The GUG

The GUG is an internationally recognized academic institution dedicated to promoting research in business history. It combines academic expertise with practical consulting.
Weitere Informationen zur GUG

Preserve

GUG has decades of experience in establishing corporate archives and advises companies on how to build a modern, sustainable archive. In doing so, the focus is on both legal requirements and practical usability.
Zu den Archivprojekten

Conveying Content

To deepen understanding of the economy and business, the GUG offers a variety of tools, formats, and forums. The goal is to present historical contexts in an accessible way and make them available to a wide range of audiences.
Zu den Angeboten für Bildung und Wissenschaft

GUGiversary

GUG e.V. will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026. To mark this occasion, we have compiled a range of information and resources on the company’s history. You can find them here.
Zum GUGiläum

Research

Um sicherzustellen, dass die wissenschaftlich notwendigen Grundlagen für Forschungsprojekte existieren, führt die GUG Recherchen durch und fertigt Machbarkeitsstudien zur Bewertung der Quellenlage an.
Zu den Vorrecherchen und Machbarkeitsstudien

NS-Research

One of the GUG’s areas of specialization is the study of corporate history during the “Third Reich.” The goal is to provide a scholarly analysis of corporate responsibility within its historical context.
Zur NS-Aufarbeitung

Participate

The GUG organizes lecture series, academic symposia, working groups, and other events. It provides platforms for exchange, networking, and discussion of current issues in business history.
Zu den Veranstaltungen der GUG

Publish

The GUG has published the findings of its research projects in numerous studies. These studies make an important contribution to the academic debate and make corporate history accessible to a wider audience.
Zu den Publikationen der GUG

From the field

Here you will find publication opportunities, calls for papers, press reviews, and a news archive, as well as scholarship and job postings. This section brings together the latest developments and opportunities in the field of business history research.
Zu den News
These are the upcoming events organized by the GUG:

2026

June
11
JUN
2026

50 Jahre Gesellschaft für Unternehmensgeschichte

Thema: «Business History Matters»
Tagungsort: Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft, Köln
ProgrammAnmeldung
18-19
JUN
2026

Internationaler Workshop_VDI

Thema/Topic: «‹...never neutral›. Practices, Concepts and Methods of Evaluating Technology over the Last 50 Years»
Tagungsort/Venue: Deutsches Museum, München
ProgrammAnmeldung
October
08
OCT
2026

49. Wissenschaftliches Symposium 2026

Thema: «Rüstungsindustrie im Wandel: Unternehmenshistorische Perspektiven»
Tagungsort: Airbus, Berlin
November
12
NOV
2026

10. gemeinsames Symposium Unternehmensgeschichte

(in Kooperation mit dem Wittener Institut für Familienunternehmen)
Thema: «Familienunternehmen in der NS-Zeit. Aufarbeitung und Verantwortung »
Tagungsort: Isabellenhütte Heusler GmbH & Co. KG, Dillenburg
Bei Interesse wenden Sie sich gerne an unsere Geschäftsstelle.
The Society for Corporate History – what exactly is it?

Since 1976, the Society for Corporate History (GUG) has developed a wide range of offerings, from academic research to the implementation of projects. In our video, we explain:

  • What goals has the GUG pursued since its founding 50 years ago?
  • How do we work on a day-to-day basis?
  • Why is it important to engage with corporate history—for the companies themselves, but also for our democracy?
  • How can academia and business collaborate in this field?
  • How do we ensure open-ended, fact-based, and independent research and communicate it clearly?

Online Lecture by Dr. Andrea Schneider-Braunberger: The Future Needs Its Roots

As part of an online lecture hosted by the Equa Foundation on July 15, 2020, GUG Managing Director Dr. Andrea Schneider-Braunberger will explain how and why the history of a family business and an entrepreneurial family helps shape their identity. She explains how a company’s own historical patterns can help shape the future amid current uncertainties and difficult decisions. And she makes it clear that, despite its dark chapters—especially when these have been properly addressed—history can contribute to the prestige of a company and a family.

Our Academic Partners

Logos Partner aus der Wissenschaft 1
Logos Partner aus der Wissenschaft 2

Our partners from the business community and the foundation sector

Logos Partner aus der Wirtschaft 3


Logos Partner aus der Wirtschaft 5


Logos Partner aus der Wirtschaft 7


Logos Partner aus der Wirtschaft 9
Logos Partner aus der Wirtschaft 4


Logos Partner aus der Wirtschaft 6


Logos Partner aus der Wirtschaft 8


Logos Partner aus der Wirtschaft 10