Youth Researches
Stiftung Jugend forscht e. V. operates Germany's most prominent youth science competition, engaging students from 4th grade through age 21 in MINT research projects across seven subject areas via a three-tier regional-state-federal structure with free participation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1966
- HeadquartersHamburg, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Youth Researches does
Stiftung Jugend forscht e. V. (operating as "Jugend forscht" / Youth Researches) is a Hamburg-based nonprofit foundation founded in 1965/1966 that runs Germany's most prominent youth science competition. The program targets students from 4th grade through age 21 and is structured as a three-tier nationwide competition: more than 120 regional competitions feed into state-level contests, the winners of which advance to the federal Bundesfinale. Participants submit self-directed research projects across seven subject areas covering mathematics/computer science, biology, chemistry, earth and space sciences, physics, technology, and the working world (Arbeitswelt). Participation is free for students; winners receive cash and material prizes, with documented long-term outcomes showing nine of ten successful participants later pursue MINT (mathematics, informatics, natural sciences, technology) studies or careers.
The foundation is governed by a Vorstand (executive board, currently Dr. Jessica Bönsch and Dr. Jennifer Plath) and a Kuratorium (supervisory board) chaired by the Federal Minister for Education; the Federal President of Germany serves as patron (Schirmherr). Operating support comes from a broad public-private partnership network that includes the Federal Ministry of Education, the Standing Conference of Education Ministers (KMK), the Federation of German Industries (BDI), the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), the Association of German Engineers (VDI), the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU), MNU, Gruner + Jahr, and stern magazine as a founding media partner. Individual corporates such as Schaeffler have hosted recent federal finals.
Supporting infrastructure extends beyond the annual competition cycle and includes a Projektdatenbank (Project Database) and Virtuelle Ausstellung (Virtual Exhibition) that archive and surface participant work, an Alumni Network with career development events (PerspektivForen, PerspektivTag), the Jugend forscht Akademie for mentor and educator qualification, and a Kampagne Schülerforschungszentren (Student Research Centers Campaign) to expand physical research infrastructure across Germany. Revenue is not disclosed; the foundation is financed through its multi-stakeholder public-private partnership model rather than commercial pricing. The organization holds itself out as GDPR-compliant and has no proprietary technology platform or AI/ML capabilities.
Youth Researches firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Youth Researches
- Legal name
- Stiftung Jugend forscht e. V.
- Website
- https://jugend-forscht.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1966
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Stiftung Jugend forscht e. V. operates Germany's most prominent youth science competition, engaging students from 4th grade through age 21 in MINT research projects across seven subject areas via a three-tier regional-state-federal structure with free participation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Youth Researches industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth STEM Competition Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Research & Science Fair Competitions (Science Fairs, Research Symposiums) (EDAMAGAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Advanced STEM & Competition Coaching (MathCounts/AMC/AIME/USAMO, Science Olympiad, Physics/Chem Olympiads) (EDANAKAF), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)
Keywords
Where Youth Researches is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hamburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Youth Researches business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Youth Researches product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Stiftung Jugend forscht e. V. organizes Germany's leading annual youth science competition in MINT subjects (mathematics, informatics, natural sciences, technology) for students from 4th grade through age 21. The foundation runs a three-tier structure of regional, state, and federal competitions across seven subject areas, supplemented by an online Project Database, a Virtual Exhibition, an Alumni Network for career development, and the Jugend forscht Akademie for mentor qualification. Participation is free for students, with prize money and material awards for winners.
Product overview
Stiftung Jugend forscht e. V. operates Germany's most well-known youth science competition with a three-tiered competition structure (Regional, State, and Federal levels). The core offering consists of two age-based divisions: Jugend forscht for ages 15-21 and Jugend forscht junior for grades 4-14. Participants submit research projects across seven subject areas (MINT subjects). Supporting infrastructure includes a Project Database and Virtual Exhibition for showcasing projects, an Alumni Network for career development, and the Jugend forscht Akademie for mentor qualification. The organization also runs a Campaign for Student Research Centers to expand research infrastructure nationwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Jugend forscht (15-21 years) Main youth science competition for participants aged 15 to 21 years, in which students research and present projects across MINT subjects (Mathematics, Informatics, Natural Sciences, Technology) and compete at regional, state, and federal levels.
- Jugend forscht junior (4th grade-14 years)
- Three Competition Levels (Regional, State, Federal) Three-tiered competition structure: Regional competitions (Regionalwettbewerbe) feed into State competitions (Landeswettbewerbe), with winners advancing to the Federal final (Bundesfinale).
Quantifiable outcome
- 9 out of 10 successful participants later study a MINT field
Companies that use Youth Researches
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Youth Researches technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Youth Researches partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Bundesministerium für Bildung, Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (Federal Ministry of Education)coreFederal Ministry serves as the Supervisory Board Chair and provides governmental support for the competition. The minister oversees the Kuratorium (supervisory board) of the foundation.
