Klaus Tschira
SAP co-founder and patron of science
- Lived
- 74 yrs
- 1940 – 2015
- Works listed
- 0
- Career highlights
- Honours
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Klaus Tschira was a German physicist and entrepreneur who co-founded SAP in 1972. He used his wealth to support science through the Klaus Tschira Foundation, which funds research and the Heidelberg Laureate Forum. He died in 2015.
Biography
Background
Tschira studied physics at Karlsruhe and joined IBM in 1966.
SAP
He co-founded SAP in 1972 and served on its board for decades, shaping its software and culture.
Foundation
In 1995 he founded the Klaus Tschira Foundation, funding natural sciences, mathematics and computer science, including the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies.
Heidelberg Laureate Forum
From 2013 his foundation organised the annual Heidelberg Laureate Forum, where winners of the Turing Award, Abel Prize and Fields Medal meet young researchers. He died in 2015.
Timeline
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1940
Born in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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1966
Joins IBM
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1972
Co-founds SAP
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1995
Klaus Tschira Foundation
-
2010
Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies
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2013
First Heidelberg Laureate Forum
-
2015
Dies
-
2015
Died, aged 74
Did you know?
-
1
He studied physics at Karlsruhe before joining IBM.
-
2
He funded science journalism prizes.
-
3
He trained as a physicist.
Connections
Frequently asked
Who is Klaus Tschira?
Klaus Tschira was a German physicist and entrepreneur who co-founded SAP in 1972. He used his wealth to support science through the Klaus Tschira Foundation, which funds research and the Heidelberg Laureate Forum. He died in 2015.
When did Klaus Tschira die?
Klaus Tschira died on 31 March 2015 at the age of 74.
Where is Klaus Tschira from?
Klaus Tschira was born in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.
What is Klaus Tschira known for?
Klaus Tschira is best known for Co-founding SAP (1972); Klaus Tschira Foundation; Heidelberg Laureate Forum.
References
- Klaus Tschira — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- Klaus Tschira (Q95452) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Klaus Tschira”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 4 November 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Klaus Tschira.” TrackFame, last updated 5 November 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/klaus-tschira
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