Our Charitable Cause

Ensuring that every child can thrive

Cognita’s majority owner is Jacobs Holding AG, a global investment firm based in Switzerland founded by entrepreneur Klaus J. Jacobs. The sole economic beneficiary of the firm’s investments is the Jacobs Foundation, one of the world’s leading charitable foundations. The Foundation seeks to improve children’s learning and education by promoting the generation and translation of evidence into education policy and practice globally.

Both the Jacobs Foundation and Cognita are committed to the legacy of Klaus J. Jacobs: to use our economic success to help children around the globe live better lives. Both are aligned in their commitment to ensuring that every child can thrive through an evidence-based approach to learning and development.

2030 Strategy

As part of their 2030 Strategy, the Jacobs Foundation has pledged to invest 500 million Swiss francs over the next ten years to support schools in offering quality education and to transform education systems around the world with the ultimate goal to provide children and young people with practical knowledge, skills, attitudes, tools and equitable opportunities to reach their full learning potential and thrive together. There are three main portfolios of work:

BOLD - Big ideas for growing minds

BOLD is a multimedia platform that explores the latest scientific insights into how children and young people develop and learn. Content on BOLD covers educational sciences, psychology, genetics, neuroscience, educational technology, and more. Emerging and established researchers – some associated with the Jacobs Foundation, others not – as well as practitioners and journalists from around the world contribute articles, interviews, podcasts, and videos.

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Digital Museum of Learning

In 2022, the Johann Jacobs Museum reinvented itself as the Digital Museum of Learning (DMoL), dedicated to discovering and displaying the history and future of learning in digital formats.

Part of the Jacobs Foundation’s Global Education Museums Initiative, DMoL brings interactive stories to life on your screen. Its online exhibitions are designed for students, teachers, and lifelong learners everywhere.

Our Sustainability Strategy

Our Owners

Our Partnerships