Corporate Social Responsibility at SAP

At SAP, our corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy applies our talent, technology, and strategic partnerships to create long-term, sustainable social impact that makes the world run better and improves people's lives.

We approach corporate social responsibility strategically – in order to ensure a sustainable future for our company, our customers, and for society. We work to provide the world’s youth with the skills they need to tackle society’s problems and thrive in the digital economy. Leveraging our employees' talents, our technology, and our strong NGO partnerships, we work to enhance educational and entrepreneurial opportunities for youth around the world.

Creating opportunity

SAP’s social investments impact real people, from a little girl in Africa, to rural farmers, refugees seeking a new life, and social entrepreneurs with a mission to improve their communities

Behind our successful technology and business stand our people with their skills and knowledge. Our employee volunteer programs use this expertise to promote positive change in underserved areas of society. From our annual Month of Service volunteer events, to individual hands-on help or business coaching, SAP encourages employees to contribute their time and talents to support social organisations.

SAP Social Sabbatical

In four-week assignments, SAP employees solve business challenges for social enterprises in emerging markets while developing their own leadership and business skills.

SAP supports the accelerated growth of social enterprises that use innovative business models to approach the world’s most pressing societal challenges. We focus the power of our talent, technology, and NGO partners to stimulate entrepreneurial mindsets and promote sustainable economic growth.

Startery

A joint initiative of Social Impact and SAP, Startery helps entrepreneurs in central and eastern Europe turn their innovative social ideas into successful businesses and act as positive change agents for society. Startery provides mentoring and training to help ensure long-term growth and maximum change impact. 

Humanitarian initiatives

In 2015, over one million refugees fled civil war, conflicts, and oppression and came to Europe. To address this global humanitarian crisis, SAP has set up refugee aid initiatives at various levels:

Financing Humanitarian Aid

SAP raised €900,000 for refugee aid through the SAP Solidarity Fund to start a comprehensive, cross-regional refugee aid programme. Supported initiatives have so far reached more than 14,000 refugees.

Integration

SAP supports the integration of refugees in Germany through training and recruitment programs. In 2016, more than 90 internships were filled in the area of software development and design. Moreover, an openSAP online course helps volunteers teach German to refugees.

Refugee Code Week

SAP partnered with UNHCR and the Galway Education Centre to educate 10,000 refugee youth in software coding during the inaugural 2016 “Refugee Code Week” in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, and Egypt. In addition to introducing coding basics, we help each host nation integrate coding education within school curricula, and will refer the most promising students to SAP partner "ЯebootKamp" for help with job placement.

SAP Projects

These are inspiring times. Technology is evolving at breakneck speeds – and at SAP, you’ll be on the frontlines of change. We’re always looking for ways to use the latest innovations to empower companies in all industries – and to do some good in the world. Explore some of our projects below, from fighting diseases with technology to building smart robots and sustainable cities.

We help battle cancer

At this year’s World Economic Forum, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden gathered international leaders in cancer research, treatment, and data science to discuss the goal of defeating cancer. Among the experts was SAP’s CEO Bill McDermott – speaking on the benefits of Big Data analysis. 

We empower doctors

How is Seoul National University Hospital getting a clear picture of diseases – faster? By using SAP HANA as a medical data warehouse. SNUH is using the technology to improve patient care, individualize treatments, and reduce unnecessary medications and procedures. 

We combat diabetes

Diabetes is a very common disease, affecting 8 million people in Germany alone. Pharma giant Roche and SAP have partnered to provide a mobile app that could revolutionize the prevention and cure of type-2 diabetes – and allow for more personalized and effective treatment. 

Global sponsorships

We believe in supporting great feats of human accomplishment. That’s why we’re so proud to sponsor world-renowned sports, cultural, and entertainment organizations around the globe – everything from Formula 1 to Cirque du Soleil.

Sustainable Operations

At SAP, we believe that improving our sustainability performance gives us insight that will help our customers do the same. We focus on three key metrics: environmental, social and economic. Each is critical as we work to create a sustainable future for SAP, our customers, and society.

Responsible business

We actively work to ensure that we live up to high ethical standards throughout SAP. Our policies govern the conduct of our management, employees, suppliers, and partners, as well as critical areas of our business such as sales, vendor selection, and payroll.

Sustainable strategy

Instead of treating sustainability as a single project or department, we integrate sustainability into our core business by embedding sustainability throughout our organization. One of our goals is to show how sustainability both aligns with our business objectives and benefits our bottom line. 

Sustainable procurement

Sustainability is an integral part of our supply chain. We seek to buy products and services from suppliers who meet high environmental and social standards.