Fueling Future Innovation: Cultivating Tomorrow’s STEM Leaders

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, at our Sleepy Hollow campus in New York, and are funding the establishment of a similar DNA Learning Center at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee through the Diaspora Human Genomics Institute as part of the Together for CHANGE^TM initiative, which Regeneron co-founded in 2023 with Meharry and other biopharma partners. Our colleagues also 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 at our Sleepy Hollow campus in New York, and are funding the establishment of a similar DNA Learning Center at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee through the Diaspora Human Genomics Institute as part of the Together For CHANGE^TM initiative, which Regeneron co-founded in 2023 with Meharry and other biopharma partners. Our colleagues also 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 Science Research Program offers young students hands-on lab experience, with 98% of participants advancing to higher education in STEM fields in 2023. As part of a $5-million, 5-year investment in Nashville, Tennessee’s STEM ecosystem, Regeneron is collaborating with our long-term New York–based partners, like YPIE, to replicate these proven-science education and mentorship models in Nashville. In addition, as part of our Nashville investment, we are collaborating with Vanderbilt Peabody College to support programs offered by the Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach, which connects university scientists, K-12 educators and students, and the local and global science community.
• 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, as a key component of the Together For CHANGE^TM initiative, we are working to strengthen the STEM educational pipeline for Black students.
• ...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.