- Bundespräsident (Federal President)coreThe Federal President serves as patron (Schirmherr) of the competition, providing highest-level political support and visibility.
- stern (Magazine)majorstern magazine is a founding partner and media supporter, providing press coverage and visibility for the competition.
- Ständige Konferenz der Kultusminister der Länder (KMK)coreThe Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education of the Länder provides educational policy support and coordination across German states.
- Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e. V. (BDI)majorFederation of German Industries provides industry support and sponsorship for the youth competition.
- Gruner + Jahr Deutschland GmbHmajorPublishing house Gruner + Jahr, a founding partner, supports media coverage and publication of competition results.
- Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (DGB)majorGerman Trade Union Confederation supports the competition as part of workforce development and education initiatives.
- VDI e. V. (Association of German Engineers)majorAssociation of German Engineers provides technical expertise and engineering-focused support for the competition.
- Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU)majorGerman Federal Environmental Foundation supports environmental and sustainability-related research projects within the competition.
- Deutscher Verein zur Förderung des mathematischen und naturwissenschaftlichen Unterrichts e. V. (MNU)majorAssociation for the promotion of mathematics and science education provides educational expertise and teaching support.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Youth Researches competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- International Physics Olympiad (IPhO): Premier international physics competition for secondary students. Comparable as a tiered physics talent identification pathway that German Jugend forscht physics winners feed into, with similar subject-area specialization.
- Conrad Challenge: US-based annual youth STEM innovation competition with multi-stage format and category structure. Compares to Jugend forscht's project-based model targeting 13-18 year olds solving real-world STEM problems with sponsor backing.
- Science Olympiad (US): US national STEM competition covering biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, engineering and computation. Comparable in being a multi-event, multi-subject K-12 STEM talent competition with regional/state/national structure.
- Mathematik-Olympiaden e.V. (Bundeswettbewerb Mathematik): Germany's national mathematics olympiad. Same country and same tiered regional/state/federal structure, targeting overlapping MINT youth talent, and similarly anchored to federal education ministry support.
- Society for Science (Regeneron ISEF): Largest US-based international youth science and engineering fair. Most direct functional peer to Jugend forscht: student-led STEM research projects, multi-tier national-to-international structure, free participation, and university/industry partnership model.
- FIRST Robotics Competition: Global youth STEM competition focused on robotics and engineering design with tiered regional/national/international structure and major corporate sponsorship. Comparable scale and partnership model to Jugend forscht's technology subject area.
- European Union Science Olympiad (EUSO): Pan-European team-based STEM competition for secondary students. Comparable in targeting top young European STEM researchers, with national selection pathways that overlap with Jugend forscht alumni.
- National Science Bowl (US DOE): US Department of Energy-sponsored national STEM academic competition with regional/national structure and federal government backing. Mirrors Jugend forscht's federal sponsorship model and multi-tier format.
- Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS): US DoD-sponsored regional and national STEM research symposium for high schoolers presenting original research. Closely mirrors Jugend forscht's project presentation model across multiple science disciplines.
Broad incumbents
- SkillsUSA STEM Championships: US national career and technical education organization running STEM-related student competitions and skill events. Broader CTE scope than Jugend forscht but comparable in scale, federal-corporate partnership base, and youth skills development mission.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Youth Researches social profiles
Digital presenceYouth Researches compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Youth Researches financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Youth Researches leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Youth Researches funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Youth Researches M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Youth Researches
What does Youth Researches do?
Stiftung Jugend forscht e. V. organizes Germany's leading annual youth science competition in MINT subjects (mathematics, informatics, natural sciences, technology) for students from 4th grade through age 21. The foundation runs a three-tier structure of regional, state, and federal competitions across seven subject areas, supplemented by an online Project Database, a Virtual Exhibition, an Alumni Network for career development, and the Jugend forscht Akademie for mentor qualification. Participation is free for students, with prize money and material awards for winners.
Is Youth Researches a public or private company?
Youth Researches is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Youth Researches founded?
Youth Researches was founded in 1966. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Youth Researches based?
Youth Researches is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
Who are Youth Researches's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), Conrad Challenge, Science Olympiad (US), Mathematik-Olympiaden e.V. (Bundeswettbewerb Mathematik), Society for Science (Regeneron ISEF), FIRST Robotics Competition, European Union Science Olympiad (EUSO), National Science Bowl (US DOE) and Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS). SkillsUSA STEM Championships is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Youth Researches have an API?
No public API is recorded for Youth Researches.
What industry is Youth Researches in?
Youth Researches's product category is Youth STEM Competition Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAGAL, Research & Science Fair Competitions (Science Fairs, Research Symposiums), with a secondary code of EDANAKAF, Advanced STEM & Competition Coaching (MathCounts/AMC/AIME/USAMO, Science Olympiad, Physics/Chem Olympiads). Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.