Evangelisches Gymnasium Lippstadt

What Evangelisches Gymnasium Lippstadt does

Evangelisches Gymnasium Lippstadt is a publicly funded Protestant (Evangelical) secondary school (Gymnasium) in Lippstadt, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, operating since 1852 and serving students across grades 5–13 (Erprobungsstufe through Oberstufe). Its core differentiator is the on-campus astronomical observatory (Sternwarte), which was constructed beginning in 2013 and formally opened in 2017 as part of the new Science Wing (Trakt IV). The observatory houses a Celestron C11 (40cm aperture) main instrument, two observation island stations, a DADOS slit spectrograph, two SBIG STF-8300M monochrome CCD cameras, and a DLR-supplied AllSky camera for meteor detection, and has been assigned Minor Planet Center Observatory Code G12, placing the institution among approximately 2,500 observatories worldwide authorized to contribute astrometric asteroid measurements.

The school operates no commercial business model. Education is tuition-free under the German state school system, with funding flowing through public educational authorities and supplementary grants from sponsors including the Förderverein (support association), Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft, Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-Stiftung, and Stadtwerke Lippstadt. The MINT (STEM) profile is the central academic offering, layered with structured astronomy courses spanning elective Wahlpflichtbereich II (grades 9–10), Projektkurse (Q1), and Leistungskurse (upper secondary). Students participate in international research campaigns — Pan-STARRS IASC asteroid searches (12 confirmed student discoveries), NASA New Horizons Parallax Program, Faulkes/LCOGT supernova monitoring (SN2016adj), DLR-School-Lab meteor detection, and Moonbounce experiments with the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy — and gain direct remote internet access to MONET robotic telescopes at McDonald Observatory and SAAO Sutherland, and to the LCOGT/Faulkes 2-meter telescopes in Australia and Hawaii. Ancillary programs include VR-based astronomy tools (SpaceBuzz), a media library (Mediothek), DFB-affiliated sports, Schulkanu, DLRG water safety, and Erasmus+ international cooperation.

The school is led by kommissarischer Schulleiter (acting principal) Steven Klose and reports to the Evangelical Church in Westphalia (Ev. Kirche von Westfalen). Its primary customer segment is enrolled students and their families within the Lippstadt catchment area, with open enrollment for the specialized MINT and astronomy profile. Distribution is direct via the state school admission process; channels are limited to organic social (Instagram), a TYPO3 CMS website, earned media in local press, and parent information events for grade 5 and grade 11 transitions.

Name

Evangelisches Gymnasium Lippstadt

Legal name

Evangelisches Gymnasium Lippstadt

Website

https://eg-lippstadt.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1852

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Evangelisches Gymnasium Lippstadt is a publicly funded Protestant secondary school in Lippstadt, Germany, serving grades 5–13 and distinguished by its IAU-registered on-campus observatory (Code G12), structured MINT/STEM astronomy curriculum, and participation in international research campaigns with NASA, DLR, and LCOGT/Faulkes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lippstadt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Evangelisches Gymnasium Lippstadt is a publicly funded Protestant Gymnasium providing full secondary education (grades 5-13) leading to the Abitur, with a distinctive STEM/MINT profile anchored by an on-campus observatory (Sternwarte). The school delivers structured astronomy instruction across curriculum tiers and supports hands-on astronomical research through IAU-recognized instruments, spectroscopy equipment, and remote access to professional robotic telescopes.

Product overview

Evangelisches Gymnasium Lippstadt is an educational institution offering a comprehensive STEM (MINT) focused curriculum centered around its on-campus astronomical observatory (Sternwarte). The school provides structured astronomy education through multiple course tiers: team projects for grades 5-6, elective astronomy courses (Wahlpflichtbereich) for grades 9-10, project courses (Projektkurse) in Q1, and advanced Leistungskurse. The Sternwarte serves as the core facility, equipped with professional-grade instruments including telescopes, spectrographs, and imaging equipment. The offering also includes the Mediothek (media library) with themed astronomy programs and the SpaceBuzz VR experience for younger students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MINT (MINT-Profil): STEM-focused academic profile emphasizing Mathematics, Computer Science, Natural Sciences, and Technology with special focus on astronomy

