Our 2025 General Assembly took place on June 17 – an important moment for exchange, reflection, and strategic decisions. Alongside a review of the past fiscal year and planning for the year ahead, one project in particular stood out: Shaping the Future Together.
As part of this association-wide process, we collected and developed ideas, perspectives, and goals. The results were presented at the assembly and officially adopted as the new mission statement of the association – a major step to guide and further develop our work over the long term.
What did we achieve last year? What impact did we have – and what are we aiming for in the future? Our newly published 2024 Annual and Impact Report provides the answers. It offers a vivid insight into the reach of our programs, the milestones we've achieved, and how we’re shaping the future through our network.
In spring, we hosted a three-part professional development series for Discover, Explore, and Challenge together with VDI-GaraGe Leipzig. A total of 43 educators from kindergartens, after-school care, and schools participated – a strong signal of growing interest in FIRST LEGO League in the education sector.
This fall, we’ll once again offer diverse training formats for teachers, coaches, and education professionals – practical, experience-based, and perfectly aligned with the new season “UNEARTHED” and your role as a coach.
Volunteers are the backbone of our regional events. Over 1,400 dedicated individuals supported last season – as judges, referees, MCs, or helping hands. Thank you for your commitment – we’d love to have you on board again this season!
The new FIRST LEGO League season “UNEARTHED” officially launches on August 5, 2025. Already, 407 Challenge teams and 137 Explore teams have registered – spread across 52 tournaments and 50 exhibitions organized by our regional partners. That’s where your support is needed!
On April 24, 2025, we celebrated the 23rd birthday of our association – a charming numerical coincidence and, more importantly, a wonderful opportunity to reflect on more than two decades of commitment to STEM education. Since our founding in 2002, we’ve been working to inspire children and young people with a passion for technology, robotics, and science.
By “we,” we mean a dedicated team of ten staff members, over 30 volunteer association members, and more than 1,300 volunteers who support our projects – like FIRST LEGO League – across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, helping us bring our mission to life.
From March 28 to 30, Siegen became the heart of the FIRST LEGO League community in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. At two vocational schools, 30 Challenge teams, 9 Explore teams, and one Discover team showcased their projects, robots, and incredible team spirit – supported by around 60 volunteers, dedicated teachers, and enthusiastic guests, including the district administrator of Siegen-Wittgenstein.
For three days, the event was filled with creativity, energy, celebration, and awe: Alongside exciting robot games, research-based presentations, and jury interviews, there were plenty of interactive activities – from a crafting station to a poetry slam. In the evenings, participants celebrated together, and throughout the event, there was ample opportunity for exchange among young STEM talents from across the DACH region.
We warmly congratulate Werner Fick from Königin-Katharina-Stift in Stuttgart on receiving one of just ten nationwide awards as part of the German Teacher Award 2024! He was nominated by his students for his exceptional dedication to school-based robotics – in an extracurricular group where he supports students participating in both the FIRST LEGO League and the FIRST Tech Challenge.
With great enthusiasm, he has been mentoring his teams for years, fostering technical creativity and making STEM subjects engaging and accessible. This award recognizes not only his expertise, but above all his tireless commitment to hands-on, inspiring education.
The application phase for the prestigious “STEM-Friendly School” and “Digital School” awards is open until May 31, 2025. These awards are presented by the “MINT Zukunft schaffen!” initiative (translated as “Creating a STEM Future”). All types of schools – from primary to vocational – that demonstrate exceptional commitment to STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) or innovative digital learning concepts are eligible to apply.
The initiative is looking for schools that teach in a practical, forward-thinking, and innovative way – preparing students for the challenges of tomorrow. It's not all about high-tech labs or state-of-the-art equipment: tried-and-true programs like the FIRST LEGO League, STEM clubs, or creative digital teaching approaches can also make a significant impact.
Starting in spring 2025, HANDS on TECHNOLOGY e.V., in collaboration with VDI-GaraGe gGmbH in Leipzig, is offering a modular training series for teachers and educators – free of charge thanks to the support of the TÜV SÜD Foundation. Spots are still available – sign up now!
The training series is designed to be flexible: participants can complete all modules or select specific topics of interest. For the best learning experience, we recommend completing all three modules within each of the three focus areas as a comprehensive unit. Additional modules not directly tied to FIRST LEGO League are also available, offering further practical insights.
