What Deutsche Telekom Stiftung does

Deutsche Telekom Stiftung is a German non-profit foundation established in 2003 with a 150 million euro endowment from Deutsche Telekom AG, headquartered in Bonn. Operating as one of Germany's largest corporate foundations, it focuses on improving MINT (mathematics, informatics, natural sciences, and technology) education across primary and secondary schools. The foundation targets structural challenges in the German education system including unequal educational opportunities, teacher shortages, and declining basic competencies, working through three action fields: concepts and materials, networks, and educational governance. Its beneficiaries are German schools, teachers, students, education policymakers, and researchers.

The foundation's product portfolio includes educational programs (Junior-Ingenieur-Akademie, Data Science in der Schule/ProDaBi), research publications (Trendmonitor KI in der Bildung, KI in der Schule Kompakt-Leitfaden), competitions (KI-Schulpreis with Dieter Schwarz Stiftung and Deutschland – Land der Ideen), and digital learning tools (Facts & Fakes app, Qapito! materials, Deeper Learning workbook, Design Thinking handbook). Technology assets include AI-supported learning diagnostics research, digital learning platforms, and chatbot-integrated guides (via fobizz). All materials are distributed free of charge through the foundation's website, the Lehrer-Online platform, and app stores.

The business model is non-commercial: the foundation operates from endowment returns and corporate sponsorship rather than earned revenue. Go-to-market relies on community-led partnerships with schools, universities (e.g., Universität Paderborn), research institutes (DFKI, mmb Institut, Leibniz-IWM, DIPF), and policy organizations, supplemented by digital marketing across website, newsletter, social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube), events, and earned media. The foundation is governed by a board chaired by Dr. Thomas de Maizière with Jacob Chammon as Managing Director (Geschäftsführer).

Name

Deutsche Telekom Stiftung

Legal name

Deutsche Telekom Stiftung

Website

https://telekom-stiftung.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Deutsche Telekom Stiftung is a German non-profit foundation established in 2003 with a 150 million euro endowment, focused on improving MINT (STEM) education across German schools through programs, free materials, research publications, and partnerships with universities and research institutes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education and Training Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Math & STEM Learning Technology (incl. Coding/Robotics Platforms) (EDAJAMAG), Education Systems Strengthening (Policy, Planning, EMIS, Governance) (BPADAKAK), Education Access & EdTech for Equity (Low-cost Learning, Skills Platforms) (BPAGALAH)

Keywords

• STEM education programs
• Educational materials development
• Teacher professional development
• Digital learning platforms
• Educational research publications

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation Endowment Returns: The foundation operates from its endowment capital of 150 million euros. As a non-profit organization, it does not generate commercial revenue but distributes returns from its capital for educational purposes.
2. Donations and Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship and donations from Deutsche Telekom AG and partners support project activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Deutsche Telekom Stiftung is a non-profit educational foundation that develops, tests, and distributes free educational programs, teaching materials, and research publications to strengthen STEM (MINT) education in German schools. Its activities span three action fields: developing concepts and materials (e.g., Junior-Ingenieur-Akademie, Data Science curriculum, AI in education), building networks between schools and external partners, and advocating for improved educational governance.

Product overview

Deutsche Telekom Stiftung operates as an educational foundation focused on MINT (STEM) education in Germany. Rather than a unified software product, the foundation offers a portfolio of educational programs, learning materials, and research publications. Key offerings include the Junior-Ingenieur-Akademie for engineering education, the KI-Schulpreis (AI School Award) competition, Data Science in der Schule curriculum, Qapito! source evaluation materials, Facts & Fakes learning app, and Deeper Learning resources. The foundation also publishes the Trendmonitor KI in der Bildung (AI in Education Trend Monitor) and various studies and expertises on educational topics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Junior-Ingenieur-Akademie School program that develops STEM competencies in students through project-based engineering activities, with accompanying teaching materials. Targeted at German secondary schools.
• KI-Schulpreis National competition recognizing schools that innovatively use artificial intelligence in teaching, school organization, or supporting teachers and students.
• Data Science in der Schule (ProDaBi) Project course on data science and big data for upper secondary students, developed in cooperation with the University of Paderborn.
• Qapito! – Quellen kritisch beurteilen Evidence-based workshop and teaching materials to strengthen source evaluation competencies for 12-17 year olds.
• Facts & Fakes Digital learning game that playfully teaches basic source evaluation competencies, available as free download from app stores or browser-based.
• Deeper Learning gestalten Workbook helping teachers implement deeper learning approaches in classroom instruction, including tips, experience reports, and materials.
• Trendmonitor KI in der Bildung Annual publication providing orientation on opportunities, challenges, and developments in the use of artificial intelligence in school contexts.
• KI-gestützte Lerndiagnostik Project exploring AI-supported learning diagnostics to enhance personalized education in schools.
• Digitales Lernen Grundschule Working materials developed by six universities for productive use of digital media in primary school teaching.
• Toolbox Kreatives Lernen Publication providing methods for enabling students to formulate problems creatively, develop ideas, and quickly move to implementation.
• Handbuch Design Thinking Handbook providing teaching examples and experience reports for applying design thinking approaches in schools.
• KI in der Schule Kompakt-Leitfaden Compact guide for teachers and school administrators explaining AI technology groups for learning, teaching, and administration.

