“We must influence the entire system around children’s education – not just the education itself,” said Per-Arild Konradsen, Founder and CEO of FIRST Scandinavia, at the 2025 Newton Partner Summit in Cottbus, Germany.
COTTBUS, GERMANY – September 2–3, 2025: With that vision, partners and Newton Teachers from across Europe gathered for two days of inspiration, collaboration, and new ideas for the future of STEM education.
Hosted by the Newton Flight Academy Brandenburg, the summit provided participants with the opportunity to discover, connect, and be inspired.
It opened on Tuesday morning with a welcome from Prof. Peer Schmidt, Vice President for Teaching and Curriculum at the Brandenburg Technical University Cottbus–Senftenberg, and Jean-Marc Fron, Managing Director, Boeing France before Konradsen took the stage to present “What’s New in the World of Newton.” From new Rooms to global partnerships, he highlighted the continued growth of the Newton concept and its impact across borders.
Per-Arild Konradsen, CEO and Founder from FIRST Scandinavia (to the right) together with Chiara Boiano, Boeing Global Engagement Europe, Bettina Roeger, Chief of Staff to President, Boeing Germany, Central & Eastern Europe, Silje Kumeus COO in FIRST Scandinavia and Heiko Witte, Managing Director CHESCO
Following an ice breaker, Heiko Witte, CEO of CHESCO GmbH, introduced participants to the story behind the Newton Flight Academy Brandenburg – our hosts for the event – sharing their journey and ambitions for the future.
The late morning featured a networking session, “Many Voices, One Network,” where participants from all Newton Rooms attending shared their stories and experiences.
Guillaume De Chazournes, from Fédération Léo Lagrange, spoke about how collaboration can unlock new European opportunities.
Adding energy and insight, Jon Ensor, a British speaker, magician, and TEDx coach, delivered his talk “Magic in the Workplace,” blending laughter with communication tools for teams.
Alessia Ciardullo and Livia Venanzi from Newton Rome together with Pedrikke J. Votvik from FIRST Scandinavia.
The afternoon was dedicated to looking ahead in “Unlocking Newton’s Potential,” a two-part workshop led by June Navjord Moltubakk and Pedrikke J. Votvik.. Participants reflected on how Newton Rooms are transforming informal STEM education and collaborated on ideas for the future.
Livia Venanzi from Aeroporti di Roma SpA and Guillaume de Chazournes, Fédération Léo Lagrange and Sébastien Delannoy, Léo Lagrange Animation, representing Newton Angers.
The second day began with “Newton Operating Partners: Who, What, Why?” where Silje Kumeus, COO at FIRST Scandinavia, outlined the value and responsibilities of Newton Operating Partners in ensuring quality, growth, and sustainability.
Participants then got hands-on with Newton’s Search and Rescue module. Led by Pedrikke J. Votvik and Ingjerd Staurbakk, the session highlighted the design, learning goals, and real-world application of this adventurous STEM experience.
The summit concluded with Selvi Eren from Science Heroes Association and Željka Marković-Bilić, Director of STEM Centar LORI Ludbreg, shared success stories and practical strategies for securing funding and ensuring long-term sustainability.
Looking Ahead
Reflecting on the two-day gathering, Konradsen emphasised the broader mission of the Newton Network:
“We should not expend our energy on changing today’s school system, but rather focus on how we should think about education for the benefit of future students. That is where our real impact lies – shaping the learning environments of tomorrow. The days we had at our fantastic hosts at Newton Brandenburg, with the engagement from all the attendants, brought us closer to that vision”
Photo gallery Newton Partner Summit 2025
