Eckert & Ziegler receives Franz von Mendelssohn Medal for contributions to society

Berlin, 14 July 2008 - Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG, a manufacturer of cancer treatment and diagnostic products headquartered in Berlin-Pankow, has been awarded the Franz von Mendelsohn Medal for its efforts to raise the level of science education and to overcome science anxiety. The company was honored for its role as founder and initial sponsor of the "Forschergarten" (Research Garden) (www.forschergarten.de), which offers experiment-based courses for pre-school and primary school children and provides qualification and further training programs for educators. Eckert & Ziegler will use the prize money (10,000 EUR), awarded jointly by the Berlin Chamber of Chamber of Commerce and the Trades Chamber, to further develop this initiative.

Dr. Andreas Eckert, CEO of the company which is listed on the stock exchange, notes that "the Franz von Mendelsohn Medal is not only an honor for Eckert & Ziegler, but rather and especially for the many supporters who have worked in an honorary capacity to bring our programs to another 2,660 children from more than 80 schools and childcare centers in the first half of 2008 alone. The award also recognizes our committed partners, such as the Friedrich Fröbel School for Social Education and the "Gläsernes Labor" (Life Science Learning Lab) in Buch, which are also devoting successful efforts to improving education in the natural sciences." "Together with these partners," added Eckert, "we would like to expand the initiative by turning Ludwig Hoffmann's forest castle in Berlin-Buch, which currently stands empty, into a trans-regional education and exhibition center for the life sciences - a so-called "LEWILUZ". To paraphrase Erich Mühsam, it can be a center for all "LEWILUZERS" working in an honorary or freelance capacity with us to put ideas for improving school and pre-school scientific education into practice in Berlin and Brandenburg. We very much hope that the Pankow District Office and the Berlin State Senate will support us both in this project and in acquiring the necessary funding from the European Union. Together with the Helios Klinikum and the Akademie der Gesundheit, we have already registered a non-profit organization for this purpose, namely the ZELL gGmbH". Eckert & Ziegler (www.ezag.de): Eckert & Ziegler AG (ISIN DE0005659700) is an internationally active specialist for radioactive applications in medicine, science, and industry. Listed on the Frankfurt Prime Standard, the company posted sales of 54 million EUR in 2007, and currently has around 430 employees.

The Franz von Mendelssohn Medal: Awarded by the Trades Chamber and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Franz von Mendelssohn Medal honors companies headquartered in Berlin that combine commercial success with community engagement. The aim of the contest is to honor public spirit and community involvement, which can be expressed by financial or material support and/or by individual commitment. The slogan "Unternehmen bewegen Berlin" ("Companies Mobilize Berlin") indicates the high priority placed on social and corporate citizenship. These qualities go a long way toward improving civic life in Berlin. The Mendelssohn Medal is named after the former banker and ICC president Franz von Mendelssohn (in office from 1914 to 1931), who was a shining example of public service.

For more information on the Forschergarten (Research Garden), see (www.forschergarten.de). At the Forschergarten, children of pre-school age are introduced to natural scientific phenomena in a playful manner, which fuels their curiosity and promotes their interest in science and technology. Another important goal of the Forschergarten is to train educators by using proven methods to eliminate anxiety about scientific topics, and to enable them to hold experiment-based courses.

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