With more than 10,000 participants annually, it is the biggest youth science and technology competition in Europe.
Participants work on a self-chosen research project, hand in a written report about their work, and then present their results first at regional levels and later at a national contest to an expert jury, usually in the form of a poster session, often including a practical demonstration.
Participants younger than 15 years compete in a separate contest called “Schüler experimentieren” (“Pupils experiment”).
Winners receive prizes donated by industrial sponsors.
In addition, there is a special prize for the best interdisciplinary project by the German Research Foundation, as well as additional special prizes for particularly distinguished projects by the President of Germany and the Chancellor of Germany.