program portfolios: The science program targets scientists, students, pupils and science organisations. The social innovation program addresses social enterprises, non-profits and other relevant stakeholders in the social impact ecosystem.
![Programs Programs](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/About%20Cover.jpg)
Foundation Leadership
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Portrait%2014.png)
Dr. Monika Lessl (View CV)
Executive Director Bayer Foundation, SVP, Bayer AG
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-10/Santos%20round.png)
Rodrigo Santos
Executive Director Bayer Foundation - Social Innovation Program, Board of Management Bayer AG and President of Crop Science Division
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-10/StefanOelrich_round.png)
Stefan Oelrich
Executive Director Bayer Foundation - Science Program, Board of Management Bayer AG and President of Pharmaceuticals
Foundation team:
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Portrait%202.png)
Simone Jonek
Foundation Office & Programs
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Portrait%2015.png)
Rawan Alkurdi
Foundation Office & Program Support
![Title Peng Zhong](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Portrait%2020.png)
Dr. Peng Zhong
Director Social Innovation
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Portrait%2012.png)
Stefan Wilhelm
Associate Director Social Innovation
![Title Jana op den Winkel](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Portrait%201.png)
Jana op den Winkel
Program Manager Social Innovation and Communications Manager
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Portrait%207.png)
Dr. Tatjana Gust
Associate Director of Science Programs
![Title Julie Lüttgen](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2022-09/Foto_Julie.jpg)
Julie Lüttgen
Program Manager Science & Education
![Title Dr. Tanja Feilner](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Portrait%209.png)
Dr. Tanja Feilner
Program Manager Science & Education
![Title Hedda Weber](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Portrait%2010.png)
Hedda Weber
Working Student Science & Education
![Title Haia Idlibi Wazan](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-06/Profile%20Pictures%20%281%29.png)
Haia Idlibi Wazan
Science Intern
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Portrait%204.png)
Drishti Mohley
Foundation Office Intern
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Portrait%2017.png)
Tiffany Siew
Communications Intern
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Portrait%2018.png)
Charles Osei Mensah
Social Innovation Intern
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Portrait%2013.png)
David van Rosmalen
Social Innovation Intern
Foundation Strategic Advisors:
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2020-07/michael.png)
Dr. Michael Metzlaff
Strategic Advisor Science
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2020-07/michael-schwall.png)
Dr. Michael Schwall
Strategic Advisor Social Innovation
Foundation Governance:
Our Science Impact programs are run by the Bayer Science and Education Foundation.
Our Social Innovation programs are run by the Bayer Cares Foundation.
Both Foundations are governed by the respective Board of Trustees, which is tasked to support with regards to strategic, content and funding decisions. Both Foundations are steered by an Executive Board of which Dr. Monika Lessl is a member.
Board of Trustees for Science Impact
Our Board of Trustees for Science Impact support the Foundation's Executive Directors with regards to strategic, content and funding decisions.
![Title Alt tag](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2020-07/boars-of-trustees.png)
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2020-07/Edith%20Heard.png)
Prof. Edith Heard (View CV)
Prof. Dr. Edith Heard is the Chairwoman of the Bayer Foundation Board of Trustees for the Science Program and Director General of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL).
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2020-07/prof-wokfgang.png)
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Plischke (View CV)
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Plischke is Senator of the Helmholtz Association for the research area of Health. Until end of 2021 he was member of the Supervisory Board of Bayer AG. He was a member of Bayer’s Board of Management, with responsibility for Technology, Innovation and Sustainability at Bayer until 2014.
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2020-07/dr-robert.png)
Dr. Robert Reiter (View CV)
Dr. Robert Reiter is Head of Research & Development (R&D), Crop Science. He also serves as a member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team.
![Title Christian Rommel](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2022-09/Christian%20Rommel.png)
Dr. Christian Rommel (View CV)
Dr. Christian Rommel is Global Head of Research & Development (R&D), Pharmaceuticals. He also serves as a member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team.
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-10/StefanOelrich_round.png)
Stefan Oelrich
Stefan is Executive Director Bayer Foundation - Science Program and Member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG as well as President of Pharmaceuticals.
Board of Trustees for Social Innovation
Our Board of Trustees for Social Innovation support the Foundation's Executive Directors with regards to strategic, content and funding decisions.
![Title Alt tag](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2020-06/Social_Innovation_Picture.png)
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2020-07/andre%CC%81-habisch%20%281%29.png)
Prof. Dr. André Habisch
Prof. Dr. André Habisch is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Bayer Cares Foundation. He also teaches Business Ethics and Corporate Citizenship at Ingolstadt School of Management (WFI) and is the Associate Research Director of the Academy of Business in Society (ABIS).
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2020-07/Michael%20Preuss%20%281%29.png)
Dr. Michael Preuss (View CV)
Michael Preuss is Head of Communications at Bayer AG.
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2020-07/Matthias%20Berninger%20%281%29.png)
Matthias Berninger (View CV)
Matthias Berninger is Head of Sustainability and Public and Governmental Affairs at Bayer AG.
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-10/Santos%20round.png)
Rodrigo Santos
Rodrigo is Executive Director Bayer Foundation' s Social Innovation Program and Member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG as well as President of Crop Science Division.
Members of the Foundation’s Science Council
Members of the Science Council select the winners of the Foundation's science awards. They also provide advice to shape the Foundation's programs, ensuring they reflect advancements in the life sciences.
![Title Alt tag](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2020-07/boars-of-trustees.png)
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2020-07/Edith%20Heard.png)
Prof. Edith Heard (View CV)
Director General at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2020-07/prof-regine.png)
Prof. Regine Kahmann (View CV)
Emeritus Acting Head at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2020-07/prof-lothar.png)
Prof. Lothar Willmitzer (View CV)
Former Director at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology in Potsdam
![Title Image alt](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2020-07/prof-dirk.png)
Prof. Dirk Trauner (View CV)
Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor at the University of Pennsylvania