This year’s FIRST LEGO League, themed "SUBMERGED", is captivating children and teenagers across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Participants are showcasing their innovative solutions to deep-sea challenges – using autonomous robots, creative research projects, and a lot of enthusiasm for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
In the coming weeks, numerous exciting events are taking place, including on February 1, 2025, in cities like Kiel, Karlsruhe, Zwickau, and Bregenz (AT). In addition to the Challenge competitions for secondary school teams, some locations will also feature an Explore exhibition where elementary school students present their projects and ideas. Entry is free, and everyone is welcome!
We’re excited to share great news for everyone passionate about our work and eager to contribute to FIRST LEGO League: our new platform, HERO (Helper Engagement and Regional Organization), is now live! HERO offers you a wide range of new opportunities to get involved as a volunteer – whether as a referee, a jury member for the Challenge, or an evaluator for Explore.
The FIRST LEGO League Finals in Siegen are calling – be there as a volunteer or spectator! From March 28 to 30, 2025, Siegen will become the center of the STEM and robotics world. At this grand finale for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, 30 Challenge Teams and 15 Explore Teams will come together to showcase their innovative robotic solutions and exciting research projects. And you can be part of this extraordinary event!
Become a Volunteer and Support the Finals! Want to experience the event up close and make a meaningful contribution? Sign up as a volunteer today! We’re looking for dedicated helpers, especially evaluators for Explore Teams and judges for Challenge Teams. Your involvement will make a difference and help create an unforgettable experience.
Our virtual info sessions have become a well-established format over the past few months, offering a fantastic opportunity to learn more about FIRST LEGO League and get firsthand insights into the program every week! Every Wednesday at 4 PM, a member of our team introduces the program’s many facets. Share this opportunity within your networks and invite others to join!
Are you ready to help shape the future of FIRST LEGO League and exchange ideas with enthusiasts from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland? Then don’t miss this event! We are excited to invite you to the FIRST LEGO League Meetup on October 26, 2024, from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM!
The Meetup will be held in a BarCamp format, where your questions, ideas, and wishes take center stage. Whether you’re a team member, coach, volunteer, regional partner, club member, alumni, or newcomer – your contributions are valuable!
The FIRST LEGO League Regional Partners Meeting on September 12-13, 2024, in Leipzig was a great success! A total of 49 partners from across the D-A-CH region came together to participate in exciting workshops, discover the new SUBMERGED season, and exchange valuable experiences and ideas. We are particularly proud to once again honor our longstanding partnerships this year. These partnerships are a remarkable testament to our shared commitment and the invaluable collaboration that we deeply appreciate!
Our educational program, FIRST LEGO League, nurtures young talents in the STEM field and opens up exciting future opportunities for them. To continue our work and support teams and classes locally and regionally, we need ongoing assistance—both in terms of time and financial resources. Find out how you can actively engage in the educational program this season.
As the HANDS on TECHNOLOGY e.V. association, we take pride in our valuable partnerships with stakeholders in STEM education! Starting in spring 2025, we will launch a series of training sessions in collaboration with the VDI Garage in Leipzig, aimed at educators who want to get to know the FIRST LEGO League program and its materials. A special thanks goes to the TÜV Süd Foundation for their invaluable support, which enables us to offer exciting training opportunities for teachers and professionals free of charge.
Share your expertise and help a team or class reach their full potential. Whether you have experience with the FIRST LEGO League or are a professional in areas such as marketing, programming, or agile methodologies – we need you!
Are you ready to shape the future of the FIRST LEGO League and connect with other enthusiasts from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland? Then you can't miss this event. We are excited to invite you to the FIRST LEGO League Meetup 2024 on October 26, 2024!
Günther Schön, a dedicated teacher and FIRST LEGO League coach at Geschwister-Scholl-Gymnasium in Ludwigshafen, has been honored with the German Teaching Award 2023 for his exemplary work in the robotics club. This recognition of his work as a teacher and robotics coach (since 2008) highlights his commitment to fostering students and emphasizes the importance of the educational program for their personal and professional development.
