From discovery to advancement
Working to impact young tech talent
The energy transition requires technical talent
That is why we invest in young people of all ages and backgrounds who can contribute to sustainable solutions. Our approach follows their natural development: from curious children discovering technology to professionals innovating. At each stage, we work with partners from education and business to remove barriers and increase opportunities.
Discover how we put this into practice together with our partners
Technical talent for tomorrow
The technical labour market is under pressure due to a shortage of skilled workers. To address these shortages, there is a need for more intake, retention of professionals, accelerated skills development and intensive knowledge sharing. Partly thanks to our contribution, VTi (Vakschool Technische Installaties) plays a crucial role in this, by linking education (ROC Amsterdam/ Flevoland), industry and government. We have pledged a contribution for four years (2022-2025), are also improving engineering education in cooperation with Remeha and modules have been developed for foreign-language students in engineering courses.
Craftsmanship in the spotlight
To increase the image and appreciation of craftsmanship and vocational education, a good picture must be given of what the profession entails. WorldSkills Netherlands is a new partner that, partly thanks to our contribution, makes vmbo pupils and mbo students more aware of their talents, opportunities and possibilities. In cooperation with Remeha, the Foundation can offer the resources, knowledge, expertise and a financial contribution for the Sanitary and Heating Technician competitions for the 2024/2025 school year.
Early introduction
To increase intake, it is important that young people are introduced to engineering earlier and more often. This increases the likelihood that they will choose a technical study, which is why the Foundation, in cooperation with Remeha, gives guided tours of the factory, with workshops on energy transition, heat technology & heat pumps. In doing so, we reach pupils and teachers from primary, havo, vwo, vmbo, mbo and hbo. In addition, the Remeha Challenge has been deployed at various locations and events, such as Techniek Tastbaar in Zutphen, the Makersfestival in Zwolle, the Techniekfabriek in Epe and the NewTechFestival in Apeldoorn.
Opportunity equality
When money is tight at home, children perform less well at school. Het Jeugdeducatiefonds (The Youth Education Fund) works towards a world in which all children can develop to their full potential, by increasing their development opportunities in many ways and reducing barriers. The main goal is to break the cycle of poverty in families. Our contribution involves sponsoring four primary schools in Apeldoorn, Delft, Leiden and Rotterdam, with an annual contribution for each for a total period of four years (running until 2027).
Practice-oriented research
To greatly reduce further global warming, the transition to a sustainable energy supply is necessary. In 2019, the lectureship Energy Transition was established at Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, partly thanks to the support of the BDR Thermea Shareholder. The Foundation grants its support for the second period of four years (2023-2027) because the lectureship contributes to this transition in a practical way: it takes a technical systems approach to practice-based research, by training for energy transition, data-driven energy transition and system innovation aimed at making buildings and homes more sustainable. The lecturer also makes a general contribution with her mission and knowledge through various advisory councils, boards and platforms in the Netherlands.
Innovation in sustainable energy
To ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all, and promote sustainable consumption, thanks to the Foundation, the Sustainable Energy tenure tracker was established at TU Twente in 2022. The aim is to develop innovative strategies to combine energy carriers for the built environment and industry to exploit synergies in the energy system. This partnership will be implemented in cooperation with BDR Thermea Group and will run until school year 2025/2026.
