ThyssenKrupp AG and its predecessor companies have long cultivated close contacts with European universities. Based on this tradition, a successful cooperative venture was launched five years ago with Tongji University, which was founded in Shanghai in 1907 by the German doctor of medicine Dr. Erich Paulun. "Two good reasons led us to start this cooperation: Firstly, we wanted to intensify our good relations with the economic growth region of Shanghai. Secondly, we wished to establish contacts with students, as we do in Germany, so as to win future executives for ThyssenKrupp`s activities in the People`s Republic of China," said Dr. Ulrich Middelmann, Vice Chairman of the Executive Board of ThyssenKrupp AG and Chairman of the Executive Board of ThyssenKrupp Steel AG, in Shanghai, accepting an honorary professorship from Tongji university. Dr. Middelmann was one of the initiators of ThyssenKrupp`s activities in connection with the Sino-German Institute, founded in 1998. For this reason he was invited by Tongji University to remain a guest lecturer at the university on a long-term basis.

On September 12, 2003 an agreement was signed on the establishment of an endowed professorship in economic law. It is being funded jointly by ThyssenKrupp AG, Siemens AG and the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD)). ThyssenKrupp set up an endowed professorship in mechanical engineering back in 1998, followed two years ago by an endowed professorship in business administration/controlling. The Sino-German Institute has set itself the goal of forming a bridge between Chinese and German culture. Graduates also have the opportunity of completing a course of studies in German.

Expected by all the forecasts to remain the number-one growth market worldwide in the coming years, China is very important to ThyssenKrupp. In fiscal 2001/2002, some 2,500 of its employees generated sales of 1.1 billion euros there. The Group`s Steel, Automotive, Elevator, Technologies and Materials segments have their own production plants and branch establishments in the country. The building of the Transrapid link from the airport to the financial center of Shanghai represents a major milestone.

In the Steel segment, ThyssenKrupp`s policy is to set up joint ventures with Chinese partners. Shanghai Krupp Stainless is building an integrated stainless steel mill with an investment volume of 1.43 billion US dollars; the capacity of the cold-rolling mill, which is already in operation, is to be expanded from 72,000 to 390,000 metric tons by the end of 2005. At the end of the year, an advanced hot-dip galvanizing line for carbon steel will enter into operation to supply the automobile industry. In addition, the tailored blanks activities are to be further expanded.

A recent photograph of Dr. Middelmann can be found on our website at: www.thyssenkrupp-steel.com/en/presse/bildergalerie/

Contact:
ThyssenKrupp Steel AG
Dietmar Stamm
Tel.: +49 203 / 52 - 2 62 67
Fax: +49 203 / 52 - 2 57 07
e-mail: dietmar.stamm@tks.thyssenkrupp.com

Bernd Overmaat
Tel.: +49 203 / 52 - 4 51 85
Fax: +49 203 / 52 - 2 57 07
e-mail: bernd.overmaat@tks.thyssenkrupp.com