The new David-Andreas Bergens Prize confers a distinction on innovative projects that give children and young people better access to mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology (MINT). In memory of the entrepreneur David-Andreas Bergens, former managing director of Pix Software GmbH, Simone Bergens is endowing a distinction worth 500 euros. The distinction is coordinated as part of the ‘MINT in Mind’ project at the Hochschule Niederrhein.
Schools, youth centres and voluntary non-profit initiatives may submit applications until 30 September 2026. The award seeks projects that specifically reach children and young people who face barriers to accessing educational opportunities due to poverty, an immigrant background or social disadvantage.
The prize aims to promote educational programmes that create new approaches to STEM subjects, break down gender stereotypes and test innovative concepts. The aim is to further develop successful projects and establish them in the region in the long term.
The prize is named after David-Andreas Bergens, who, as an entrepreneur and networker, demonstrated great commitment to STEM education. With ‘WorXademy’, founded in 2023 – a student laboratory set up in collaboration with the zdi in the district of Viersen – he championed laboratories with a strong practical orientation and innovative learning opportunities. His conviction that trust, time and dialogue form the foundation course for successful educational processes lives on in the ‘MINT in Mind’ network. The awards ceremony will take place during the next conference of the STEM network on 3 March 2027.
‘MINT in Mind’ is a regional network for STEM education in the Middle Lower Rhine region and forms part of the ‘Regional Cluster for STEM Education for Young People’ initiative. The project received funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research from 2020 to 2025. Today, the network is jointly run by The Hochschule Niederrhein, the Centre for Digital Learning Environments of the City of Krefeld, the Faculty for Children, Young People and Families of the City of Mönchengladbach, the Mönchengladbach Economic Development Agency (WFMG), and the Middle Lower Rhine Regional Agency.
It is also supported by the zdi Centre in Mönchengladbach, the zdi Centre KReMINTec in Krefeld and the zdi Network in the District of Viersen.
Further information on the award and the application process is available at www.mint-in-mind.de/david-andreas-bergens-preis or by emailing mint-in-mind(at)hsnr.de.
