The primary purpose of the foundation is to participate in traditional Swiss industrial companies. The foundation's returns are primarily used to finance and permanently maintain the business operations of the existing participating companies, as well as to acquire new participations in traditional Swiss industrial companies, in particular to preserve traditional brands or industries and to continue industrial history. Secondarily, the foundation can also use its returns to make contributions to non-profit foundations in Switzerland that serve to promote, preserve and secure the Swiss industrial cultural heritage; to establish and support museums within the framework of industrial cultural heritage for this purpose; or to promote apprenticeships or vocational training in traditional industrial professions. The foundation can conduct all business that directly or indirectly serves its purpose. It may engage in entrepreneurial activities, in particular establishing branches and other corporations, and participating in other corporations in Switzerland; acquiring, holding, managing and exploiting patents and other intellectual property rights and rights; renting, acquiring, managing (including taking out mortgages) and selling properties in Switzerland; providing financing for its own or third-party accounts, as well as granting guarantees and sureties for corporations in which it participates and for third parties; and, in general, carrying out all commercial, financial and other activities and concluding contracts that serve to realize the foundation's purpose.