For over 20 years, HANDS on TECHNOLOGY has been passionately dedicated to improving STEM education at both school and extracurricular learning venues. Our central STEM education program, the FIRST LEGO League, is constantly reviewed, documented, and optimized to best meet the needs of our target groups. In the fiscal year 2023, our projects have made a significant contribution to the sustainable development of our society, as documented in our impact report.
We are increasingly committed to supporting educational institutions, especially in rural areas. Thanks to the generous support from sponsors and partners, we have the opportunity to comprehensively equip primary and secondary schools this season. These teams and classes will have the chance to become thoroughly familiar with our educational program without having to worry about funding.
We would like to learn how you perceive us on social media and what you would like to see from us. Please take a moment to participate in our short survey and help us improve our social media presence!
We are looking for active support to drive forward our STEM education program FIRST LEGO League in Leipzig! As a Manager for Sponsorship and Cooperation, you will have the unique opportunity to actively participate in our mission: To give children and young people the chance to discover technical and scientific topics through play. The position is advertised for 35-40 hours per week and is initially limited to one year.
Since our foundation in 2002, we have been successfully promoting STEM education and organizing research and robotics competitions for children and young people. Our focus is not only on teaching technical skills, but also on promoting the ability to use technology sensibly, develop independent thinking, communicate ideas effectively and create harmonious cooperation. Not only the 10 employees in the office, but also 35 volunteer members are actively involved in the implementation and promotion of our association's activities. In addition, many other volunteers make a significant contribution in the areas of competitions, exhibitions and other events, without which our work would be unthinkable.
The HANDS on TECHNOLOGY management team was actively involved at Didacta 2024 in Cologne. We exchanged ideas with many of our existing and potential partners and talked about joint education initiatives. It was really inspiring to see how the education sector is progressing and what innovative ideas are being developed to make learning more exciting for you children and young people.
We are increasingly committed to promoting STEM and digitalization in rural areas. Thanks to the generous support of the "Educational Opportunities" lottery, we have the opportunity to equip three classes each in elementary school and secondary schools in the coming season. This will enable these pupils to take part in our innovative "FIRST LEGO League in the classroom" format to get started with the educational program in their school.
The long-awaited final of the FIRST LEGO League Germany, Austria and Switzerland 2024 will take place in picturesque Davos this year! The highest city in Europe is considered a center for innovation and knowledge exchange because of the World Economic Forum, among other things. Be there when the 25 best Challenge Teams and 6 creative Explore Teams from Germany, Austria and Switzerland present their groundbreaking results and turn Davos into the beating heart of the LEGO robotics world for two days!
Our "Girls for STEM - FIRST LEGO League" project was awarded third place in the "Social Commitment" category at the ITEC Cares Award of the IT Executive Club e.V.. Kristina Hagen accepted the award on February 22 at the Grand Elysée Hotel Hamburg. A big thank you to the IT-Executive Club e.V., our prize sponsor Martin Krill from HAGER Executive Consulting GmbH and all other supporters.
This year, we were able to inspire more children and young people than ever before with our STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education programs. We are proud to announce that a total of 20,000 pupils actively participated in 940 teams and 435 classes. This would not have been possible without the support of over 70 partners from education, business and science. Together, we are committed to promoting our educational programs regionally to inspire the next generation to embrace technology and innovation.
Looking back on an eventful past, we will no longer be organizing RoboCup Junior in Berlin from 2024. Our sincere thanks go to all the teams, mentors and supporters who have made RoboCup Junior a source of inspiration for creativity, innovation and teamwork.
Discover the fascinating world of FIRST LEGO League at our regular virtual info event, which will now take place every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 4 pm. The next event is on January 17, 2024.
The time is coming soon! From April 13 to 14, 2024, the impressive FIRST LEGO League Final for Germany, Austria and Switzerland will take place at the Davos Congress Center (CH). Together with our partners, the Pädagogische Hochschule Graubünden, the Fachhochschule Graubünden and the Evangelische Mittelschule Schiers, we will celebrate the fascinating world of STEM and robotics.
You can also help out as a volunteer at regional events! Whether as a judge or referee for FIRST LEGO League Challenge or as a reviewer for Explore - your support is crucial to the success of these inspiring events. Your contribution as a volunteer is not only a support for the participants, but also a unique opportunity to experience the enthusiasm for science and technology up close.
