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To our stockholders

Responsibility to society

It is part of our tradition that we not only see ThyssenKrupp as a business enterprise but are also aware of the obligations a major industrial group has in our society. ThyssenKrupp supports a number of projects in schools and education, art and culture as well as in the humanitarian field. At the same time we focus on promoting dialogue on technology across all areas of society and all age groups.

We are expanding our presence worldwide and meeting the economic challenges of the future with innovative and flexible solutions. This involves increasing responsibility to society, which is why we are focusing more strongly on social and cultural issues. Since we operate within society, we take on responsibility in areas well beyond our direct fields of business. Where it is expedient, where there are links with our traditions or our business, we support non-profit institutions, projects and initiatives. In this, we are guided by criteria based on the Group's understanding of value and responsibility.

ThyssenKrupp regards itself as a responsible corporate citizen and actively brings its efforts to bear in various areas. We provide recurring support in particular to regions in which the Group operates. This is reflected in the wide range of projects we support – be it in culture, education and sport or in social, charitable and humanitarian activities. We focus not only on providing financial support to create a basis for sustainable development but also on cooperating in initiatives with other partners. With our activities we want to make a positive contribution to society, which is why we are particularly committed to supporting young people. The Company expressly welcomes the voluntary work carried out by our employees as it is the key to a properly functioning social environment.

We mainly support initiatives and projects aimed at strengthening regions with which the Group has traditional links or where we have business operations. For instance, for many years we have been providing financial and moral support to the Initiativkreis Ruhrgebiet, a body which is dedicated to promoting the image of the Ruhr. It carries out projects which provide important impetus for the now well-advanced structural transformation and enhance the region's reputation. We unconditionally support the goal of safeguarding and enriching the future of this key European region and its people over the long term – by generating new impetus, promoting investment and supporting science, sport and culture. Each year we sponsor a stand-out concert event as part of the Ruhr Piano Festival created by Initiativkreis Ruhrgebiet.

A rich cultural program for the people who live in the Rhine-Ruhr region is a matter particularly close to our hearts. The Group is therefore involved in numerous projects and provides both financial and moral support. This helps bring attractive events to areas close to ThyssenKrupp's major locations. We are convinced that our commitment to the region's cultural life also has a positive effect on working life at ThyssenKrupp by promoting imagination, inquisitiveness and open-mindedness. For example, we support the philharmonic orchestras in Essen and Duisburg, the Deutsche Oper am Rhein opera company and the Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus theater.

In sport we mainly promote selected competitions and small sports clubs close to our locations. In addition, we have for many years supported the annual Rhine-Ruhr Marathon and the international rowing regatta in Duisburg.

Apprentices carry out voluntary work

Young people from all apprenticeship schemes at ThyssenKrupp Nirosta regularly contribute to social projects in association with the Krefeld Volunteer Center. This allows them to use the skills and knowledge they have gained to provide help where it is needed most. ThyssenKrupp Nirosta supports them by allowing them time off work when necessary. These projects give the young people the chance to prove their reliability and act independently.

Focus on areas important for the future: innovation and education

In particular in innovation and education, areas of decisive importance for the future, the Group's extensive activities have a far-reaching effect on society. We are firmly convinced that education is the key to securing the future of Germany and making the next generation fit for the global market.

ThyssenKrupp cooperates intensively with numerous universities in Germany and abroad to help promote the dialogue between education, research and industry. We are currently collaborating particularly closely with seven partner universities in Germany. In extensive partnership programs with Aachen Technical University, Ruhr University Bochum, Dortmund Technical University, Dresden Technical University, Freiberg Technical University, Hamburg-Harburg Technical University and Berlin Technical University, joint projects are pursued and resources utilized to benefit both the partner universities and ThyssenKrupp. In addition, we finance individual university chairs, for example at Tongji University in Shanghai. We also fund fellowships to promote the further development of the ESMT European School of Management and Technology, of which ThyssenKrupp is a founding member. We also provide ongoing support through our long-standing membership of the academic funding association Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft.

With the backing of other industrial partners, ThyssenKrupp and the Ruhr University Bochum established the legal framework for a joint institute for new materials under a cooperation agreement in March 2007. The Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung (iron research institute) and Aachen Techncial University are also involved. Unique in Europe, the "Interdisciplinary Centre for Advanced Materials Simulation" based at the Ruhr University Bochum will start work in full at the beginning of 2008. In addition to research work, the institute, which will have three endowed professorships, will extend the syllabus of Bochum University with a new course in material simulation. Turn to section innovation for more details.

In October 2006 the Blohm + Voss shipyard organized a contest as part of the ThyssenKrupp Technologies Engineering Competition with the aim of providing technically-minded students with an initial insight into the work of a project engineer. Eight teams from the universities of Aachen, Berlin, Bochum, Braunschweig, Dresden, Hamburg, Munich and Karlsruhe entered. They were required to solve a real-life engineering problem in eight hours. Their solutions were then presented to a panel of judges comprising representatives of ThyssenKrupp Technologies and the universities. The winning team received a fellowship. Further non-cash prizes were also awarded. ThyssenKrupp Technologies also awards fellowships to support a combined "global engineering program" for outstanding international students run by the Northern Institute of Technology in association with the Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg. The program combines a masters degree in engineering sciences with an MBA in technology management.

Discover future technology

Firing people's enthusiasm for technology is the chief objective of many of our activities. Technology is made by people for people with the aim of benefiting people. For this Germany needs people with the curiosity and courage to make changes.

