Audi 2007 Annual Report Download - page 149

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Another area covered by the Demographics Project is preventive healthcare: “Healthy Liv-
ing and Working.” The Audi Checkup is an important preventive healthcare instrument. This
comprehensive, voluntary health exam is offered free of charge to all employees and is
available during working hours. The checkup involves various tests, the results of which are
then discussed in detail between doctor and patient.
The elimination of government subsidies for partial early retirement creates further key
task areas which call for expert handling of demographic change. The Demographics Project
includes a communication campaign entitled “my way” that seeks to raise awareness of
aging and personal initiative. It highlights the principle that most aspects of aging are not a
matter of fate and that individuals have some degree of influence over everything from
personal fitness and lifestyle to financial planning for retirement.
Research partnerships
An automobile manufacturer that has embraced “Vorsprung durch Technik” needs to main-
tain thriving contacts with the research world. The first systematic partnership with universi-
ties was forged through the INI.TUM project, a successful partnership with the Technical
University of Munich that was launched in 2003. Since then, other partnership projects have
been put in place with the Universities of Stuttgart and Karlsruhe, the Ingolstadt University
of Applied Science, the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and the
Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich. In Hungary, AUDI HUNGARIA MOTOR Kft. partners
with the University of Győr and the Technical University of Budapest.
There were two objectives in selecting the university-level partners: The partners at the
universities needed to have a very good reputation for their research and teaching. And the
researchers had to be prepared to come from the major cities to Audi’s locations. These
requirements ensure that young researchers gain new insights into the way industry uses
research findings and also enhance the cities and towns that are home to Audi’s operations.
As of late 2007, 22 projects under the auspices of these institutes were already up and run-
ning, with a further 63 in the pipeline. The Audi university institutes have produced 17 inven-
tions to date.
The five German universities with which Audi collaborates have received commendation
under the German government’s Initiative for Excellence program – a fitting tribute to the
high standards of these research partners.
Location-specific partnerships
A company of Audi’s caliber bears responsibility for more than just its employees. Audi also
seeks to foster education and non-profit organizations.
AUDI AG has joined forces with the City of Ingolstadt, other major companies and the
districts of Pfaffenhofen, Neuburg-Schrobenhausen and Eichstätt in founding an association
named the “Regional Management Initiative for the Ingolstadt Region.” The goal is to har-
monize efforts to promote the entire region around Ingolstadt, where the Company head-
quarters are located. The association aims to improve the quality of life in the region, pro-
mote research and education, and create more jobs. This region already has one of the
highest employment rates in Germany. The core aims of the initiative additionally include
nurturing and developing the landscape and cultural life.
Audi also actively supports the “European Metropolitan Region of Munich,” where indus-
try has joined forces with political, educational, cultural and administrative bodies in an
effort to improve development prospects throughout southern Bavaria.
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