Eppendorf, an international life sciences company, has highlighted its European outreach activities aimed at addressing persistent challenges in STEM education
Demand for talent in strategic sectors such as digital technologies and healthcare is growing; however, data shows that almost 30% of EU students do not reach minimum proficiency in maths at 15 years old. The European Commission’s STEM Education Strategic Plan intends to reverse this trend and encourage more young people to pursue further study and careers in STEM. Against this backdrop, Eppendorf is supporting a range of programs intended to spark scientific curiosity in young people.
Through a long-standing collaboration with the Vienna Open Lab, a joint venture between the Open Science association and the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Eppendorf delivered the annual Eppendorf Kids Academy in April 2026. The 2026 course brought together students from local schools for workshops in which they gained experience with lab-based experiments, including using pipettes, performing simple chromatography and DNA extraction, and setting up cell cultures.
In Cambridgeshire, UK, Eppendorf is supporting STEM access through school partnerships and site visits. As part of the Hertfordshire County Council’s Access to All project, the Company partnered with schools in Stevenage to welcome students to its UK headquarters, where they toured facilities and saw how Eppendorf’s instruments are used. The company also has a partnership with Hills Road Sixth Form in Cambridge, donating equipment such as micropipettes, PCR machines, and microcentrifuges.
Eppendorf hosts its own Corporate Kids Day, inviting schoolchildren to its laboratories to explore careers in the life sciences. Kids’ Day is part of a German campaign promoting stereotype-free career guidance, aimed at introducing young people to a variety of career paths at an early age. As part of Eppendorf’s Kids Day 2026, 25 children were invited to join their parents at the Hamburg HQ and spent time with teams in production, the Future People technical academy, and Research and Development. The day also included a visit to the Eppendorf Forum, a centre dedicated to the Company’s history and practical laboratory experience.
An Eppendorf pipette was a centrepiece in a recent exhibition in Spain. During the Hospibrick and Click Fair, a joint initiative between Lego and Playmobile, Eppendorf’s Lego pipette formed part of Hispalug’s science-focused display alongside a microscope, test tubes, and DNA models.
Mathias Wenisch, vice president sales, Indirect Sales Area EMEA, at Eppendorf Group, said, “As a global leader in scientific innovation, we recognise that the future of the European STEM sector depends entirely on inspiring the next generation of scientists. Through our outreach programmes and partnerships with local schools, we are widening access to STEM education, innovative scientific instruments, and work experience opportunities. By giving young people first-hand exposure, we hope to spark lasting excitement and curiosity, and inspire future scientists, doctors, and engineers.”
