How does a classroom become an innovation lab?

By giving students exciting challenges—and a stage.

That’s exactly what students experience in competitions like STEM Racing (formerly F1 in Schools): Here, they design miniature race cars on the computer, build them on their own, and race them against each other on a 20-meter-long track—powered by gas cartridges, at high speeds, and with team spirit.

It’s about much more than just speed.
STEM Racing is an interdisciplinary competition in which, in addition to technical understanding, soft skills such as teamwork, communication, presentation, and project management are crucial. Students tinker, plan, refine, calculate, and practice—just like in a real startup. And that’s exactly what makes this format so special.

What remains is knowledge and skill.
The students learn how to take a project from concept to completion. They discover how important a good pitch is, how to organize themselves as a team, how to deal with setbacks, and how to persevere despite them. And they experience what true motivation feels like because they’re passionate about their project.

At Phorms Campus Munich, this was particularly evident this year: The all-girls team “Speedy Sparkles” from 8th grade qualified for the German STEM Championship, demonstrating what happens when young talents are given room to grow.

Why do we at Phorms support such competitions?
Because they reflect our educational philosophy: hands-on, bold, and holistic.

And because we’re convinced that education is most effective when it extends beyond the classroom.