Fueling Future Innovation: Cultivating Tomorrow’s STEM Leaders

Christina Chan
Senior Vice President,
Corporate Affairs

Do you remember the first time science truly captivated you?

Perhaps it was at an elementary school science fair showing your classmates a homemade volcano that erupted with baking soda and vinegar. Maybe it was a deep fascination with the stars or the seemingly endless depths of the oceans. These early curiosities aren't always a fleeting interest — they can be the spark of a lifelong passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).

As the Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Regeneron, I'm fortunate to have a front row seat to see how these sparks of curiosity can evolve into innovations that can change the world. This National STEM Day, as we celebrate the potential of young scientists like the thousands who participate annually in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, I’m also reflecting on how we flame these sparks, so every aspiring scientist can flourish.

Our Vision

Regeneron has long envisioned a world where scientists are celebrated as much as sports and entertainment heroes. We believe we need to nurture, celebrate and reward the brightest young minds in STEM to create the innovators of tomorrow — the heroes who can help tackle the pressing challenges facing our world, from climate change to human disease.

With a diverse team of over 13,000 colleagues, all united by a science-first, high-integrity culture, we are uniquely positioned to help nurture the next generation. Our founders, Drs. Len Schleifer and George Yancopoulos, recognize firsthand — as alumni of the very STEM competitions that Regeneron now sponsors — how these programs can mold future STEM leaders. Realizing our vision to create a pipeline of top STEM talent for society (and Regeneron), however, is no small feat.

Let’s take a step back. Imagine a young student — let’s call her Cecilia. Her fascination with science was ignited by an enthusiastic teacher who turned the classroom into a laboratory of discovery. As Cecilia's interest in science deepened, she encountered systemic inequities that limited her STEM education experience: teachers with limited science-specific resources, a lack of mentors who shared her background, and outdated facilities and equipment that stifled her hands-on learning.

Like Cecilia, many young innovators encounter barriers that prevent their initial spark of interest from fully igniting, leading them not to pursue their STEM education as rigorously as they might have wished. At Regeneron, we are dedicated to tackling these barriers by providing continuous support at each critical touchpoint in a student’s STEM education journey.

How We Build a Thriving STEM Ecosystem

We know that cultivating STEM talent requires a vibrant, interconnected ecosystem — a dynamic network of educators, mentors, high-quality facilities and a community that celebrates scientific inquiry and talent. By investing in this ecosystem, we empower students to continue our legacy of pioneering life-changing innovations.

(Image sourced from National Informal STEM Education Network)

Since 2020, our STEM programs have reached 2.4 million students worldwide, and we plan to reach millions more. By truly understanding the journey of STEM students like Cecilia, we've committed to providing resources to support every stage of their development. Here are some examples of how:

• Investing in Infrastructure: We've invested $4.4 million in the Regeneron DNA Learning Center and volunteer thousands of hours annually during our global volunteerism initiative, Day for Doing Good, to build STEM kits for local schools, ensuring students have the tools they need to innovate.
• Providing Access to Research Opportunities: Our YPIE Regeneron STEM Research Institute offers young students hands-on lab experience, with 98% of participants advancing to higher education in STEM fields in 2023. Our Regeneron Scholars Program with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) provides scholarships to researchers so they can attend CSHL courses.
• Mentoring Students: Our High School Mentorship Program and Postdoctoral Program connects students with Regeneron scientists, offering guidance, hands-on experience and multi-tiered mentoring.
• Supporting Science Competitions: We've committed $100 million over ten years as the title sponsor of the Regeneron Science Talent Search — the U.S.’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition — and $58 million over ten years as the title sponsor of the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair — the world’s largest high school STEM competition — to invest in the future innovation.
• Empowering Educators: Through collaborations with educational institutions and nonprofits, we provide advanced training and resources to teachers via our STEM Teaching Fellowship and High School Research Teachers Conference, extending quality STEM education nationwide.
• Promoting Inclusivity: We actively engage in partnerships aimed at supporting underrepresented communities in STEM, including through a longstanding relationship with the Society for Science, a nonprofit science education organization, where we invest more than $3.1 million annually in outreach and equity programs. We also sponsor BioBus visits to underserved New York schools, helping students engage with science through mobile labs, after-school programs and year-long internships right at their school gates.
• ...and so much more!

Our Collective Responsibility

Our efforts are making a difference for students. Within our sponsored programs, we're seeing increased student interest in STEM and greater confidence in their STEM identities. In 2023 alone, 35 bright minds from our STEM initiatives joined Regeneron as full-time colleagues, bringing fresh ideas and talents to our labs.

This success is driven in part by the incredible engagement from our team, with hundreds of colleagues from across Regeneron diving into our programs. They often share how much they love supporting these efforts and their passion for nurturing future talent. As one colleague put it: “We need to cultivate the next generation of STEM talent because previous generations cannot solve all the pressing global problems ... By doing a solid research project as a high school student, you can become knowledgeable about the process of science and carry that knowledge wherever you go in life.” It’s this shared sentiment and commitment that fuels our progress.

But there is still much more work to be done. As STEM jobs are projected to grow 10.4% by 2033,¹ the gap in professionals needed to fill these roles is widening. Many schools, especially in underserved areas, still lack the necessary resources to offer advanced STEM courses. Teachers often need additional science-specific training and professional development support to provide the best education possible. The list goes on.

Today, as we encourage students to explore STEM fields, we also recognize the need for more collaboration among businesses, educational institutions, nonprofits and policymakers to support their journeys. We invite you to join us in tackling these complex and multifaceted challenges for our future scientists. By investing in young innovators like Cecilia, we're not just supporting individual aspirations — we're investing in a better future for everyone.