Our digital world leaves behind tonnes of CO₂ emissions, electronic waste and depleted resources. Yet few people truly understand how many raw materials and how much production energy are contained in computers and other electronic devices. To introduce young talent to this topic, the new browser-based game ICT.factory was developed as part of the “Green ICT @ FMD” competence centre. The official game launch took place on 23 October 2025 at the Computerspielemuseum in Berlin.
In ICT.factory, players face a rather unexpected question: Who still buys clock radios these days? They take over an ageing electronics factory and must transform the outdated company into a sustainable, future-ready operation. Along the entire value chain — from responsibly sourcing raw materials and resource-efficient manufacturing to modernising production facilities, implementing sustainability strategies and recycling — players are challenged to make smart strategic decisions. The game draws on real-world challenges, including dealing with resource scarcity.
Developed by experts from the Fraunhofer Research Fab Microelectronics Germany (FMD) — led in particular by Fraunhofer IZM — the game was created in an iterative process together with game designers, teachers and students, ensuring that the learning content is not only conveyed but experienced in a playful way. Playtests with school classes focused especially on motivation, clarity and enjoyment. The browser-based game works without installation on all common devices and is aimed at players aged 13 and above — though older users will likewise enjoy exploring products, technologies and the challenges of sustainable microelectronics in the charming game world.
Launch Event at the Computerspielemuseum Berlin
On 23 October 2025, FMD officially presented the game at the Computerspielemuseum Berlin. During the interactive event, students aged 13 and above were able to try out the game for the first time and learn through play how sustainable electronics production works. Beyond insights into the game itself, the event also offered the opportunity to speak with the developers — and, of course, to explore the museum. The students were enthusiastic.
“Sustainability and microelectronics may sound dry at first, but the many positive reactions during the game launch clearly showed that when content is presented in a playful and relatable way, real interest can emerge,” says Theresa Aigner from Fraunhofer IZM, a sustainability expert directly involved in the game’s development. She adds: “It was wonderful to see the curiosity and enthusiasm with which the students approached the game.”
The launch demonstrated the ideal combination of gaming, education and culture — and highlighted how important it is to inspire young people to engage with sustainable technology and digital interconnections.
ICT.factory as a Building Block for Fostering Young Talent
ICT.factory was developed under the “Green ICT @ FMD” competence centre, funded by the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), with significant involvement from Fraunhofer IZM. The centre aims to reduce the CO₂ footprint of digital technologies through targeted research and innovative approaches. Information and communication technologies (ICT) are essential to modern life, yet often rely on critical raw materials and generate large volumes of electronic waste. Achieving lasting change requires young people who not only understand tomorrow’s digital technologies but also approach them with sustainability in mind from the very start — which is why the competence centre actively supports talent development through a variety of initiatives.
With ICT.factory, an accessible entry point has been created to raise early awareness of the challenges in Green ICT. The game was specifically designed for educational use, with plans to integrate it into school curricula, STEM programmes and extracurricular learning initiatives in the future.
< Back to Electronics, Components
> Here is one of the places where the issuer of a news item is branded.
> Tap buttons or logos to be redirected to the issuers profiles or pages.
