Talent Schools

Fascinating workshops for secondary schoolers interested in STEM

Three to four days that could decide your choice of career? That’s our Talent Schools. Led by scientists, you can perform scientific experiments as part of informative and impactful workshops. The workshops are the cornerstone of our varied and action-packed Talent School program. Talk with STEM students about their experiences or attend evening fireside chats with researchers for personal insights into applied research at Fraunhofer.

The Talent School program at a glance:

Programs for secondary schoolers in grades 9 through 13
Events last three to four days
Two formats: Talent School (at a location in Germany) & European Talent School (Europe-wide)
Supervised by experienced and helpful scientists
Teamwork
Information about the German and international research landscape
Informative talks with Fraunhofer managers

Talent portal »myTalent«

The young talent portal »myTalent« is open to anyone who has taken part in a STEM young talent program.

The portal

Further information

The Talent Schools of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft offer you unique insights into current research. You can find more information about the Talent Schools here.

Flyer »Die Fraunhofer Talent School« [ PDF 0.26 MB ]

What you get out of it

Many people stand in front of a blackboard. — © Fraunhofer | Ralf Bräutigam

Does the fun really start for you once you see a subject like math, biology, physics or computer science on your schedule? Do you find science fascinating and want to know how it is applied at one of the world’s largest research institutions? Welcome to the Talent School!

Together with other students, you will explore topics drawn from advanced research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The activities were developed by scientists at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, who will teach you the necessary theoretical basics during the workshops and are happy to discuss your results and experiences with you.

After three to four days in the Talent School program, you will know how technical and scientific solutions are developed “in real life” and how scientific instruments are put together. You will also have spent time working closely with peers who are also interested in STEM — plus, you will have learned something about yourself.

Calendar of events: upcoming Talent Schools

Each Fraunhofer institute that offers a Talent School has its own dates and deadlines. It is best to contact the specific institute.

The Fraunhofer European Talent School

Research transcends boundaries — at Fraunhofer and elsewhere. That’s why we hold our European Talent School in a different European country every year. You can choose from among various workshop topics. The topics for 2024 were:

Math, games and machine learning
Intelligent cities of the future — autonomous robots in the “smart city”
Physical experiments, Fraunhofer style
Environmental impact — calculating sustainability

European Talent School participation requirements

Residents of Bavaria: You are a student enrolled in grade 10, 11 or 12 at an academic secondary school (Gymnasium), general secondary school (Realschule), comprehensive school (Gesamtschule), higher vocational school (Fachoberschule or Berufsoberschule), or Montessori or Waldorf school in Bavaria.
Residents of other states in Germany: You are in grade 10, 11 or 12 at an academic secondary school providing a general education (Gymnasium, Realgymnasium, wirtschaftskundliches Realgymnasium, Oberstufenrealgymnasium, Privatgymnasium) in Germany.
Residents of Austria: You are enrolled at a secondary school for vocational education and training, located in the states of Salzburg, Tyrol or Vorarlberg.
Residents of Switzerland: You are enrolled in secondary level 2 at an academic secondary school (Gymnasium), secondary school (Sekundarschule or Mittelschule), school of trade and commerce (Handelsschule), or vocational school (Fachmittelschule or Berufsfachschule).
Residents of South Tyrol / Italy: You are enrolled in year 2, 3, 4 or 5 at a secondary school (Oberschule) or at an equivalent level in the other Association of the Alpine States member states.
The workshops are held in German, so good German language skills are required.

Talent School 2019 in Ilmenau

From October 17 to 20, 2019, almost 30 students came together at the Talent School Ilmenau. For four days, the 13 to 18-year-olds were united by one mission - to get a taste of research, successfully complete a project together as a team and, of course, have a lot of fun.