We are signatories of the Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft of Transparency International Germany and disclose our structures, finances, and goals.
Additionally, we are certified through TechSoup and the NGOsource project according to the Equivalency Determination (ED) process. This means we are recognized by funding institutions in the USA as equivalent to a US public charity under § 501(c)(3) IRC.
We have summarized our relevant information according to the ten criteria of the Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft. Many more details can be found in our annually published impact report.
1. Name, registered office, address and year of establishment
HANDS on TECHNOLOGY e.V.
Plautstraße 80
D-04179 Leipzig
Registered Office: Leipzig, Local Court Leipzig VR 3683
Year of Establishment: 2002
Contact Persons: Stefanie Sieber and Susanne Voigt, Management
Contact: Email info@hands-on-technology.org, Phone +49 (0)341 246 1583, more contacts for the team at the office
2. Complete articles of association and information about the objectives of our organisation
The statutes of our association describe what we do and regulate fundamental questions of association life. The membership regulations include the admission fee and contributions for membership.
The vision of HANDS on TECHNOLOGY e.V. is to inspire young people early on for science and technology and to give them a playful introduction to the world of complex technology. They learn to approach challenges creatively, imaginatively, and collaboratively, building digital skills as well as teamwork and communication abilities. The goal is to equip children and young people with the key competencies of the 21st century: they can think and act like researchers and engineers and actively shape society – both with their STEM knowledge and their social skills.
Since 2002, HANDS on TECHNOLOGY e.V. has been organizing various international educational programs to facilitate access to scientific subjects for young people and to motivate them early for careers in engineering or IT. Our main tools are competitive educational programs such as the research and robotics competition FIRST LEGO League Challenge for secondary schools, FIRST LEGO League Explore for primary schools, FIRST LEGO League Discover for kindergartens, and until 2023 the regional RoboCup Junior qualification tournament in Berlin.
More information on the project goals and impacts can be found in our Impact Report, which we publish annually. In the 2025 edition, the goals and impacts are detailed in the following sections:
- FIRST LEGO League Discover - page 20 ff.
- FIRST LEGO League Explore - page 22 ff.
- FIRST LEGO League Challenge - page 26 ff.
3. Information on tax relief
Our work is exempt from corporate income tax due to youth welfare promotion, according to the most recent exemption notice issued by the Leipzig Tax Office I (Tax Number 232/14013479) on October 27, 2023 (assessment period 2022-25) pursuant to §5 para. 1 no. 9 of the German Corporate Tax Act.
4. Name and function of key decision-makers
Organizational Structure
The association was founded in Leipzig in 2002. As of the publication of the 2025 impact report, the General Assembly consists of 47 members (8 legal entities, 38 individuals, and 1 honorary member). In addition to the members, the association has a large network of partners and volunteers who support the association and its projects through their work, totaling around 1,500 people.
The Board can be led by up to five volunteer members since 2020. Jakub Stribny is a developer, former team member, long-time volunteer in the educational program, and since June 2025, the chairman of the association. Fabian Schmidtchen is a research associate at Otto von Guericke University in Magdeburg and has also been actively involved in FIRST LEGO League for many years. Since June 2025, he serves as the vice-chairman of the association.
The board is completed by Irmgard Rothkirch and Thomas Madeya as assessors. The fifth board position is currently vacant.
Long-term staff members at HANDS on TECHNOLOGY e.V., Stefanie Sieber and Susanne Voigt, jointly manage the executive office using a dual-leadership principle.
More information about people in our organization can be found in our impact report starting on page 52.
5. Impact Reports
Since the founding of the association, we have been publishing an annual report on our activities. All annual and impact reports are available here for download. The most up-to-date information can be found in the 2025 impact report starting on page 8.
