Home About us The SCHOTT Company History History More than 130 years ago, Otto Schott developed a number of completely new glass types. With his pioneering spirit, he became a trailblazer in the specialty glass industry. Since then, SCHOTT innovations have been changing the world – a long history guided by the principle of sustainability. Highlights 1884 The Schott & Associates Glass Technology Laboratory was founded in Jena, Germany. 1896 With the statute of the Carl Zeiss Foundation, SCHOTT gets a sustainable corporate governance. 1945 After the end of World War II, management and experts move from Jena to West Germany in "The Odyssey of the 41 Glassmakers". Success story in specialty glass: How SCHOTT went from start-up to global player Explore our history Our corporate history Our innovation history Pioneers who shaped history Time and again, it’s outstanding pioneers who make history. They are role models who achieve great things and inspire others. Otto Schott Ernst Abbe Erich Schott Marga Faulstich Jürgen Petzoldt Otto Schott The Trailblazer Otto Schott (1851-1935) is considered to be the inventor of modern glass science and the forerunner of the specialty glass industry. With his systematic research, the chemist was the first to develop glasses with precise predetermined properties that could be reproduced at any time. His completely new optical and technical specialty glasses surpassed everything that had gone before. In 1884, together with the physicist Ernst Abbe and the optician and precision mechanic Carl Zeiss, he founded the Schott & Associates Glass Technology Laboratory, a small laboratory in Jena, Germany. Using groundbreaking developments in glass, he embedded the pioneering spirit deep into the DNA of SCHOTT. At the same time, his special glasses enabled a wide range of advances in science and technology. Thanks to his life’s work, Otto Schott occupies a unique position in the history of glass. Showing great responsibility as an entrepreneur, he also supported the visionary ideas of Ernst Abbe and became the co-founder of the Carl Zeiss Foundation. Discover the full history of SCHOTT At our founding site in Jena, Germany, you can delve deeper into our history. Visit our museum at the SCHOTT Villa and delve through the SCHOTT Archives, our fascinating collection of historical documents and objects. The SCHOTT Villa The SCHOTT Archives Download the SCHOTT Villa App Download for IOS Download for Android Markets Architecture Automotive Aviation, Astro and Space Consumer Electronics Health Home and Living Industrial and Energy Optics Retail and Gastronomy Security and Defense Semiconductor and Datacom Products Product Selector Expertise Expertise Services Trainings About us Company Sustainability Certificates Careers Job Board Get in touch Get in touch Stay tuned Events & Fairs Innovation Stories News & Media Technology Magazine Disclaimer Imprint Data Protection Policy Terms & Conditions We use Cookies We use cookies on this site in order to ensure site functionality, measure web traffic and if you consent, to improve your user experience and to provide content tailored specifically to your interests. By clicking on the button “Yes, I agree”, you consent to the use of all cookies, including third-party services such as Google Analytics. You can also further specify your consent under the “Change cookies settings” option or continue browsing without these cookies. You can find detailed information on all cookies we use by having a look at our “Data Protection Policy”. DATA PROTECTION POLICY CHANGE COOKIE SETTINGS YES, I AGREE