ebm-papst UK has agreed a new sponsorship deal with science education charity EXplora Science, which will help with its plans to set up an innovative new Science, Technology and Discovery Centre.

The sponsorship provided by ebm-papst will play a vital role in the charity’s fundraising for the new centre, currently planned to be built by 2017. The centre will support the charity’s aims of educating and engaging the UK public, particularly pupils and students of all ages, across the STEM subjects – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Through the sponsorship arrangement, Geoff Lockwood, technical director at ebm-papst UK, has been named as one of the ‘Key Foundation Sponsors’ for EXplora Science and will be involved in the development of the new centre.

The sponsorship deal is part of the company’s continued support for the STEM sectors, as it is keen to ensure that these sectors are at the forefront of innovation in the UK. Industry figures predict that the UK’s STEM sectors will need 180,000 engineers, scientists and technicians each year by 2020 to maintain the country’s competitiveness in the global economy.

Mr Lockwood said: “We see the STEM sectors as areas of vital importance for the UK economy, and have made a pledge to work with charities, educational institutions and industry partners to attract more people to these sectors. At the heart of this pledge is educating and engaging future generations, so they are encouraged to pursue STEM qualifications and careers.”

He continues: “The sponsorship of EXplora Science is an important step in this education and engagement, and we are delighted to be playing such an active role in the development of the new centre. We look forward to working with the charity and providing the support they need to help educate people across all the STEM subjects.”

The EXplora Science, Technology and Discovery Centre will be based in Poole, Dorset. Once completed, the Centre plans to have four key learning zones – Waterworld, Energy Centre, Dorset Eco Lab and Space Station. ebm-papst will be featured in the Energy Centre supporting the education and engagement around energy use and the development of energy efficient technology.

For more information about the EXplora and its plans for a new Science Technology and Discovery Centre visit http://www.explorascience.co.uk/