Products and services

• MINT-Profil (STEM Profile) STEM-focused educational track covering mathematics, informatics, natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology), and technology, featuring team projects, specialized courses, and access to the school observatory as a central learning resource for students in the MINT profile.
• Sternwarte (Observatory) Educational Program On-campus educational program centered on the Sternwarte observatory, featuring a dome, observation platforms, telescopes (Celestron C11, 40cm RC), DADOS spectroscopy equipment, SBIG CCD cameras, and remote access to professional robotic telescope networks. Students participate in asteroid search campaigns, parallax measurements for NASA, meteor observations for DLR, and submit astrometric data to the IAU Minor Planet Center under Observatory Code G12.
• Astronomiekurse (Astronomy Courses) Multi-tier astronomy curriculum offered within the school's regular and elective course catalog, with hands-on training in spectroscopy (DADOS spectrograph), asteroid hunting (Pan-STARRS IASC campaigns), remote telescope operation (MONET, LCOGT/Faulkes), and celestial observation using the on-campus observatory and mobile planetarium.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12 asteroids discovered by EG students in Pan-STARRS IASC campaign (16 German schools, 235 total discovered)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Haus der Astronomie (House of Astronomy), HeidelbergcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2015Official partnership school since December 18, 2015. The school belongs to an elite circle of approximately 30 German schools. The partnership provides preferential access to astronomy events, Faulkes Telescope Project, teacher training, and support for astronomy courses and AGs. The Haus der Astronomie is located at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy on Königsstuhl, Heidelberg, founded by the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft and Klaus Tschira Stiftung.
• Planetariumsgesellschaft OWLcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Ongoing cooperation since 2009 organizing the biennial 'Reise durch das Sonnensystem' lecture series for grades 5-6. Society members support Astrotreff observation evenings at the observatory. All interested community members welcome — no prior astronomy knowledge required.
• STARK! MINT-Förderung Lippstadt e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Founded in 2009 as the governing association for a ZDI (Zukunft durch Innovation) center for the Soest district. Based at Lippe-Berufskolleg in Lippstadt. Organizes astronomy courses and workshops for students and teachers. Co-hosts the spectroscopy workshop series.
• MOnitoring NEtwork of Telescopes (MONET), University of GöttingencoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2009MONET is an international network of robotic telescopes built with support from the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-Stiftung. The school has direct internet access to MONET-North (1.2m telescope at McDonald Observatory, Texas) and MONET-South (at South African Astronomical Observatory). Large portion of observation time reserved for school projects. The AIR (Astronomie & Internet im Ruhrgebiet) working group coordinates activities.
• Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network (LCOGT) / Faulkes Telescope ProjectcoreTechnology or IntegrationAccess to professional 2m Faulkes Telescopes at Siding-Spring (Australia) and Haleakala (Hawaii), and additional 1m telescopes at McDonald Observatory (Texas), CTIO (Chile), and Sutherland (South Africa). First used to observe supernova SN2016adj. Support provided by Faulkes Telescope staff in Cardiff, Wales. The school participates in LCO '100 Hours for 100 Schools' campaigns.
• Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, BonnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool participated in Moonbounce project (Science Year 2023 'Unser Universum', BMBF-funded). On September 6, Morse code signals were transmitted from the school to the 100m Effelsberg radio telescope and bounced back from the Moon. Students from Grund- and Leistungskurs Physik and WPII Astronomiekurs participated in signal analysis.
• International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal coordination of asteroid search campaigns. The school has participated multiple times in Pan-STARRS and Haus der Astronomie Asteroid Search Campaigns, discovering asteroids with data provided via Hardin-Simmons University (Texas). Students submit measurements to Minor Planet Center via IAU.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Planetariumsgesellschaft OWL: Local astronomical society in East Westphalia-Lippe (OWL) that has cooperated with EG Lippstadt since 2009 on the 'Reise durch das Sonnensystem' lecture series and Astrotreff observation evenings. Functions as an enabling ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.
• Hardin-Simmons University (IASC coordination): Hardin-Simmons University (Texas) coordinates the International Astronomical Search Collaboration and supplies Pan-STARRS data to participating schools. While not a peer school, it is the upstream data provider and coordination hub that enables EG Lippstadt's asteroid discovery work.

Direct peers

• Helmholtz-Gymnasium (various locations): German Gymnasiums named after Hermann von Helmholtz typically emphasize physics and astronomy. Comparable to EG Lippstadt in mission, MINT profile, and project-course delivery model; some locations maintain their own observatory or partner with local astronomical societies.
• Otto-Hahn-Gymnasium (various locations): German Gymnasiums named after Otto Hahn typically emphasize natural sciences and frequently feature dedicated MINT profiles and project courses. They are size- and mission-comparable to EG Lippstadt and frequently participate in national science competitions such as Jugend forscht.
• Carl-Fuhlrott-Gymnasium Wuppertal: A fellow German Gymnasium explicitly referenced in EG Lippstadt's partnership records. Operates a student laboratory with DADOS spectrographs for solar spectroscopy, making it one of the closest comparables in terms of astronomy equipment, spectroscopy curriculum, and Haus der Astronomie / DLR ecosystem participation.
• Max-Planck-Gymnasium (various locations): Several German Gymnasiums named after Max Planck carry strong MINT profiles and frequently feature observatory facilities or astronomy project courses. They are natural comparables for school size, science wing design, and STEM/MINT-EC certification alignment.
• Christian-Gymnasium Hermannsburg: Another Protestant-affiliated German Gymnasium with an on-site observatory and active astronomy program. Comparable to EG Lippstadt in denominational heritage, school scale, MINT focus, and observatory-based curriculum offerings.

Broad incumbents

• MINT-EC Certified Schools (network): The national MINT-EC network certifies over 300 German secondary schools as 'MINT-freundlich'. EG Lippstadt is a member; peers within the network share access to corporate STEM sponsorship, teacher professional development, and student competitions, providing a comparable institutional platform for STEM-focused differentiation.
• DLR School-Lab Partner Schools (Jena / Berlin): Schools partnering with DLR School-Labs at Jena and Berlin participate in the same Meteore observation network and Sonne online observatory modules as EG Lippstadt. They are direct comparables in terms of DLR-funded equipment (e.g., AllSky cameras), BMBF Science Year participation, and student research output.
• Haus der Astronomie Partner Schools (network): The network of approximately 30 German Gymnasiums designated as official partner schools of the Haus der Astronomie at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg. EG Lippstadt sits within this network; comparable schools share IAU/Faulkes/MONET access and participate in the same Haus der Astronomie Asteroid Search Campaigns.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/eg_lippstadt?igshid=MWxkOHJob2NiaGx1cA==
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/eg-lippstadt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Evangelisches Gymnasium Lippstadt