This paper proposes an integrated approach to support the development of future skills of engineers, including central soft skills like communication, teamwork and innovation management, from the upper secondary school level, with a co-objective of raising the popularity of STEM curricula. The approach is built on the outcomes of an Interreg Central Baltic funded project with a specific objective More Entrepreneurial Youth and has been revised and adapted to suit upper secondary school elective subject framework and tie into university curriculum. The implementation of the ChangeMakers program supported the engagement of youngsters in engineering. The program follows the recent progress of international engineering communities that have highlighted the importance of soft skills. The technical challenges are solved in teams through continuous development of soft skills and feed-forward and feedback loops. It is anticipated that this method of interactively learning soft skills and developing innovation capacity on the basis of engineering challenges will help raise awareness of and curiosity for the STEM field. It is anticipated that this will support the achievement of strategical goals through increasing the number and share of engineering students in the university.