GEA Foundation strengthens commitment with three new strategic partners

• Foundation welcomes three new strategic partners for educational projects in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)

• Partnerships broadly promote STEM education from school lessons to vocational training

• Projects in Germany, Europe and Africa strengthen talent development in key future professions and technologies

The GEA Foundation is strengthening its community engagement by welcoming three new strategic partners: Science on Stage, Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft and Ingenieure ohne Grenzen. In addition, support for the organization Deutsche Universitätsstiftung will be expanded.

Stefan Klebert, CEO of GEA: “Our new strategic partners perfectly complement our existing collaborations. In line with our strategy, Mission 30, we have committed to donating one percent of our annual net profit. We are delighted that this commitment enables us to support our partners worldwide. These partnerships are having an impact precisely where skilled professionals are urgently needed to ensure a sustainable future.”

New strategic partners and projects

• Science on Stage: Developing innovative teaching materials for STEM subjects globally
• Stifterverband für die deutsche Wissenschaft: Supporting the successful integration of international STEM students into the German job market
• Ingenieure ohne Grenzen: Building a vocational training center in Uganda
• Deutsche Universitätsstiftung: Expanding an existing mentoring program for first-generation students in Germany

Science on Stage – Engineering for our Life

The non-profit initiative, Science on Stage Germany, connects STEM teachers across Europe, reaching more than 100,000 educators in 35 countries. Its goal is to strengthen STEM skills and inspire students to pursue careers in these fields. The GEA Foundation supports the Engineering for our Live project. As part of this initiative, teachers develop hands-on teaching resources, which link real-world topics – such as energy, nutrition, environment and health – with concrete engineering approaches, thus equipping teachers with practical tools to integrate these areas in their classrooms.

Stifterverband für die deutsche Wissenschaft – “MINTernational” lighthouse projects

With its “Future Mission Education,” the Stifterverband aims to adapt educational systems to meet the demands of a changing world by rapidly providing more people with critical skills. To this end, it brings together relevant stakeholders from business, science and administration in a joint initiative and coordinates activities. In this context, the GEA Foundation supports the program MINTernational. It strengthens cross-sector cooperation between universities, companies, and public authorities in order to help international STEM students find their way into the German labor market more easily. International students already make up 30 percent of STEM freshmen in Germany. However, more than half leave the country after graduation despite an urgent need by German companies to hire more skilled, STEM educated workers.

Ingenieure ohne Grenzen

Ingenieure ohne Grenzen is an independent, non-profit development organization. Its work focuses on establishing a basic supply of water, electricity and sanitation as well as building and improving educational facilities. With support from the GEA Foundation, the organization is constructing a vocational training center in Uganda. The project includes new workshop buildings, reliable power supply including a photovoltaic system, modern equipment and improved hygiene facilities. These investments will help to significantly improve the learning and teaching environment for young people in a country that needs talent in the areas of engineering and technology.

Deutsche Universitätsstiftung – TANDEM mentoring program

Since 2009, the Deutsche Universitätsstiftung has worked to increase educational equity. Its TANDEM scholarship program supports first-generation students through one-on-one mentoring with experienced professors. The program also offers networking opportunities such as Career Day, which creates spaces for exchange and helps students prepare to enter the job market. The GEA Foundation currently supports 20 young people in this format and will expand its commitment to include an additional 20 students over the next two years.

A growing network of international partnerships for long-term impact

Established in early 2025, the GEA Foundation is continuously expanding its work. The foundation institutionalizes and channels the company’s social engagement. Its four focus areas include: STEM education, combating child poverty, improving access to basic infrastructure and acute disaster relief. At the launch ceremony in February, the GEA Foundation presented its first programs with the initial strategic partners UNICEF Deutschland, Viva con Agua, SOS-Kinderdorf Deutschland and Deutsche Universitätsstiftung. The additional partnerships announced today further strengthen the GEA’s goal of giving one percent of its net profit to charitable causes.