ThyssenKrupp's activities in education and technology are combined in the "Discover future technology" initiative. Against the background of an increasing shortage of young people entering technical professions, the initiative is designed to promote dialogue on technology across all areas of society and all age groups. Together with numerous partners from industry, politics, science and the media, we hope to generate impetus for the future with this initiative. The aim is to attract young people to technical apprenticeships or engineering degrees. They need to discover that education is the key to a positive future. A highlight of the initiative is the Ideas Park.

Above all the Ideas Park gives families with children the chance to discover technical innovations and develop their own ideas for the future. So far around 260,000 visitors have come to the Ideas Park – around 20,000 people on each day of the event. This makes it probably the most popular non-commercial technology event in Germany, attracting visitors from all regions. The next Ideas Park will be held in Stuttgart in May 2008. On an exhibition and activity area of some 40,000 m2, more than 150 interactive exhibits will give visitors an informative and entertaining insight into the world of technology. Entry will again be free to allow as many families as possible to attend.

Aim of support: qualified young employees

ThyssenKrupp continues to support Formula Student Germany, an international design competition for students. The students taking part in Formula Student Germany already have a passion for technology. As well as developing a racing car, this program gives them the opportunity to practice interdisciplinary cooperation with people from different fields. This allows them to gain practical experience before leaving university and strengthen their non-academic skills such as practical and joined-up thinking and life-long learning as well as social and methodology competences. Together with a good education, these factors play an important role in career development. Motorsport is an ideal medium for this because the car is an attractive product and the auto industry and its suppliers are an important economic factor in Germany.

As well as fostering enthusiasm for technology, ThyssenKrupp also supports Formula Student Germany for purely practical reasons. The Group recruits some 500 university graduates each year, around 75% of them have degrees in engineering, e.g. mechanical, electrical or industrial engineering. For this reason we seek contact with students on selected degree courses from an early stage in their studies – be it at careers fairs, via university partnerships, through the ThyssenKrupp study support program or via Formula Student Germany.

Substantial funding is also allocated to several initiatives which promote the technology and innovation dialogue in Germany and facilitate knowledge sharing. These include for example the "People with ideas" program and the German President's award for technology and innovation (German Future Prize).

We also support the "Knowledge Factory" initiative launched as an open platform to allow companies to impart knowledge to young people and share know-how with young entrepreneurs. ThyssenKrupp was one of the founding members of the Knowledge Factory, which is involved in education projects as well as initiatives for business startups and young entrepreneurs throughout Germany on behalf of its member companies. In the framework of these activities to secure Germany's future as a business location, the "Learning through research – experiencing technology" project was launched in association with the Partner für Schule NRW foundation (partners for schools in North Rhine-Westphalia). This project promotes the sustained integration of technology into the school curriculum and the establishment of a firm place for technology in the timetable. The aim is to carefully foster children's natural inquisitiveness and instinctive thirst for knowledge and discovery from primary school age and to fire their enthusiasm for scientific and technical subjects. A central result of the project will be the "Bridge" experiment kit for use in schools. By conducting their own experiments with the kit, children discover that science and technology can be fun. In recognition of its interdisciplinary approach and the fact that it represents a successful cooperation between partners from schools, science, politics and industry, the "Learning through research – experiencing technology" project received an award from a panel of judges including the German Minister for Education and Research, Dr. Annette Schavan.

The nationwide youth science competition "Jugend forscht", which we have supported for many decades at four locations, was held for the 42nd time in early 2007. In the competition, children and young people test their knowledge and their creative approach to science and technology in various scientific disciplines. For us the competition is an important element of our activities to foster and inspire young people.

Under partnership agreements with various universities, we fund study support programs and provide internships and dissertation placements. In addition the Group has for many years provided training programs for young people well in excess of its own needs. We would like to help as many young people as possible gain access to the labor market because we see this as part of our responsibility to society.

The "Opportunity" project aims to open up new opportunities for people from disadvantaged backgrounds. The "Opportunity" project was launched by ThyssenKrupp Steel back in 2003 in cooperation with the Duisburg labor agency and Duisburger Werkkiste e.V. It helps improve the job prospects of applicants who do not meet the standard requirements for apprentices. Since the initiative was launched, 71 of the 82 participants have been accepted for apprenticeships.

More information on ThyssenKrupp’s personnel and social policy is provided in section Employees

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Networking and knowledge sharing

The rapid pace of technical development in an increasingly networked world requires active and constructive participation in initiatives that act as catalysts between government, business and science. ThyssenKrupp is a member of numerous organizations and associations which promote an exchange of views on economic, technical and other socially relevant issues. For example, we support the "Germany – Land of Ideas" initiative (Deutschland – Land der Ideen e.V.) under the patronage of the German President, aimed at promoting Germany's image as a positive, innovative and future-oriented country.

We have also provided support for many years to acatech, the council for engineering sciences run by the Union of German Academies of Science and Humanities. The council conducts an intensive dialogue on forward-looking technologies and their significance for sustainable growth, with contributions from science, business, government and society.

Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility

ThyssenKrupp is expressly committed to the goals of sustainable development in the interest of future generations. This is due to our awareness that industry, with its innovation and investment power, bears a special responsibility for sustainable development. This is one of the reasons why we are a member of the initiative "econsense – Forum Nachhaltige Entwicklung der Deutschen Wirtschaft e.V." (German industry forum for sustainable development), a grouping of globally active German enterprises and organizations set up to address the issues of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability.

In a communication entitled "Implementing the partnership for growth and jobs: Making Europe a pole of excellence on CSR", the European Commission initiated a "European Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility" in 2006. This is an alliance of European enterprises and business organizations; ThyssenKrupp is one of now more than 150 organizations supporting this alliance. Our joint goal is to promote partnerships for CSR and the exchange of experience in this field.

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