At Infineon Technologies Austria, innovation meets education – and sometimes, that starts with a small wooden house and a spark of curiosity.
In a creative outreach activity organized by Infineon, 30 middle school students from MS Landskron in Villach had the opportunity to build their own miniature solar-powered houses. These simple yet powerful learning kits – made of sustainable wood with a solar panel on the roof – invite children to experiment, explore, and understand how renewable energy works.
Learning by Doing – and by Creating
Each solar house kit combines hands-on experimentation with creativity. Students assemble the small houses themselves, discovering how sunlight can be transformed into electricity to power a night light. Depending on the time available, the children can also paint and personalize their houses, turning each one into a unique expression of their learning experience.
By exploring concepts such as energy generation, sustainability, and microelectronics, the activity encourages practical thinking, teamwork, and scientific curiosity.
Bringing Solar Power to Life in the Classroom
The first event took place at MS Landskron in Villach, where students enthusiastically built and decorated their solar houses under the guidance of their teachers, supported by Infineon’s outreach team.
As the houses began to light up, the students could quite literally see how technology and renewable energy come together to shape a sustainable future. This direct, hands-on experience helped make abstract scientific concepts tangible and memorable.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators
This initiative was made possible thanks to the dedication of Julia Calabrò from the Infineon CHIPS of Europe project team, whose idea and enthusiasm helped bring the solar kits to life.
Through activities like this, Infineon Technologies Austria and CHIPS of Europe aim to make microelectronics education accessible, engaging, and inspiring for young learners. By connecting students with real-world technology and demonstrating how semiconductors enable sustainable solutions, the project fosters early STEM engagement and helps develop the next generation of engineers, innovators, and creators.
Because you can’t inspire innovation – unless you make it tangible.
