„STEM initiative“ is the largest German STEM-network comprising the majority of initiatives and activities of German companies, designed to win more qualified professionals for the subjects science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The initiative was founded in May 2008 under the patronage of German Chancellor a. D. Dr. Angela Merkel. Since 2022, the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has held the patronage. It offers a platform for STEM activities and numerous initiatives. STEM’s goal is to present changes of STEM-related topics to the wide public, to inspire and interest young people for STEM and lend weight to political demands.
Since 2011, and in co-operation with our nationwide partners and national employers’ associations as well as training institutes, we honour those schools that put emphasis on STEM values. The signet “STEM-friendly school” is not an award for the best STEM schools, but for those taking first, important steps into that direction. It is, if you will, an award for mass sports. Our goal is to reach 10% of secondary schools.
The Award is given to the schools by partner-organisations. The initiative has awarded many schools since 2011. The award “STEM-friendly school” is under the patronage of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany. More information here.
2017 was the year in which the initiative founded the new program “digital school”, concept by Fraunhofer Society, Verband Deutscher Ingenieure, Gesellschaft für Informatik, Dienstleistungsgesellschaft für Informatik; Wissensfabrik für Deutschland e.V.; eco Verband der Internetwirtschaft and other ones. The award “Digital School” is under the patronage of the Federal Government Commissioner for Digitalisation, Dorothee Bär.
Using the „STEM-meter“, we measure results achievement, using indicators and their temporal evolution. The IW Köln also supplies us with data and facts concerning the development on the STEM-related job market, as well as the monthly numbers on the STEM gap.
The STEM trend report is released twice a year at the house of the German press conference in Berlin. It contains data on the STEM indicators concerning the areas school, university and training. This is the first time that there’s a comprehensive report and a reference on standards within STEM’s subjects.
STEM’S ambassadors’ initiative has more than 20 000 ambassadors. Many big trade associations (VDE, VDI, Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker, Deutsche Mathematiker-Vereinigung, among others) work with the initiative and help organise their ambassadors, out of whom an “ambassador of the year” is chosen.