Investing in young talents: Mercer Stendal supports “Youth Research” competition

The pulp manufacturer Mercer Stendal has sponsored the school prize in the renowned “Jugend forscht” youth science competition since 2023. Mercer Stendal’s commitment underscores the importance of promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) for the company and the region.

“Jugend forscht”: A Breeding Ground for Young Innovation

For 60 years, “Jugend forscht” has been a firmly established institution in the German educational landscape. The competition offers young people a unique platform to present their creative ideas and innovative solutions. Under this year’s motto, “Make Answers Out of Questions,” young researchers are encouraged to unleash their curiosity, experiment, and critically examine the world around them.

The core questions of “Jugend forscht” – “Why is it like this? How does it work? How can it be improved?” – are the driving force behind progress and innovation, forming the foundation for future scientific and technological breakthroughs.

Mercer Stendal: A Partner in Fostering STEM Talent

Mercer Stendal shares the forward-thinking vision of “Jugend forscht” and actively supports the competition by awarding the school prize. This prize recognizes the outstanding commitment of schools in the targeted promotion of talent in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and technology (STEM). This year, ten schools from Saxony-Anhalt will receive the school prize. In addition to a symbolic glass plaque on a wooden base, the award-winning schools will receive prize money, the amount of which depends on the number of projects submitted.

Specifically, four school prizes will be awarded to educational institutions participating in the competition with at least four projects. A further six school prizes will go to schools with more than eight submitted research projects.

“We view our support of ‘Jugend forscht’ as an investment in the future of our site and the German economy as a whole,” emphasizes André Listemann, Managing Director of Mercer Stendal. “The targeted promotion of young people in the STEM fields is essential to meet the demand for qualified specialists and strengthen our economy’s innovative capacity sustainably.”

The Strategic Importance of STEM Education for the Future

The STEM disciplines form the foundation for numerous groundbreaking technologies and developments. From tackling climate change to developing novel medications and advancing the digitalization of society, sound STEM skills are in higher demand than ever before.

The early promotion of young talent is crucial to enable them to realize their full potential and actively shape the future. The foundation for this enthusiasm is often laid in schools, where dedicated teachers and innovative projects spark interest in scientific and technical issues. Mercer Stendal is aware of this central role of educational institutions and recognizes this commitment with the school prize.

“We are deeply impressed by the dedication and remarkable creativity of the young researchers at ‘Jugend forscht’,” explains Listemann. “We would be very pleased to welcome some of these talented young individuals to Mercer Stendal in the future as trainees, students, or qualified specialists,” he adds with a wink.