Author: irene@ftcbenelux.eu

Van der Lely Foundation supports the STEAMup Foundation in further growth of the FIRST® Tech Challenge

The Van der Lely Foundation supports the STEAMup Foundation with a contribution of € 300,000, spread over three years. This investment will enable the further development and national growth of the FIRST Tech Challenge in the Netherlands.

The FIRST Tech Challenge is an international education program in which young people from 12 to 18 years old design, build and program a robot in a team. The program brings technology to life and encourages young people to apply their knowledge in practice. In the Netherlands, the challenge is organized by the STEAMup Foundation, the official FIRST® partner for the Benelux.

The need for technical and entrepreneurial talent is growing. Bringing young people into contact with technology and innovation at school creates a strong basis for further study and career choices. With the contribution of the Van der Lely Foundation, STEAMup can expand the number of participating teams and have more schools structurally join. The ambition is to significantly increase the reach in three years and to actively involve at least 1,000 additional young people in technology education.

“As a foundation, we support education that prepares young people for a future in which technology plays a central role. Programs like FIRST Tech Challenge make technology concrete and accessible. By supporting STEAMup, we invest in talent development and strengthen the basis for innovation in the Netherlands,” says Joop Ham, director of the Van der Lely Foundation.

“Thanks to the support of the Van der Lely Foundation, we can  structurally grow the FIRST Tech Challenge in the Netherlands. We not only reach more young people, but also strengthen the quality of the program and the guidance of teams and schools. In this way, together we are building a new generation of technical and entrepreneurial talents who are ready for the future,” says Irene Hulsen, Program Manager STEAMup Foundation.

The Van der Lely Foundation is an independent foundation with strong roots in entrepreneurship and innovation. The foundation supports initiatives that contribute to long-term social progress and focuses on projects within education in science, technology and entrepreneurship, health care and scientific research, art and cultural heritage, and climate and the living environment.

The new FIRST Tech Challenge season will start in September 2026. At the start of this season, the first results of the support by the Van der Lely Foundation are expected to become visible, as new schools and teams, which will be guided by the STEAMup Foundation in the coming months, will start their participation. This is a concrete first step in the intended growth of the program and the structural strengthening of technology education for young people in the Netherlands.

📣 Great news for our FIRST® community!

We’re proud to share that Rabobank is supporting 15 FIRST®-related initiatives through the Young Impact Support program.

The Young Impact Support program is designed to help young people up to 30 years old grow, connect, and develop within their communities. It provides financial support to youth-driven projects, empowering them to turn ideas into action, from educational activities and workshops to initiatives that inspire new skills, collaboration, and innovation.

The projects approved by Rabobank for STEAMup enables us to strengthen our guidance for teams and broaden our reach. It allows us to create instructional videos, set up a dedicated workshop space that can also be used by our alumni volunteers, purchase extra robot kits for school visits, and more.

We’re incredibly grateful for this investment in the next generation. Over the coming months, we’re excited to share how this support will help our community continue to grow and make a meaningful difference.

We’re proud to announce a three-year collaboration with the BDR Thermea Foundation, supporting two impactful FIRST programs in the Netherlands:

💡 FIRST® LEGO® League – in partnership with Platform Talent voor Technologie (PTvT), the Foundation funds grants and training to bring robotics and STEM learning to primary schools nationwide.

🤖 FIRST® Tech Challenge – through Stichting STEAMup, the Foundation enables inclusive school-based training, helping students and coaches build confidence, skills, and impact, with special focus on girls and students from diverse backgrounds.

This partnership goes beyond funding, reflecting a shared commitment to inclusive STEM education and opening doors for the next generation. Special thanks to BDR Thermea Foundation for supporting the mission of FIRST and young talent across the Netherlands.

A big thank you to the BDR Thermea Foundation for their trust and commitment to inclusive STEM education.

We have exciting big news!
Starting this season, STEAMup is the official regional partner for the FIRST® LEGO® League in the Eindhoven region!

What does this mean? We’ll take care of communication with schools and teams in the region and are here to help with any questions along the way. We’re committed to making sure even more kids can experience this amazing program, and we’re gearing up to deliver an exciting regional final – and much more to come!

Our new website with all the details will be live soon, and our social media channels are getting a fresh update too. Stay tuned for all the exciting developments!

Want to learn more about FIRST LEGO League? Take a look at https://firstlegoleague.nl/

We are proud to announce that we have been awarded a three-year grant from the Impuls Open Leermateriaal (IOL) program!

In collaboration with Zwijsen College Veghel and Bedrijf in de Klas we will develop an open-access, practice-oriented robotics curriculum for secondary education. Our project focuses on strengthening digital literacy and computational thinking skills by providing students with a structured progression from basic robotics principles to the design of creative, real-world solutions.
The robotics learning pathway offers a crucial bridge between guided instruction and independent innovation, helping schools embed STEM education more deeply and engaging a broader group of students. Real-world societal challenges are at the heart of the curriculum design, encouraging students to see how technology can create real impact.
All materials will be made available as open educational resources, ensuring long-term accessibility and continuous improvement.
Throughout the project, we will be looking for schools to participate in pilot phases.
If you are interested in getting involved, please contact us at steamup@ftcbenelux.eu.

We’re excited to get started soon — stay tuned for more updates!

FIRST® Robotica during the High Tech Ontdekkingsroute

On Saturday, June 14, STEAMup will bring robotics to life at six hotspots across the Brainport region as part of the High Tech Ontdekkingsroute. Through exciting demonstrations and hands-on activities with FIRST® LEGO® League, FIRST® Tech Challenge, and FIRST® Robotics Competition robots, visitors of all ages can discover how fun and inspiring technology can be.

You can find us at these locations:

• TU/e Campus
• DAF Experience
• AAE
• Brainport Industries Campus
• Strijp-T
• Philips Museum

More info about the event and all locations: www.hightechontdekkingsroute.nl