Dieter Busch died on June 10, 2023, at the age of 85. A patron of the TUM University Foundation since 2015, he supported numerous students and promising scientists through his endowment fund.
Following his studies in electrical engineering at RWTH Aachen University, Dieter Busch founded the PRÜFTECHNIK company in 1972. PRÜFTECHNIK was extremely successful, evolving from a family business into a global player.
Dieter Busch got to know the Technical University of Munich through the many TUM alumni who joined PRÜFTECHNIK as employees. He and his wife Uta made the decision to support our TUM University Foundation in 2015, establishing an exceptionally generous fund to assist students and promising scientists.
The TUM University Foundation has lost a valued patron; we will honor the memory of Dieter Busch.
On September 16, 2022, Margarete Ammon, patron of the Technical University of Munich and founder of the TUM University Foundation, died at the age of 100.
Margarete Ammon, née Kieninger, attended the Blocherer art school in Munich during the Second World War and then enrolled at the Technical University of Munich to study architecture and business administration.
Together with her sister, she founded KITHAN Grundstücks- und Handelsgesellschaft in 1949, which was dedicated to rebuilding destroyed houses.
After the death of her father, she took over her parents' business "Fleischwerke Zimmermann" in her home town of Thannhausen as managing partner in 1963 and set the company on a successful growth course.
Margarete Ammon was highly committed to scientific, cultural and social causes. In 2002, she established the Margarete Ammon Foundation. It was particularly important to her to promote creativity and invention in scientific, technical, ecological and cultural fields. On this basis, she supported many activities at the Technical University of Munich: a conference on the future of the environment, research performance scholarships for particularly talented female students and young female scientists, projects in medicine and monument conservation (Raitenhaslach), childcare facilities and, most recently, the TUM: Young Academy.
We valued Ms. Ammon as a passionate and inspiring personality. As a visionary business leader, she achieved economic success in a difficult time and implemented what we now call "Corporate Social Responsibility" at an early stage. For her outstanding achievements, she was awarded the Bavarian Order of Merit and the Federal Cross of Merit First Class with Ribbon.
She has now passed away six months after her 100th birthday. We would like to thank our Honorary Senator for her work and will miss her.
Honorary Senator Dr. Dieter Soltmann died on July 28, 2022, at the age of 87. A benefactor of the TUM University Foundation since 2019, he also played a significant role in shaping TUM’s development as a member of various committees and as Chair of the TUM Board of Trustees.
Dieter Soltmann studied brewing at TUM’s Weihenstephan campus, graduating as an engineer and master brewer. He remained deeply attached to his alma mater, returning to TUM to earn a doctorate in engineering. Always keenly interested and deeply dedicated to the development of TUM, he supported the university for many years of his life as a member of various committees and later as Chair of the TUM Board of Trustees. As a benefactor, his generous donations also furthered the work of the TUM University Foundation. He was held in high esteem as President of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) for Munich and Upper Bavaria, as Managing Partner of the Spaten-Franziskaner brewery, and as President of the Economic Advisory Council (Wirtschaftsbeirat) of Bavaria – a role he held for many years. His services to the economy of the State of Bavaria met with the highest acclaim, and in 1998 he was awarded the Golden Medal of Honor for his extraordinary services to the City of Munich.
The TUM University Foundation has lost a great supporter, who will be sadly missed both as a person and as a valued participant. We will honor and cherish the memory of Senator Soltmann.