Quantifiable outcome

• KI-Angebot für schulische Zwecke hat sich seit 2021 etwa verdreifacht (AI offering for school purposes has tripled since 2021)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• DFKI (Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2025Research partner for the Trendmonitor KI in der Bildung (AI in Education Trend Monitor). DFKI conducts market and trend analysis on AI applications in schools.
• mmb Institut (Gesellschaft für Medien- und Kompetenzforschung)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2025Research partner for the Trendmonitor KI in der Bildung. Conducts market analysis and expert surveys on AI in educational contexts.
• Dieter Schwarz StiftungflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2025Joint partnership for the KI-Schulpreis (AI School Prize) competition. The Dieter Schwarz Stiftung co-sponsors the competition which awards innovative AI use in German schools with total prize money of 100,000 euros.
• Deutschland – Land der IdeenflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 April 2025Partner organization for the KI-Schulpreis competition, helping to promote and implement the nationwide competition for innovative AI use in schools.
• Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien (IWM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Dr. Ulrike Cress, Director of IWM, serves as Deputy Chair of the foundation's board and leads the AI School Prize jury.
• Universität PaderborncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for the Data Science in Schools project (ProDaBi). Mathematics and computer science didactics researchers collaborate on developing educational materials.
• Stadt Paderborn / ASP ParkraumbewirtschaftungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner providing parking data for student project on AI-based parking prediction app.
• Leibniz-Institut für Bildungsforschung und Bildungsinformation (DIPF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrevious research partner for 2021 market analysis on AI-supported learning applications.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Siemens Stiftung: Large German corporate foundation focused on STEM education and social innovation. Directly comparable as a corporate foundation with similar endowment scale, MINT education focus, and free materials distribution model.
• Bertelsmann Stiftung: One of Germany's largest corporate foundations with significant education and policy reform work. Comparable as a major corporate foundation with education governance focus and similar national-policy advocacy role.
• Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft: Association of German foundations and companies funding education, science, and innovation. Comparable as a national-scale intermediary coordinating corporate philanthropy in STEM and education.
• Joachim Herz Stiftung: German corporate foundation with major programs in STEM education, economic education, and research. Comparable as a similarly sized German corporate foundation with parallel MINT program portfolios.
• Vodafone Stiftung Deutschland: Corporate foundation funded by a telecom peer (Vodafone) with education and digital skills focus. Strongly comparable as a telco-backed foundation addressing similar topics of digital literacy and STEM in schools.
• Bosch Stiftung: Corporate foundation of Robert Bosch with major education and health programs. Comparable as another large German corporate foundation with education and learning program portfolios.
• Heinz Nixdorf Stiftung: German corporate foundation historically focused on information technology and education. Comparable as a similarly structured corporate foundation with focus on IT-supported education and STEM.
• Körber-Stiftung: German corporate foundation with education and science programs. Comparable as a major German foundation running competitions, dialogue formats, and educational materials in similar policy domains.
• Dieter Schwarz Stiftung: German foundation focused on education and science with substantial endowment. Directly comparable as a co-sponsor of the KI-Schulpreis and similarly structured corporate foundation targeting MINT education.

Emerging players

• Forum Bildung Digitalisierung: Non-profit initiative promoting digital transformation in schools in Germany. Comparable as a peer organization on Deutsche Telekom Stiftung's project list that addresses overlapping digital education themes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/telekomstiftung
• Facebookfacebook.com/telekomstiftung
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/telekomstiftung
• Instagraminstagram.com/telekomstiftung

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Deutsche Telekom Stiftung