Following the successful conclusion of the first stage of Siemens’ Diversity Initiative, Jill Lee is leaving her position as Chief Diversity Officer to return to operations and take up a new challenge outside the company. Peter Löscher, Siemens President and CEO, thanked Jill Lee for her successful work and paid tribute to her achievements: “We now have a worldwide network of very active and committed Diversity Ambassadors. We’ve introduced systematic diversity processes in personnel development and for filling management positions. These steps are enabling us to match the diversity of our customers and businesses while opening up even better chances for our employees to develop their talents and expertise all around the globe.”
The Siemens Stiftung presented the children’s program slated for the Siemens Festival Night in Bayreuth on August 21, 2010. The presentation was made on the occasion of the opening of the Bayreuth Festival 2010. The program, supported by the Siemens Stiftung, is intended to encourage young people to join the multi-generational ranks of tomorrow’s audiences. The Siemens Stiftung and its President Peter Löscher view the foundation’s fostering of culture and the arts as part of its commitment to education and a focal point of its work. “That’s why we’re offering younger generations a venue for experiencing creativ-ity,” noted Michael Rossnagl, who heads the Stiftung’s activities in culture and the arts. A specially designed series of hands-on stations gives youngsters the opportunity to experi-ment with make-up and costumes, try their hand at scenery painting or play various musical instruments. This will help generate enthusiasm for the world of opera at a tender age and show that opera doesn’t mean just sitting still.
In about 48 hours, the first of a total of some 70 million visitors will descend on the World Expo in Shanghai, the largest world exposition of all time. This event will pose a severe test for the city’s infrastructure, which has therefore been upgraded in time for the expo’s opening on May 1, 2010. And Siemens has supplied much of the infrastructure, providing technology worth more than €1 billion. About 90 percent of this amount is related to sustainable, environmentally friendly products and solutions – for example, for efficient transportation and clean air and water in Shanghai. Siemens has also supplied technology used in more than 40 projects on the exhibition grounds. As Siemens CEO Peter Löscher said, “The entire Expo is our pavilion.”
Siemens AG has honored its best suppliers worldwide in fiscal 2009. The German engineering office, BIS Gas Turbine Systems, located in Bremen, Germany, took first place in the overall ranking. Siemens also presented awards in particularly important subcategories to its best suppliers in the areas Innovation and Global Value Sourcing. These awards went to the French-Italian semiconductor producer STMicroelectronics and the U.S. developer of hearing aid components Knowles Electronics Holding Inc., respectively. “In presenting these awards, we want to honor the partners who have helped us reach the market better and faster,” said Barbara Kux, Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG, at the awards ceremony near Munich, Germany on Thursday.
In its decision today regarding the so-called transformer cartel, the European Commission refrained from imposing a fine on Siemens AG. For its decisive role in helping expose the cartel, the company was granted state’s witness status.
Atherosclerosis, more commonly known as arterial clogging, is the most widespread disease in most nations of the world. In a recent presentation at the Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association meeting in Orlando, Fla., an international research team has documented that the people of antiquity suffered from clogged arteries, as well. Through the use of a SOMATOM® Emotion 6 computed tomography (CT) scanner from Siemens Healthcare, the team discovered the atherosclerosis in Egyptian mummies as old as 3,500 years.
Siemens has confirmed its targets for fiscal 2009 even in the current challenging global economic environment. “Our third-quarter results demonstrate that we are fully on track to achieve our targets for fiscal 2009,” said Siemens’ President and CEO Peter Löscher. In the third quarter, Siemens’ strong order backlog softened the impact of the global recession on the company’s revenue and profit. Revenue declined to approximately €18.3 billion. Excluding currency translation effects and portfolio transactions, revenue was down 4% from the third quarter a year earlier. Total Sectors profit decreased to approximately €1.7 billion. Orders of approximately €17.2 billion in the third quarter were well below the prior-year level. The decline is attributable in part to the high order level posted in the prior year, which included a major order worth roughly €1.4 billion from the Belgian state railway system. Backlog for the Sectors totaled €84.3 billion at the end of the third quarter. “We again did particularly well compared with our most important competitors,” CEO Löscher noted. ”As expected, the macroeconomic environment clearly left its mark on new business. We had already prepared for that ahead of time. We are also carefully considering the challenges ahead. We will continue the rigorous pursuit of our corporate policy focused on sustainability,” Löscher said.
The countdown is on: In about 50 days, the Expo 2010 in Shanghai will open its doors to the world. About 70 million visitors are expected in the Chinese metropolis. It is supposed to be the first green world exhibition in Expo history. Siemens supplied most of the necessary infrastructure to ensure that the stream of visitors can be accommodated in an environmentally friendly manner. Siemens was awarded contracts in connection with the Expo with a total value of more than one billion euros. About 90 percent of this amount is related to environmentally friendly products and solutions. "Once again, we have proven that our environmental portfolio has exactly what cities need to hold events of worldwide importance like the Expo 2010 in accordance with the principles of environmental protection," said Richard Hausmann, CEO Siemens Northeast Asia and President and CEO of Siemens Ltd., China. As a global Expo partner, Siemens has supplied technology used in more than 40 projects on the Expo ground. In addition, Siemens supplied infrastructure that will make this event memorable for all its visitors, including technology for rapid mass tran-sit, clean air, cleaner water and ultra-modern health care in Shanghai. "Our green technology will continue to upgrade the city's infrastructure well after the Expo. Thus, it is a triple win for Expo visitors, for the host city of Shanghai and for Siemens," Hausmann said.
From April to November, a unique mobile exhibition will showcase the latest developments in science and technology in Germany. In 12 cars extending over more than 300 meters of track, the Science Express will offer visitors a “hands-on experience of the future.” Siemens is supporting the exhibition as one of three partners from the business community. “For me, sustainability is the most pressing issue of the 21st century,” said Siemens President and CEO Peter Löscher. “It’s also a key focus of the Science Express. That’s why we’re very pleased to support this exciting journey into the world of tomorrow.” To highlight future-oriented research topics and innovations, Siemens is contributing 13 exhibits on issues ranging from energy, the environment and healthcare to mobility and urban life as well as related projects at several of the stops on the train’s itinerary. Sponsored by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Science Express will be one of the German government’s main activities to honor Science Year 2009 and commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the German Federal Republic.
Siemens AG anticipates massive investments will be made in infrastructure in major cities throughout the world in the coming years. The largest part of the funds will be invested in ecofriendly solutions. “Cities are the growth drivers of the future, yet also account for the biggest share of CO2 emissions. Cities worldwide are the decisive factor for our climate. With our unique Environmental Portfolio, Siemens is the perfect partner for sustainable urban development,” said Siemens President and CEO Peter Löscher.