diff --git a/doc/changes/unreleased.md b/doc/changes/unreleased.md
index d137c7b32..9624485c3 100644
--- a/doc/changes/unreleased.md
+++ b/doc/changes/unreleased.md
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 ## 🔧 Changed
 
+* Add `__version__` member to generated `version.py` for compatibility with other versions schemes
 * Excluded pyupgrade from project check due to its destructive nature
 * Updated cookiecutter template
     - removed obsolete template file `version.html`
diff --git a/exasol/toolbox/pre_commit_hooks/package_version.py b/exasol/toolbox/pre_commit_hooks/package_version.py
index 7d12e03d1..6f6fb3b3d 100644
--- a/exasol/toolbox/pre_commit_hooks/package_version.py
+++ b/exasol/toolbox/pre_commit_hooks/package_version.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
     MINOR = {minor}
     PATCH = {patch}
     VERSION = f"{{MAJOR}}.{{MINOR}}.{{PATCH}}"
+    __version__ = VERSION
 ''') + "\n"
 # fmt: on
 
diff --git a/exasol/toolbox/version.py b/exasol/toolbox/version.py
index f1173887f..e62424cd5 100644
--- a/exasol/toolbox/version.py
+++ b/exasol/toolbox/version.py
@@ -8,3 +8,4 @@
 MINOR = 18
 PATCH = 0
 VERSION = f"{MAJOR}.{MINOR}.{PATCH}"
+__version__ = VERSION
diff --git a/project-template/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/exasol/{{cookiecutter.package_name}}/version.py b/project-template/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/exasol/{{cookiecutter.package_name}}/version.py
index c98b7d063..daf848dec 100644
--- a/project-template/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/exasol/{{cookiecutter.package_name}}/version.py
+++ b/project-template/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/exasol/{{cookiecutter.package_name}}/version.py
@@ -8,3 +8,4 @@
 MINOR = 1
 PATCH = 0
 VERSION = f"{MAJOR}.{MINOR}.{PATCH}"
+__version__ = VERSION