To promote entrepreneurial independence and entrepreneurial behavior, the Foerderkreis Gruendungs-Forschung e.V. (FGF) was founded in 1987 on an initiative of Prof. Dr. Norbert Szyperski from the Schmalenbach working group “Innovative business foundation”.
In establishing the FGF, the founders wanted to achieve increased recognition of issues relating to setting up a business in German-speaking countries, in both public and economic policy discussions. Moreover, they intended to anchor issues such as start-up management and entrepreneurship as core components of research and teaching at universities and universities of applied science.
Over time, the FGF has expanded to cover further subjects pertaining to innovation and German Mittelstand. Today, with more than 300 individual and institutional members, the FGF is the leading scientific association for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and German Mittelstand in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
An overview of past and honorary presidents of the FGF since its foundation in 1987 can be found here.