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY Wirkungsbericht 2025.pdf (9696,4 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY Wirkungsbericht 2024.pdf (9936,8 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY Wirkungsbericht 2023.pdf (19342,5 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY Wirkungsbericht 2022.pdf (18998,6 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY Wirkungsbericht 2021.pdf (5980,9 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY Wirkungsbericht 2020.pdf (4647,2 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY Wirkungsbericht 2019.pdf (5011,7 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY Wirkungsbericht 2018.pdf (730 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY ERFOLGSBERICHT 2017.pdf (1751 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY ERFOLGSBERICHT 2016.pdf (737 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY ERFOLGSBERICHT 2015.pdf (1778,4 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY ERFOLGSBERICHT 2014.pdf (1547,2 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY ERFOLGSBERICHT 2013.pdf (691,9 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY ERFOLGSBERICHT 2012.pdf (653,6 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY ERFOLGSBERICHT 2011.pdf (309,7 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY ERFOLGSBERICHT 2010.pdf (310,5 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY ERFOLGSBERICHT 2009.pdf (308,7 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY Geschäftsbericht 2008.pdf (133,9 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY Geschäftsbericht 2007.pdf (185,7 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY Geschäftsbericht 2006.pdf (248,4 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY Geschäftsbericht 2005.pdf (113,1 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY Geschäftsbericht 2004.pdf (110 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY Geschäftsbericht 2003.pdf (110,8 KiB)
- HANDS on TECHNOLOGY Geschäftsbericht 2002.pdf (108,4 KiB)
6. Staff structure
The office currently has 10 staff members who handle all matters related to the implementation of the educational programs and the association. All figures and details about the staff structure in the office can be found in the 2025 Impact Report on pages 57–60.
7. Information on the origin of funds
HANDS on TECHNOLOGY e.V. finances its work through donations, sponsorships, participation fees from the educational program, and the sale of robotics kits as part of funding projects. Details and figures can be found in the 2025 Impact Report on page 61, as well as in the excerpt from the profit determination report by the tax consulting firm.
8. Information on the use of funds
The 2025 Impact Report shows how funds have been used in each program, under "What We Invest" and "What We Achieve".
In summary, the association is financially stable and will be able to carry out its educational programs nationally and internationally in the coming years. The goal is to expand existing partnerships and gain additional supporters. If you would like to support us, learn more about the opportunities or contact us directly.
9. Social ties with third parties
HANDS on TECHNOLOGY e.V. worked closely with the supporting association HANDS on e.V. until 2022. Since its founding in 2008, the purpose of HANDS on e.V. was to provide both personnel and financial support to the association. The supporting association HANDS on e.V. was dissolved in 2023.
10. Names of natural and/or legal persons whose annual payments exceed 10% of the total annual budget
With regard to the completed fiscal year 2025 and the 2025 impact report, the following individuals, initiatives, companies, public institutions, and foundations supported HANDS on TECHNOLOGY e.V. and thereby contributed to our non-profit work. Donations and grants of varying amounts were provided for this purpose:
Up to €5,000
- abacus edv-lösungen GmbH
- Capgemini
- Ralf Marco Krüger
- Familie Madeya
- Förderverein Lions Siegen e.V.
- Haus des Stiftens
- Miguel Jaraba
- Lions Club Kreuztal e.V.
- Peter Lemp
- Porsche Leipzig GmbH
- Sieg Revision GmbH
- Dietmar Sattler
- UK Online Giving Foundation
- David Uhlig
- Sandra Werda
€5,000 to €50,000
- FIRST
- Hessian Ministry of Education, Culture and Opportunities
- LEGO GmbH
- OTIS GmbH
- Phineo gAG
- Rittal Foundation
- S+D Service und Distribution
- VSE Foundation
- Vision Components GmbH
More than €50,000
- Motorola Solutions Foundation
No single contribution exceeded 10% of the total annual budget.
11. Networks & Partnerships
HANDS on TECHNOLOGY e.V. is part of strong STEM networks. This includes the Landesverband Sächsischer Jugendbildungswerke e.V. (LJBW), which, as an umbrella and specialist association, strengthens out-of-school STEM education in Saxony, connects organizations, and represents young people at the political level. We are also a member of MINT Zukunft schaffen e.V., the nationwide network behind the awards “MINT-friendly School” and “Digital School”, certifications that schools offering FIRST LEGO League can also receive. The association connects STEM ambassadors and makes STEM education visible nationwide. We support both initiatives and leverage synergies to further advance STEM education for young people.
Partnering for education and innovation! We cooperate with companies, foundations and ministries.
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Diese Maßnahme wird mitfinanziert mit Steuermitteln auf Grundlage des vom Sächsischen Landtag beschlossenen Haushaltes.
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We are awarded
We are supporting
Sustainability Goals
