Hannover, Germany. What does a career in industry look like? What opportunities do STEM professions offer? To spark early interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the Lower Saxony Ministry of Education and the FEMWORX career congress are inviting female upper secondary students to attend the “Female Forward” program day at FEMWORX as part of HANNOVER MESSE.

On April 23, 2026, 12th-grade female students will visit FEMWORX at the Hannover exhibition grounds. There, they will gain insights into academic and career pathways in technical fields. The initiative aims to engage young women in STEM subjects before they choose their field of study and to provide guidance for potential career paths.

The program begins with a meet & greet with Lower Saxony’s Minister of Education, Julia Willie Hamburg. This is followed by attendance at the official opening of FEMWORX. Throughout the day, students will have the opportunity to take part in FEMWORX program sessions and explore the career congress exhibition.

Another highlight of the program is a discussion with finalists and award winners of the Young Engineer Woman Award. These young engineers will share their personal journeys into technical professions. In addition, the students will speak with Barbara Schwarze, Chair of the FEMWORX Advisory Board and a long-standing advocate for women in technical careers.

“FEMWORX represents momentum, the modern face of industry, and the transformation toward greater visibility, diversity, and true equal opportunities,” says Lower Saxony’s Minister of Education, Julia Willie Hamburg. “With our joint program for female students, we want to pass this energy on to the younger generation. We want to welcome these young women into our networks and show them that they are essential.”

“HANNOVER MESSE demonstrates every year how vital technological innovation is for our future. With FEMWORX, we are creating a platform where young women can gain early insights into industry and technical careers,” says Jochen Köckler, CEO of Deutsche Messe AG. “Direct exchange with engineers and industry experts can help students make more informed decisions about their academic and career paths.”

The FEMWORX program day is part of the joint efforts by the Ministry of Education and Deutsche Messe to inspire young women to pursue technical degree programs and careers at an early stage.

About FEMWORX

As part of HANNOVER MESSE, the FEMWORX Career Congress will take place on 23 and 24 April 2026. Under the motto “Grow Together. Rise Higher.” the platform brings together women along their entire career journey – from entry-level to leadership positions. Participants can expect a combination of expert keynotes, hands-on training, and numerous opportunities for exchange and networking. FEMWORX is the leading platform for visibility, orientation, and empowerment of women in industry.

About HANNOVER MESSE

HANNOVER MESSE is the world’s leading trade fair for the manufacturing industry. Around 3,000 exhibiting companies from the mechanical engineering, electrical, and digital industries, as well as the energy sector, present solutions for a competitive and sustainable industry. The main exhibition areas include automation & digitalization, energy & industrial infrastructure, and research & technology transfer. Artificial intelligence runs like a common thread through all exhibition areas. A diverse conference program complements the exhibition. The next edition of HANNOVER MESSE will be held from 20-24 April 2026, in Hanover, Germany. Partner Country: Brazil.