Academics with MINT qualifications (Mathematics, IT, Natural Sciences, Technology) are in high demand as technology experts in German companies.

Continental has taken on the task of selectively and effectively fostering, recruiting and developing future MINT talents – from pupils through to young persons just starting off their career.

Continental intensified its involvement in 2010, becoming a member of the Knowledge Factory (Wissensfabrik), a pool of more than 70 companies and foundations with the goal of promoting education at the pre-school and elementary-school levels in Germany.

As a member, the corporation is planning to carry out the technical and natural science projects "Children Discover Technology" and "How Does That Work?" together with local elementary schools at eleven German locations. The projects involve the creation of about 35 educational partnerships throughout Germany and Romania. For the pilot project, in addition to sharing know-how, Continental is supporting the schools with experiment kits for the natural sciences and technology.

Click here for further information about the German Knowledge Factory (only available in German).

A further activity supporting young talent in the field of natural sciences is the “IGELab” chemistry lab that was opened in 2006. In the lab, things hiss, bang, and stink – chemistry should, after all, be fun! In order to demonstrate this to the children, the Lower Saxony Chemical Industry Employers' Association as well as the companies Honeywell, Hüttenes-Albertus and Continental have launched a joint project: the operation of the IGELab, an experimental chemistry laboratory for kids at integrated comprehensive schools. The project was developed in cooperation with the Hanover-Vahrenheide Integrated Comprehensive School. It employs simple experiments to give young researchers an ideal of industrial chemistry. Scientific curiosity will be whetted by exploring the chemistry of metals, what everyday products like toothpaste, tonic water, and powdered pudding mix have in common, the production and vulcanization of polymers and other subjects.

The “IGELab” is open to students at all schools in greater Hanover. The focus is on teaching at the general and integrated comprehensive schools.

Click here for further information about the IGELab Project (only available in German).