Die Nationale Initiative "MINT Zukunft schaffen!"

What Die Nationale Initiative "MINT Zukunft schaffen!" does

Die Nationale Initiative "MINT Zukunft schaffen!" is a Berlin-based German non-profit association (MINT Zukunft e.V.), founded in May 2008, that promotes STEM (MINT — Mathematik, Informatik, Naturwissenschaften, Technik) education across Germany. It functions as a national umbrella platform coordinating schools, corporate partners, professional societies, and volunteer ambassadors around standardized STEM and digitalization recognition programs. The initiative serves German schools (all types: primary, secondary, vocational), students, corporate sponsors seeking future STEM talent, and over 20,000 volunteer MINT-Botschafter. It operates under the official patronage of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz since 2022 and is chaired by Prof. Dr. Christoph Meinel (former HPI CEO) since May 2022.

The initiative's core offerings are two school certification programs: "MINT-freundliche Schule" (launched 2011), which evaluates schools against a 14-criteria STEM catalog, and "Digitale Schule" (launched 2017), which evaluates digitalization across five modules (Pedagogy & Learning Culture, Teacher Qualification, Regional Networking, Concept & Sustainability, Technology). Both seals are valid for three years; as of 2025, approximately 3,000 German schools held a valid seal. Supporting programs include the MINT-Botschafter volunteer network, the MINT-MAX partner program, MINT-Meter (monthly STEM workforce-gap reporting with IW Köln), MINT-Awards for students, and MLP-funded scholarships. Schools apply free of charge through an online Bewerbungsportal (civicrm.mintzukunft.de) that handles account management, document upload, and progress tracking.

Revenue is generated through corporate membership fees and sponsorship contributions from partners including Deutsche Telekom Stiftung, Deutsche Bahn AG, MLP, Google, and SAP, with no fees charged to schools. Distribution is decentralized via volunteer regional advisors in each of Germany's 16 federal states and 40+ partner organizations (employers' associations, industry societies) that conduct school evaluations and award ceremonies. The initiative operates from a small Berlin office with approximately 5-7 core staff, governed by a board chaired by Prof. Dr. Christoph Meinel with Managing Director Benjamin Gesing overseeing day-to-day operations since end-2023.

Name

Die Nationale Initiative "MINT Zukunft schaffen!"

Legal name

MINT Zukunft e.V.

Website

https://mintzukunftschaffen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Berlin-based German non-profit (MINT Zukunft e.V.) founded in 2008 that promotes STEM education through two standardized school certification programs (MINT-freundliche Schule and Digitale Schule), a network of 20,000+ volunteer ambassadors, and 3,000+ recognized schools across all 16 federal states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEM Education Advocacy and School Certification

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

Keywords

• STEM education advocacy
• School certification programs
• Workforce gap reporting
• Volunteer ambassador network
• Education partnership programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: The association 'MINT Zukunft e.V.' operates with membership fees from corporate members, with activities funded by member contributions and sponsorships from companies
2. Corporate sponsorships and partner contributions: Companies provide financial and organizational support in exchange for association with the STEM initiative and access to the network

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Die Nationale Initiative "MINT Zukunft schaffen!" operates as a German non-profit association that administers standardized school recognition programs — specifically the "MINT-freundliche Schule" (STEM-friendly School) and "Digitale Schule" (Digital School) certifications — while running a national network of over 20,000 volunteer STEM ambassadors, a monthly workforce gap reporting service (MINT-Meter) with IW Köln, student awards, and a scholarship program. Schools apply for free via an online Bewerbungsportal, and the initiative is funded by corporate memberships and sponsorships.

Product overview

MINT Zukunft schaffen! is a national German initiative operating as a network and certification body rather than a traditional software product. The core offerings consist of two school certification programs: 'MINT-freundliche Schule' (MINT-friendly School, since 2011) recognizes schools with STEM education profiles based on 14 standardized criteria, while 'Digitale Schule' (Digital School, since 2017) recognizes schools with digitalization profiles across five modules. Supporting programs include the MINT-Botschafter volunteer ambassador network (20,000+ members), the MINT-MAX partner program, the MINT-Meter monthly reporting on STEM workforce gaps, MINT-Awards for students, and an MLP scholarship. Schools apply through the online Bewerbungsportal. The initiative operates as MINT Zukunft e.V., a registered non-profit association.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MINT-freundliche Schule A school certification program recognizing German schools with a focus on STEM (Mathematics, Computer Science, Natural Sciences, Technology) education. Schools are evaluated based on a standardized catalog of 14 MINT criteria through a nationwide uniform application process; certification is valid for three years.
• Digitale Schule A school certification program recognizing German schools with a focus on digitalization. The criteria catalog covers five modules: Pedagogy & Learning Cultures, Teacher Qualification, Regional Networking, Concept and Continuation, and Technology & Equipment; certification is valid for three years.
• MINT-Botschafter-Netzwerk
• MINT-Meter
• MINT-Awards
• MLP Stipendium
• Bewerbungsportal
• MINT-MAX Programm

