Internationale Martin Luther Stiftung

The daily Luther

28th March

And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.

Interpretation of Martin Luther ...

Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller - Awardee of the LutherRose 2017

On Sunday, 22nd October 2017, Dr. Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller, CEO of TRUMPF GmbH + Co KG, was awarded the LutherRose 2017 for social responsibility and entrepreneurial courage in the ballroom of Wartburg Castle near Eisenach.

As part of the 10th Luther Conference, the International Martin Luther Foundation (IMLS) honoured Dr. Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller as "an impressive personality and successful entrepreneur who embodies Martin Luther's reformatory values both professionally and privately." As CEO, Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller has successfully guided the family business TRUMPF through the last global economic crisis and established it as one of the world's leading manufacturers of machine tools. In doing so, the company has consistently avoided redundancies. In recent years, the company has increasingly focussed on the introduction of innovative working time models designed to ensure a good work-life balance.

In her acceptance speech, Dr. Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller emphasised that she saw the award as a reminder that the spirit of Luther and freedom should not be celebrated as something historical, but should be applied to the present day. "Europe and the West are facing great challenges with the promise of freedom. They are not only facing religious fundamentalism from outside, but also doubts about liberal society from within."

Prof. Dr. Renate Köcher, Managing Director of the Allensbach Institute for Public Opinion Research, paid tribute to the awardee in her laudatory speech: "Many entrepreneurs are afraid to take a public stance. Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller takes a stand - out of the conviction that this is also part of the responsibility of entrepreneurs. The economy shapes society and social changes and political decisions shape the conditions for companies. Business must therefore engage in dialogue with society and politics, but few do this with as much courage and commitment as Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller."

The keynote speech on the topic "500 Years of Reformation. 10 years of the International Martin Luther Foundation - The Foundation for Social Responsibility and Entrepreneurial Courage" was given by the Chairman of the Board of the International Martin Luther Foundation, Dr. Michael J. Inacker. In the context of the just ending anniversary of the Reformation and its historical significance, Dr. Inacker looked back on the Foundation's work to date and gave an outlook on future tasks.

On the topic of this year's panel discussion "Life after Luther. Faith, freedom and responsibility in the 21st century" on Monday, 23rd October, previous winners of the LutherRose and guests took part in the discussion. In addition to the newly elected IMLS Board of Trustees member, Siegen-based building contractor Reinhard Quast, the panelists included the former CEO of E. Merck KG, Jon Baumhauer, Swiss entrepreneur Dietrich Pestalozzi and the head of the Evangelische Verlagsanstalt publishing house, Dr. Annette Weidhas. The panel discussion in the Wappensaal of the Romantik Hotel at Wartburg Castle was moderated by IMLS Managing Director Dr. Thomas A. Seidel.

Dr. Michael Knoche was awarded the "Golden Luther Medal" by the International Martin Luther Foundation as part of the festive podium. The former director of the Duchess Anna Amalia Library received this special honour for his efforts following the fire at the Anna Amalia Library in Weimar in 2004. Knoche managed to save the precious Luther Bible from 1534 from the flames, along with numerous other important works.