DRÄXLMAIER promotes the researchers of tomorrow

Vilsbiburg, 17th June 2016 –  Not only is "Jugend forscht" Germany's largest, most well-known competition for up-and-coming talents, it is also a platform for the talented researchers of tomorrow. Nine out of ten of the successful candidates later study a MINT field subject and many of them then work as scientists at universities and research institutes or as company executives.

 As an international automobile supplier with its headquarters in Vilsbiburg in Lower Bavaria, the DRÄXLMAIER Group will act biennially as sponsoring company and host of the Bavarian regional competition of "Jugend forscht" as of 2017. "As a family-owned organization, we see ourselves as partners to the region. That is why we are particularly proud of being able to organize a top-class competition like that in Vilsbiburg", said Dr. Tobias Nickel, who is the sponsor of Jugend forscht for the DRÄXLMAIER Group.

This year, over 2,000 young academics took part in Jugend forscht – more than in any other federal state. Pupils throughout Bavaria submitted a total of 979 projects in the fields of the working world, biology, chemistry, geological and spatial science, mathematics, information technology, physics and engineering. Winners of the Bavarian regional competition regularly achieve top places in the national competition of Jugend forscht.  "Bavarian pupils achieve impressive results with their innovative research projects. The DRÄXLMAIER Group is proud to be able to support such active young academics as a sponsoring company", said the DRÄXLMAIER Group Executive Board Member for HR Roland Polte at the signing of the sponsorship agreement.

 "For an employer  geared to the future, it is particularly important to encourage the curiosity and inquiring minds of young people, because at the DRÄXLMAIER Group, we are well aware of the importance of innovative ideas", explained Polte. "Hardly any other industry is developing as fast as the automobile industry – and the DRÄXLMAIER Group is taking part in shaping this development with modern technologies. 50 percent of our patents were applied for in the last five years alone", Polte continued.

 "I am delighted that we have gained the DRÄLXMAIER Group as a partner in the Bavarian regional competition", said the regional competition organizer Dr. Monika Christl. "In Jugend forscht, politics, schools, science and economy all work together to stimulate the young people's enthusiasm for research and to promote talents – and all that with great success: Almost a quarter of a million pupils have taken part in Jugend forscht so far. With that, Jugend forscht is making an important contribution to promoting young talents in natural sciences and technology in our country", Christl concluded.