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000 schools recognized with valid seals as of 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (Patron)flagshipOthers · 1 January 2022Since 2022, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz serves as official patron (Schirmherr) of the initiative, providing high-level political support
• IW Köln (Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIW Köln provides data and analysis for the monthly MINT-Lücke (STEM gap) reports and semi-annual STEM trend reports, supporting evidence-based advocacy for STEM education
• Gesellschaft für Informatik (GI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in developing the 'Digital School' program criteria and evaluation framework, providing expertise in informatics education and digitalization
• Wissensfabrik für Deutschland e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributed to development of Digital School criteria and serves as partner organization recognizing schools
• Dienstleistungsgesellschaft für Informatik (DLGI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-led the initiative 'Auf dem Weg zur digitalen Schule' developing criteria and guidelines for digital schools
• Fraunhofer IAIScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided expertise in developing the Digital School guidelines and digitalization criteria
• eco – Verband der InternetwirtschaftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributed to Digital School criteria development representing internet industry perspective
• Verein Deutscher Ingenieure (VDI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributed to Digital School criteria development and serves as partner recognizing schools
• Hasso-Plattner-Institut (HPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHPI Director Prof. Dr. Christoph Meinel serves as Vorstandsvorsitzender (Board Chair), providing academic legitimacy and institutional support
• VDE (Verband der Elektrotechnik)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrganizes and supports the MINT-Botschafter network among its members, helping coordinate ambassador activities
• VDI (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrganizes and supports the MINT-Botschafter network among its members
• Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParticipates in ambassador network organization and school recognition activities
• Deutsche Mathematiker-VereinigungcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParticipates in ambassador network organization and school recognition activities
• SAP Young ThinkersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners in STEM education initiatives for youth
• Landesarbeitgebervereinigungen (Regional Employers' Associations)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCoordinate school recognition activities in their respective federal states, conducting regional award ceremonies
• Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Standing Conference of Ministers of Education provides patronage for the 'MINT-freundliche Schule' recognition program, lending official educational authority

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft: Major German non-profit association of companies and foundations funding education, science, and innovation. Functions as a broader incumbent in the same education-funder space, with overlapping corporate membership base.
• acatech – Deutsche Akademie der Technikwissenschaften: German national academy of science and engineering advising policymakers on STEM and innovation. Comparable as a high-level advocacy and policy actor in the STEM ecosystem, with overlapping leaders and policy agenda.

Direct peers

• Wissensfabrik für Deutschland e.V. Active partner organization that co-developed the Digitale Schule criteria and also runs school-business STEM education programs. Comparable organizational model (corporate association, school recognition, education programs).
• Haus der Kleinen Forscher: Germany's largest early-childhood STEM education initiative, also a non-profit running school-based STEM programs for kindergartens and primary schools. Directly comparable in mission, funding model (corporate partners), and nationwide scope.
• SCHULEWIRTSCHAFT: Network connecting schools and employers in Germany, with a comparable model of regional recognition, corporate partner engagement, and STEM/career-orientation programs. Direct operational peer.

Emerging players

• Körber-Stiftung: German foundation running STEM education programs (e.g., Körber MINT-Forum) and school competitions. Comparable as a non-profit funding STEM education, with overlapping corporate partners and program beneficiaries.
• Joachim Herz Stiftung: Foundation funding STEM education projects in schools, particularly in the natural sciences and economics. Comparable in targeting German schools and corporate/foundation funding model.

Others

• Gesellschaft für Informatik (GI): Strategic partner that co-developed the Digitale Schule criteria and provides academic expertise. Comparable as a professional society engaged in informatics education and school-level digitalization certification.
• Bundesvereinigung Kulturelle Kinder- und Jugendbildung: Umbrella non-profit for non-formal youth education in Germany. Comparable only structurally as a national non-profit association coordinating education initiatives with diverse institutional partners.
• Deutsche Telekom Stiftung: Core partner of MINT Zukunft schaffen! and itself a major funder of digital education in German schools. Comparable as a corporate foundation supporting STEM/digital education at schools, with potential overlap in school and partner networks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/mintzukunftschaffen
• YouTubevimeo.com/mintzukunft
• Facebookfacebook.com/mintzukunftschaffen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mintzukunftschaffen
• Instagraminstagram.com/mintzukunft

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Die Nationale Initiative "MINT Zukunft schaffen!"