During this festive period, we would like to appeal to you to support our educational work with your Christmas donations. Your generous contributions make a significant contribution to further developing our work and inspiring even more young people for the world of science and technology. Your donations will enable us to expand programs, provide resources and give more young minds access to the fascinating world of robotics and technology.
From September 1st to 5th, we presented our interactive IFA Technology Playground at the Berlin Messe. Every day from 10 AM to 6 PM, visitors had the unique opportunity to dive into the fascinating world of LEGO robot programming.
Another highlight of the past quarter was undoubtedly our Robot Summer School. Over the course of two weeks, more than 80 participants joined our day workshops to gain a deep insight into the world of programming and get acquainted with our educational program.
Next week, on September 21st and 22nd, we are excited to welcome representatives from our over 70 partner organizations and our key volunteers to Leipzig for the annual Regional Partners Meeting.
Lastly, we would like to draw your attention to our virtual FIRST LEGO League Meetup for the community in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This event aims to collaboratively shape the future of our educational program.
On May 5, 2023 our virtual general meeting took place. Besides looking at facts and figures of the past year and plans for the current year, it was also about the people in the association.
We are proud to present to you our Impact Report for the year 2022. In this report, we document in detail our work and how we support our goal of sustainable STEM learning in schools and out-of-school educational settings..
Our educational programs offer our alumni the opportunity to pass on their knowledge to future generations. You can get involved and volunteer at both RoboCup Junior Berlin and FIRST LEGO League.
Registrations for the FIRST LEGO League education program and the Explore and Challenge offerings have been open since the end of April. Currently, 68 teams and 42 classes have registered for the FIRST LEGO League Explore elementary school program, and 353 classes and 246 teams from secondary schools have registered for FIRST LEGO League Challenge. The MASTERPIECE theme leaves room for creativity among the teams - the detailed tasks will arrive on August 1.
Ihr kennt Leute, die das Bildungsprogramm noch nicht kennen? Empfehlt ihnen unsere Infoveranstaltung am Mittwoch, den 21. Juni 2023, von 16.30 bis 17.30 Uhr! Die Infoveranstaltung bietet SchülerInnen, Eltern, PädagogeInnen oder Interessierten aus anderen Bereichen eine großartige Gelegenheit, sich über die spannenden Möglichkeiten von FIRST LEGO League zu informieren. Wir werden detailliert über die Inhalte und den Ablauf von FIRST LEGO League Explore und Challenge sprechen, Fördermöglichkeiten vorstellen und die nächsten Schritte zur Anmeldung erläutern.
We are happy to design two exciting events this summer. During the International Consumer Electronics Fair (IFA) in Berlin at the beginning of September, we will be allowed to design an interactive experiment area for visitors on the topic of robotics and FIRST LEGO League.
For those looking for FIRST LEGO League Explore and Challenge sets from past seasons, we have good news. We have a great selection of sets from past seasons available in our warehouse sale.
Our second educational program RoboCup Junior is entering the sharp phase. On the upcoming weekend, we are organizing the RoboCup Junior qualification tournament Berlin at the Co-Working Space A32 together with our partner Siemens. For this we are still looking for some volunteers to support us as referees on the 11th and 12th of March!
The final of our biggest educational program FIRST LEGO League will take place within the event "Meet the Robots - Robotics Days Dresden" on March 24th and 25th at Dresden Airport.
Superpowers are not only needed by Santa Claus, but by all of us again and again for the challenges of everyday life and for the implementation of new plans.
As the year draws to a close, we've taken a look at what's been going on! 32 members of the association and 10 employees in the office celebrated the anniversary year "Passion for STEM" for the 20th anniversary of the association and successfully implemented our two educational programs FIRST LEGO League and RoboCup Junior. In the process, 2220 cups of coffee were consumed and 120 pizzas were ordered. 63 regional partners, together with 1500 volunteers, accompanied around 13,000 students through the educational programs. In total, at least 2.5 million LEGO bricks were used, 8 hours of raw footage for films were shot and 10,000 emails were sent!
You would like to support charitable projects at Christmas and the turn of the year? Think of us and make a donation! Even small amounts help to support our work in promoting young STEM talents. For example, you can support single small donations for individual expenses such as power supply for 1 month or the production of new flyers.
As one of currently 1715 organizations, we support the "Transparent Civil Society Initiative" and thus demonstrate transparency. We have signed the initiative's declaration and summarized and published relevant information about our association.
