One year after the initial groundbreaking for the intergenerational housing concept at Heidelberg Village, its vision of sustainability and civil participation are becoming a reality. The project's progress was celebrated on October 5 by the architects, builders, and craftsmen alongside the investors and residents as well as city and political representatives. The international press was also present for the ceremony and to learn more about the project, which is a model of ecological and social sustainability.

In September 2015, Heidelberg Village was awarded a prize by the “Deutschland – Land des langen Lebens” (Germany - Country of Longevity) initiative. Its pioneering and future-oriented concept also earned the enthusiasm of the Software AG Foundation. The Heidelberg Village concept includes an environmentally sustainable real estate project that will create a lively city neighborhood. In addition, the village offers a range of services as well as caretaking and assistance models for various types of living situations  – thereby ensuring a high quality of life for both young and old. Starting in 2017, it will create around 15,000 sq. meters of living space for neighborly cooperation, volunteer work, and a participatory approach to life in the “village.”

The idea of more humanity, participation, responsibility, and inclusion in living together prompted the foundation to invest in the intergenerational concept, said SAGST board member Markus Ziener. This allows the foundation to combine asset investment with pursuing its goals as a foundation. “This brings us back to the intrinsic purpose of a foundation: to promote the common good of society not only through engagement on the conceptual level, but also through socially-conscious investing.”

The Software AG Foundation has invested nearly 30 million euros in this exemplary housing project and is the owner of one of the buildings. The foundation intends to continue to invest up to five percent of the foundation's assets in Mission Investments in the future.