Peter Zahn, Director Account GM at Lam Research, emphasizes the importance of the commitment: “As a supplier to the semiconductor industry, we are very pleased to be able to support such a sustainable project in order to awaken the enthusiasm of tomorrow’s engineers for science and technology. In our eyes, it is important to build up and expand knowledge of the fundamentals of digitalization at an early stage. This is our future, let’s shape it!
Great interest in personal commitment from the company
At Lam Research, commitment goes far beyond financial sponsorship. In a joint workshop, ten employees took an in-depth look at the project and experienced how programming with the Calliope mini can be put into practice in all-day elementary school in Saxony.
The workshop clearly showed one thing: There is a great deal of interest in getting personally involved. Since then, several employees have been pursuing the idea of becoming active coaches themselves in the future and helping children get started with programming via a weekly all-day program.
This early commitment and open willingness to take on responsibility underline Lam Research’s strong desire to not only promote education, but to actively help shape it – together with schools, children and the next generation of future shapers.
A particular focus is on involving teachers. They should experience how intuitively, playfully and without prior knowledge initial programming projects can be implemented – a valuable contribution to the sustainable anchoring of digital education in schools.
The coaches are supported by the Landesverband Sächsischer Jugendbildungswerke e. V. (LJBW). With the SPARK project, the LJBW is pursuing a clear goal: to give children access to digital skills at an early age. Playful experimentation with hardware and software is intended to strengthen curiosity, problem-solving skills and enthusiasm for technology – skills that Saxony urgently needs as a business location.
SPARK – A project with charisma
Heike Wilson, member of the Silicon Saxony Executive Committee, Managing Director of Dualis Solutions GmbH and patron of the project, presented SPARK at the annual kick-off in Chemnitz on January 20, 2026 and invited members to support the project. She reported on the successes achieved so far: more than 60 schools that already offer such an all-day program and more than 80 registered coaches as well as 11 companies that support as sponsors. This financial support helps the LJBW to raise the necessary own contribution when applying for funding.
A gold sponsor has now been found for the first time in Lam Research. Peter Zahn comments: “We are delighted to support this project. Awakening and building enthusiasm for the digital future, explaining interrelationships and thus contributing to the potential development of skilled workers is a task close to our hearts and fills us with joy and pride. Whether as a sponsor or through the commitment of our employees as coaches – together we are on the road to new formats and a new age.”
Shaping the future together – get involved now!
In order to coordinate and expand SPARK in the long term and reach even more schools, the LJBW is currently actively raising funds – including via a GoFundMe campaign:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/spark-future-programming-for-saxons-children
Silicon Saxony cordially invites all member companies to:
- join as a sponsor,
- contribute to the scaling of the project with donations and/or
- send their own employees as coaches – a commitment that not only offers children, but also companies themselves, new insights and inspiration.
Together, we are creating space for creativity, digital skills and enthusiasm for the future among the skilled workers of tomorrow.
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Further links
👉 https://progta.de
👉 GoFundMe campaign
Photos: Programming with Calliope Mini