We have been active in the education sector for 20 years and have developed many partnerships with companies, foundations and other public bodies that work with us to promote young STEM talent. It makes us proud and happy that this year we can spend more than 600,000 euros on team and class sponsorships and thus support up to 12,000 students in Germany, Austria and Switzerland to participate in the educational program free of charge.
Do you want to exchange ideas with other FIRST LEGO League enthusiasts from Germany, Austria and Switzerland and help shape the future of the educational program? Then the FIRST LEGO League Meetup on October 28 and 29, 2022 is just the thing for you!
Our FIRST LEGO League Regional Partners are the backbone of the educational program. Once a year we meet with them to further develop the educational program. This year, after 2 virtual editions, we were finally back on site in Leipzig and took away many new impulses for the current season.
Even though we are still in the middle of the SUPERPOWERED season, the final is already on the horizon. Together with our partner the Association of Saxon Youth Education Organisations (LJBW e.V.), we are looking forward to welcoming FIRST LEGO League teams in Dresden on March 24 and 25, 2023 to celebrate STEM and robotics at the Airport.
We have been active in youth services for 20 years and design educational programs in the STEM field. There are many ways to get involved with our organization!
Our partner Stein Hanse e.V. initiates and organizes a LEGO building contest - in which you can also participate and build your own CARGO CONNECT world! More information about the participation and the process can be found in the official flyer available on our website, which you are welcome to share!
To help disadvantaged schools and new teams, we are once again offering team fundings in cooperation with partner companies. You can apply for the current support offers, such as the Amazon Future Engineer support program, until October 31, 2021.
RoboCup Junior starts into the next round! Registration for the regional tournaments opens on October 15 and is open until the end of November. More information about the registration in Berlin
We had great fun exchanging virtual thoughts with FIRST LEGO League partners, coaches and friends at #FLLMeetup21 on September 24 and 25! In 17 barcamp sessions, with an average of 15 participants, we discussed exciting FIRST LEGO League topics together.
The FIRST LEGO League finals for Germany, Austria and Switzerland will of course also take place competely remote this season. You can put Saturday, May 15 in your calendars - that's when we will be celebrating the big final show with you!
Attention all Challenge Teams: You have researched an innovative solution to a problem? Would you like to share your innovation with everyone and spread the word? Then the FIRST Global Innovation Award is just the right thing for you!
Solve a new exciting robot game mission, pitch your innovative solution, inspire others about FIRST LEGO League and win a full scholarship for the next season!
Our Team, the Bussibot, is a public school team based in Bussigny, Switzerland. It began with Hydrodynamics Season with one team of 3 members and 4 years later, there are 4 Challenge teams and 4 Explore teams participating! What a journey!
For the development of our STEM education programme FIRST LEGO League Challenge, we are looking for support for our team in Leipzig as soon as possible.
LEGO Education will discontinue the entire LEGO Mindstorms Education EV3 product line on June, 30 2021. In FIRST LEGO League, the use is of course still allowed, as well as other Mindstorms models and Spike Prime.
The current situation did not allow for anything else: All Explore exhibitions and Challenge tournaments will take place completely remotely in the 2020/21 season.
Teams, coaches, moderators, and guests met in the "Virtual Audimax" of the Brandenburg University of Technology on November 27 and experienced a great Explore exhibition despite the difficult conditions.
28 school classes and AGs with five teams each will start in the next few weeks with our new project "Challenge - In the classroom", funded by the Hessian Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs.
In the last few weeks we have found a few enthusiastic companies that want to enable even more children and young people to participate in FIRST LEGO League.
Our partner initiative "MINT Zukunft schaffen!" ("STEM initiative") is launching an exciting program, called GetIT, together with Future Foundations in the school year 2020/21 to promote IT and digital skills among students.
After the live online training for all referees of FIRST LEGO League Challenge about the 2020/21 season the video recording is now online on our YouTube channel.
On two afternoons we met remotely with regional partners, coaches, alumni and friends of FIRST LEGO League at the Meetup 2020 and everyone was able to contribute their own topics.
International exchange, straight from your living room or classroom: Together with CRESTEM, the organizers of FIRST LEGO League Romania, we want to bring you in contact with teams from Romania.
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