Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation

The Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation (EKFS), also known in German as the Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung, is a German non-profit foundation established by entrepreneur Else Kröner in 1983. Its purpose is to advance medical science and improve medical care, with particular attention to clinically oriented biomedical research, the development of medical technologies and treatments, medical education, and humanitarian projects connected with health and development. The foundation is closely linked to the history of Fresenius. Else Kröner was born in 1925 and became associated with the Fresenius company after the death of her mentor and foster father, Eduard Fresenius. She took over leadership of the business in 1946, initially as managing director and, from 1982, as chair of the board. In order to preserve the memory of Eduard Fresenius and establish continuity after her death, she created the foundation on 7 April 1983. It initially received capital of 50,000 Deutsche Mark. Kröner's will provided for her personal assets to be transferred to the foundation after her death. She died unexpectedly on 5 June 1988. The foundation's charter gives priority to research and treatment of disease, including the development of equipment and preparations such as artificial kidneys. It also requires that supported research be accessible to the general public. In addition, the foundation supports the training of medical professionals, especially in dialysis, and promotes the education of particularly talented students. EKFS primarily operates as a grant-making institution rather than as a commercial product brand. It funds research proposals across the medical sciences, with an emphasis on translating scientific findings into clinical practice. By 2016, the foundation reported that approximately 1,300 projects had received support. The foundation has consequently become one of Germany's larger private charitable foundations in the medical field. Its activities include research grants, fellowships, academic centers, humanitarian-development initiatives, and scientific awards. The Else Kröner Memorial scholarships, introduced in 2002 and expanded to five awards annually from 2007 because of sustained demand, support promising researchers. The foundation also supports immunology and intensive-care prizes. Its immunology award recognizes internationally significant work and combines a personal prize with project funding. In 2023, it awarded immunologist Akiko Iwasaki a 2.5 million euro prize for research into post-acute viral syndromes, including Long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. The foundation has also invested in institutional capacity. The Else Kröner-Fresenius Centre for Nutritional Medicine was established at the Technical University of Munich in 2003. In 2012, EKFS founded the Graduate School for Translational Research Innovation–Pharma at Goethe University Frankfurt. Through these programs, the foundation connects research funding with specialist training, translational medicine, nutrition science, and the development of future medical researchers.

The foundation's origins lie in the Fresenius business and the personal history of Else Kröner. Born in 1925, Kröner became the successor of Eduard Fresenius, her mentor and foster father, after his death. She assumed control of the Fresenius company in 1946 and guided it for decades, first as managing director and later, from 1982, as chair of the board. On 7 April 1983, Kröner established the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation. The founding served two related purposes: to create an enduring institution that would continue after her death and to preserve the memory of Eduard Fresenius. The foundation began with capital of 50,000 Deutsche Mark. Kröner's founding intentions were reinforced by her will, which directed that her personal assets should pass to the foundation following her death. She died unexpectedly on 5 June 1988 at the age of 63. The foundation's governing purpose centers on promoting medical science and improving the treatment of disease. Its stated priorities include research, the development of medical equipment and preparations, and publicly accessible scientific results. The founding purpose specifically referred to areas such as artificial kidneys, reflecting the medical and technological context of the Fresenius tradition. EKFS also supports the education and training of medical professionals, particularly in dialysis, as well as talented students. Over time, the foundation developed into a broad medical grant-making organization. Its principal activity is financing clinically oriented biomedical research, while proposals from all medical disciplines may be considered. The institution's work extends beyond individual research grants to scholarships, scientific prizes, university-based centers, graduate education, and medical-humanitarian development projects. By 2016, it stated that around 1,300 projects had been funded, making it one of Germany's largest private foundations in the medical sector. The foundation's scholarship activity began with the Else Kröner Memorial scholarships in 2002. Because of strong demand and the quality of applications, the annual number of scholarships increased to five from 2007. EKFS has also supported awards in immunology and intensive and emergency medicine. The Else Kröner-Fresenius Immunology Award is presented every four years and is intended to recognize outstanding scientific achievement while directing substantial support toward a related research project. Ruslan Medzhitov received the first award in 2013. In 2023, Akiko Iwasaki received a 2.5 million euro award for work on post-acute viral syndromes, including Long COVID and ME/CFS. Institution building has been another important part of the foundation's development. In 2003, it helped establish the Else Kröner-Fresenius Centre for Nutritional Medicine at the Technical University of Munich. In 2012, it founded the Graduate School for Translational Research Innovation–Pharma at Goethe University Frankfurt. These initiatives illustrate EKFS's emphasis on connecting laboratory science, clinical application, nutrition, pharmaceutical research, and professional development. Today, EKFS remains an active independent charitable foundation. It is not a consumer-facing commercial brand; its public identity is associated with long-term medical philanthropy, research quality, translational impact, and the legacy of Else Kröner and Eduard Fresenius.

• 2013

  First immunology award presented

  [1]Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Ruslan Medzhitov became the first recipient of the Else Kröner-Fresenius Award in Immunology.

• 2012

  TRIP graduate school founded

  [1]Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  EKFS founded the Graduate School for Translational Research Innovation–Pharma at Goethe University Frankfurt.

• 2007

  Memorial scholarship program expanded

  [1]Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation increased the annual number of Else Kröner Memorial scholarships to five in response to demand and strong application quality.

• 2003

  Nutritional medicine center established

  [1]Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The Else Kröner-Fresenius Centre for Nutritional Medicine was established at the Technical University of Munich.

• 2002

  First Else Kröner Memorial scholarships

  [1]Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation awarded the first Else Kröner Memorial scholarships to support promising medical researchers and students.

• 1988

  Else Kröner dies and her estate passes to the foundation

  [1]Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  After Kröner's unexpected death on 5 June, the provisions of her will transferred her personal assets to the foundation.

• 1983

  Foundation established

  [1]Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Else Kröner founded the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation on 7 April with initial capital of 50,000 Deutsche Mark.

• 1946

  Else Kröner takes over the Fresenius company

  [1]Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Following the death of Eduard Fresenius, Else Kröner assumed leadership of the Fresenius company and began the period of stewardship that later shaped the foundation's institutional legacy.

A major German private medical foundation focused on clinically relevant biomedical research, translational medicine, medical education, and health-related humanitarian development.

• Research scholarships · 2002

  Else Kröner Memorial scholarships

  A scholarship program supporting promising researchers and students in medicine and related fields. The first awards were made in 2002, and the program reached five scholarships annually from 2007 after sustained demand and strong application quality.

• Scientific award · 2013

  Else Kröner-Fresenius Immunology Award

  An international immunology prize presented every four years. It combines personal recognition for the recipient with project-directed support intended to advance further immunology research.

• Academic research center · 2003

  Else Kröner-Fresenius Centre for Nutritional Medicine

  A center at the Technical University of Munich focused on nutritional medicine and the relationship between nutrition, health, disease, and clinical care. It represents the foundation's longer-term investment in institutional medical research.

• Graduate education · 2012

  Graduate School for Translational Research Innovation–Pharma

  A graduate school founded by EKFS at Goethe University Frankfurt. Its focus is translational research and pharmaceutical innovation, linking biomedical discovery with potential clinical and therapeutic applications.

1. 1Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation official websiteekfs.de