Jena, March 12, 2026 – Great success for the promotion of young scientific talent in the Lichtstadt: The Schülerforschungszentrum (SFZ) Jena was awarded first place in the national competition “Innovatives Schülerforschungszentrum”.
- Award: 1st prize in the national competition
- Awarded by: Bundesverband der Schülerlabore
- Sponsorship of SFZ Jena: witelo e.V. (since 2016)
- Core offerings: Open courses, STEM competition preparation, material rental, project support for specialist papers
Practical support in everyday school life proves convincing
In its decision, the Bundesverband der Schülerlabore particularly praised the outstanding effectiveness of the Jena facility in daily school routines. The concept of the SFZ Jena relies on a close and unbureaucratic integration of school learning and extracurricular experimentation. Teachers from Jena and the surrounding area can flexibly request the SFZ for working groups, seminar subject workshops, individual project support, and the rental of specialized materials.
For children and young people, the center also offers a space for their first scientific steps. In open courses and topic-specific workshops, they can pursue their scientific and technical interests. A special focus is placed on accompanying project and specialist papers as well as targeted preparation for STEM competitions (Mathematics, Informatics, Natural Sciences, and Technology).
Background: Jena as a location for science and education
The intensive promotion of young scientific talent has an indispensable tradition in Jena. As a traditional “Lichtstadt” and the cradle of modern optics through pioneers such as Carl Zeiss and Ernst Abbe, the region is heavily dependent on well-trained specialists in the STEM sector. The Schülerforschungszentrum, which has been managed by the association witelo e.V. (Netzwerk für wissenschaftlich-technische Lernorte in Jena) since 2016, bundles these efforts. It acts as an essential link between schools, universities, and the high-tech industry to discover young talents early and inspire them for science.
Source:
SFZ Jena wins at the national competition “Innovatives Schülerforschungszentrum”
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.