Schülerforschungszentrum Nordhessen

What Schülerforschungszentrum Nordhessen does

Schülerforschungszentrum Nordhessen (SFN) is a non-profit student research center based in Kassel, Germany, that provides hands-on STEM (MINT: Mathematics, Informatics, Natural Sciences, Technology) research programming for students from North Hesse schools. The organization serves students across grades 5 through 13 through three age-differentiated clubs: KidsClub (grades 5-6) offering introductory inquiry-based learning in small groups, JuniorClub (grades 7-8) for first independent research projects across physics, biology, chemistry, computer science, astronomy, technology, and mathematics with access to over 400 project proposals, and ScienceClub (grades 9-13) for self-directed multi-year research with access to over 450 project proposals and contacts to external research institutions and companies. Approximately 20% of teams participate in state and federal competitions such as "Schüler experimentieren" and "Jugend forscht," with success rates comparable to centers focused primarily on competition preparation.

The center operates from a single facility at Parkstraße 16 in Kassel, equipped with a large research room, technology laboratory, workshop, rooftop observatory operated in partnership with the Astronomischer Arbeitskreis Kassel, seminar room, and dedicated chemistry and biology laboratory. Supplementary holiday programs include the Ferienakademie (free, for children ages 8-12, scheduled for August 3-7, 2026) and the MINT-Ferien program, which is coordinated with the broader Hessen-level mint-ferien-hessen.de network. The facility supports Monday/Tuesday sessions in two time slots for the KidsClub and flexible scheduling for older clubs, with optional afternoon childcare available for €40 during Ferienakademie.

SFN's business model is sponsor-funded and not transactional: core participation in all clubs and the Ferienakademie is free to participants, with 100% of student project costs underwritten by sponsors. Stiftung Hübner und Kennedy gGmbH is a named primary financial sponsor, and additional unspecified sponsors cover all in-club research costs. The organization has 12 employees, is led by Philipp Imhof (Leitung), and operates under a Förderverein (supporting association). The website notes it is currently under reconstruction. No funding rounds, equity investors, M&A activity, patents, or revenue figures are disclosed in the available data.

Name

Schülerforschungszentrum Nordhessen

Legal name

SchülerForschungsZentrum Nordhessen SFN

Website

https://sfn-kassel.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Schülerforschungszentrum Nordhessen (SFN) is a non-profit student research center in Kassel, Germany, offering hands-on STEM research programs for grades 5-13 through age-differentiated clubs (KidsClub, JuniorClub, ScienceClub) plus holiday academies. Participation is free, fully financed by sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth STEM Education Services

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM Research & Inquiry Programs (Research Mentorship, Science Fair Prep) (EDAMABAC), Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB)

Keywords

• STEM education programs
• Student research clubs
• Youth science programs
• Extracurricular science learning
• STEM vacation academy

Headquarters

HQ city

Kassel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

SFN operates an age-tiered STEM research education platform for students in North Hesse, structured into three clubs: KidsClub (grades 5-6), JuniorClub (grades 7-8), and ScienceClub (grades 9-13). Students conduct hands-on, self-directed research projects in physics, astrophysics, geophysics, chemistry, biology, technology, computer science, and mathematics, using professional-grade labs and equipment, with all project costs fully covered by sponsors. The center also offers vacation STEM programs including Ferienakademie (ages 8-12) and MINT-Ferien.

Product overview

Schülerforschungszentrum Nordhessen (SFN) operates a multi-level research education platform for students from grades 5-13, structured into three age-differentiated clubs: KidsClub (grades 5-6), JuniorClub (grades 7-8), and ScienceClub (grades 9-13). The program offers hands-on, self-directed research projects in STEM disciplines (Physics, Astrophysics, Geophysics, Chemistry, Biology, Technology, Computer Science, Mathematics) with full project funding, mentorship, and facility access including labs, workshops, and an observatory. Supplementary programs include the Ferienakademie (vacation academy for ages 8-12) and MINT-Ferien (holiday programs), providing structured courses during school breaks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KidsClub: Research club for students in grades 5-6, focusing on discovery-based learning in small groups
• JuniorClub
• ScienceClub
• Ferienakademie
• MINT-Ferien

Products and services

• KidsClub
• JuniorClub
• ScienceClub
• Ferienakademie
• MINT-Ferien

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Astronomischer Arbeitskreis Kassel (AAK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with SFN to operate the observatory on the SFN rooftop, typically open on Fridays. They handle astronomical questions and observations, sharing resources and expertise with SFN students.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Haus der kleinen Forscher: National foundation running Germany's largest early-childhood and primary STEM education program, reaching thousands of daycare and primary school sites. Comparable to SFN in STEM-enrichment mission but addresses a younger demographic and operates through a decentralized partner network rather than a single facility.

Direct peers

• Teutolab (Universität Bielefeld): University-hosted student laboratory network at Bielefeld offering structured experimental STEM courses for school classes and individual students. Comparable to SFN in lab-based learning, school-outreach delivery, and project-based pedagogy for K-12 audiences.
• Schülerforschungszentrum Oberfranken: Bayreuth-based student research center serving Upper Franconia with age-tiered STEM research clubs and lab infrastructure for school-age students. Directly comparable to SFN in mission, target age groups, and Jugend forscht/Schüler experimentieren participation model.
• Alfried Krupp-Schülerlabor (Ruhr-Universität Bochum): University-affiliated student laboratory offering hands-on STEM experimentation programs for school students across multiple disciplines. Comparable to SFN in providing lab access, project mentorship, and curriculum-linked research experiences for K-12 learners.
• Schülerforschungszentrum Südwürttemberg: A regional student research center in southern Württemberg offering comparable multi-tier STEM clubs, project mentorship, and Jugend forscht preparation for K-13 students. Operates the same Schülerforschungszentrum model as SFN with shared pedagogical structure and competition integration.

Emerging players

• Lernort Labor (Bundesverband): Federation of student laboratories across Germany that collectively deliver out-of-school STEM learning experiences. Comparable to SFN as part of the same ecosystem, though operating as a network rather than a single-site center; useful as a channel and standards body adjacent to SFN's offerings.

Others

• MINT Zukunft schaffen: National initiative coordinating MINT education stakeholders across Germany, including awards and a school-partnership scheme. Functions as a sector umbrella and policy voice adjacent to SFN's STEM-enrichment mission rather than as a direct service provider.
• Jugend forscht (Stiftung): National youth research competition and supporting foundation that SFN students enter via Schüler experimentieren and Jugend forscht. Not a direct competitor but the primary competition funnel through which SFN's outputs are validated and recognized.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sch%C3%BClerforschungszentrum-nordhessen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schülerforschungszentrum Nordhessen