Berlin is knorke: Spotlight on STEM
Berlin, December 22, 2025 - Mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and engineering – the so-called STEM subjects – are not exactly favorites among many school students. Unsurprisingly, the number choosing to pursue university studies in these fields has long been low. According to the German Life Sciences Association (VBIO) and data from the Federal Statistical Office, first-year enrollments in STEM disciplines dropped by 6.5% in the 2021 academic year compared with the previous year But by 2024/2025, the Federal Statistical Office reported strong growth in STEM areas such as engineering, mathematics, and the natural sciences. A promising trend – and one to which the MINTinside project is making an active contribution. Based in Northwest Berlin-Brandenburg, MINTinside starts exactly where the skills gap of tomorrow can best be addressed: with today’s children and young people.
Some background: MINTinside was launched in 2022 as a joint initiative of the Berlin-Brandenburg Biotechnology Network (bbb),the Berliner Hochschule für Technik (BHT) and the city of Hennigsdorf. Its mission is to build a regional STEM cluster that connects providers, bundles their programs, and makes them more visible. On the project’s website, companies can introduce STEM careers, providers can showcase their programs, and students and families can discover workshops, courses, and projects.
MINTinside also offers plenty of hands-on experiences in its dedicated workshop in Hennigsdorf. Here, children and teenagers can explore 3D printing, robotics, microscopy, or codingan – and one especially popular activity is creating soaps to take home. The workshop is funded through donations, and participation is free of charge. Partnerships with schools, activities for after-school groups, and digital self-learning courses further extend the project’s reach.
In 2024, the project received recognition from the Körber Foundation as part of its “MINT-Regionen wirken” competition for its MINTinsider Pass, along with prize money of €5,000. The pass works like a sticker booklet: children and young people collect a sticker for every workshop they attend or project they complete. Once the pass is full, they earn a certificate naming them a “MINT Insider.” When donations allow, additional rewards are offered, such as free tickets to the local swimming pool. This collection system has proven to be a powerful motivator –participation numbers rose sharply after its introduction.
What’s next? The project’s future lies in building even stronger partnerships. MINTinside is eager to expand its cooperation with companies and other regional stakeholders to spark curiosity and joy for STEM subjects among young people. Expressions of interest from potential partners are therefore more than welcome.