Our History
Highlights 1997-today
October 1997
The Canopus Foundation was founded as a private charitable family foundation.
1997−2000
Orientation towards a “venture philanthropy” model. First experiences in cooperating with social enterprises in developing and emerging countries; focus on environmentally friendly energy systems, entrepreneurial commitment and poverty alleviation. The foundation uses the expertise that its sister company forseo GmbH has gained from its investments in solar and wind power companies in Europe and America.
2000−2001
Cooperation with Grameen Bank, Grameen Shakti and Grameen Cybernet in providing three village schools in Bangladesh with thin-film solar modules for the local generation of electricity. Expansion of the project through the entry of BP Solar in 2001.
2001
BASE (Basel Agency for Sustainable Energy): co-founded by Canopus together with a Swiss partner organization; collaboration on the feasibility study. On the initiative of Dr. Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director of UNEP at the time, BASE obtained the status of a Collaborating Centre of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Canopus' executive director is a member of the BASE Foundation Board.
2001−2008
The foundation supports the Brazilian organization IDEAAS, founded by Fabiò Rosa, with financial and human resources for the project "The Sun Shines for All" in providing low-income homes in Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul with solar power-generated electricity; support in acquiring development funds from other European foundations.
2004
forseo GmbH provides bridge finance for Quiron, an IDEAAS project: linking the rural solar power supply with a concept to increase the organic production of crop and livestock in order to secure an income for farmers and shepherds (Gauchos).
2004−2005
Canopus supports SELCO Ltd. in Bangalore, India, founded by Harish Hande, in gaining certified emission reduction (CER) credits for their solar home systems. The CER certification helps SELCO to verify that their systems contribute to reduce CO2 emissions. By selling these CER credits on the European ETS market SELCO is able to generate financial added value.
2005
Symposium "Social Entrepreneurship in Germany" with national partner organizations on the framework conditions for charitable entrepreneurial initiatives in Germany.
2006−2007
Consulting provided to “Barefoot College” in Tilonia, India, for the set-up of a manufacturing unit for solar lanterns.
2007
Symposium "Sympathetic Values – Innovative Funding Mechanisms for Social Change" in celebration of the Canopus Foundation’s 10th birthday: The symposium brings together social investors from Europe and America in order to present specialized social investment funds and review them with regard to their relevance as new financing tools. The funds are specialized on health care/eye clinics, organic agriculture, and independent media work.
2008
The "Solar for All" initiative is founded together with Ashoka.
2009
The first "Solar for All" contest for innovative low-cost off-grid photovoltaic solutions is launched.
2010
The "Solar for All" contest award ceremony is hosted by Intersolar North America. Awarded are the best and most innovative system solutions for sustainable and reliable energy supply in low-income off-grid areas.
2011
Development of the concept of a thematically focused "Solar for All" Investment Fund providing equity to social enterprises in Africa and Southern Asis in the field of solar energy access. Contacts to fund managers in the micro credit sector. Grant of 300.000 € from the European Investment Bank (EIB-GEEREF) to conceptualise the structure of the fund.
2012−2013
Work on the Solar for All Fund concept and project for the EIB
2012 cooperation with impact investment company Bamboo Finance in Geneva.
Conclusion of the conceptual work on the fund for the EIB in summer 2013. Complete transfer of the Solar for All Fund project to Bamboo Finance.
Support of the solar energy access enterprises Kamworks (Cambodia), Angaza (USA), and Solar Age (Namibia).
2014
Founding of HVGP gGmbH
In July 2014, together with other partners, the Canopus Foundation founded the HUMBOLDT-VIADRINA Governance Platform (HVGP) gGmbH in Berlin.
2015
In March 2015, together with the HVGP, the Canopus Foundation organised an "Economic-Trialogue" on the topic of "Unemployment in Europe".
Since April 2015, the Canopus Foundation supports the newly established Cusanus Hochschule (engl. "Cusanus University") in Bernkastel-Kues with a financial contribution for the master study program "Economy and Cultural Design", and since Oktober 2015 by co-financing a professorship in the field of "Economic Design".
2015−2016
The second “Solar for All” contest for innovative solutions for village-based solar-operated grids for electrification in off-grid regions was held in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute ISE in Freiburg.
Financial and advisory support for the recently founded Cusanus University, Bernkastel-Kues.
2017
Cash prizes financed via crowd-investing and in cooperation with bettervest GmbH, initial “mission-related investments”
Agreement with the crowd-investing platform bettervest GmbH in Frankfurt/M. for conducting two campaigns for the winners of the 2nd “Solar for All” contest. Canopus guarantees the success of the campaigns. The first campaign of € 200,000 to Mera Gao Power, India is successfully concluded in November 2017.
The foundation grants loans to three partner companies: bettervest GmbH, Social Bee gGmbH, and Bonergie GmbH.
2018
Support for the expansion of teaching staff resources at Cusanus University.
Mission-related investment in Persistent Energy Capital (PEC).
2019
First Cooperation with the Netzwerk Plurale Ökonomik
First donation to the Forum for a New Economy, Berlin
