This year's edition marks a historic milestone for the development of the STEM ecosystem in the country. During this competitive season, the Foundation for Advancement of Moldova became the official implementing and organizing partner of the FIRST Tech Challenge in Moldova, following the signing of an agreement in December 2025. This partnership officially consolidates Moldova's integration into the prestigious international network of robotics competitions.
The significance of the event was highlighted by the presence of high-level state officials who praised the ingenuity of Moldovan youth. Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu stated:
"I saw not just high-performing robots, but a generation that is learning to think critically, collaborate, and transform curiosity into real solutions. Every team, every mentor, and every parent present demonstrates that success is built through effort, discipline, and passion. The future is not something we wait for – it is something we build together, step by step."
To ensure the highest standards of objectivity and transparency during the evaluation process, the championship's jury and referees included highly experienced members from the United States and Romania. Their invaluable expertise not only guaranteed a fair assessment of the technical and strategic challenges but also played a vital role in building the capacity and expertise of the local judging community.
Throughout the season, participating teams operated in environments similar to modern start-ups - managing resources and troubleshooting on the fly while strictly adhering to the FIRST Core Values. The competition actively promotes Gracious Professionalism®, Coopertition®, innovation, teamwork, impact, discovery, inclusion, and the fun of learning. Following an intense series of matches and presentations, the top-performing alliances were selected to advance to international Premier events of the FIRST Tech Challenge.
The three outstanding teams that have advanced to proudly represent the Republic of Moldova at international competitions both at the European level and at the World Championship in the United States are: “Inspire award” winners 28133 CaiVerziPePereti and 25482 SIRIUS , and winning alliance captain 28129 ENIGMA. Notably that the final match between the finalists’ alliances was won by the two advanced teams with championship’s high score.
The successful execution of this inaugural event was made possible through the robust support of dedicated organizers and strategic partners. The competition was organized by the National Center for Digital Innovations in Education "Clasa Viitorului" within State Pedagogical University “Ion Creanga” and the Innovate Moldova Program, which is funded by Sweden and the United Kingdom, implemented through the Foundation for Advancement of Moldova. Essential financial backing was provided by the Ukraine-Moldova American International Fund (UMAEF) and Premier Energy Distribution. Furthermore, FIRST Tech Challenge Moldova is an integral part of the National Educational Robotics Program, conducted under the aegis of the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova, in partnership with the National Agency for Curriculum and Evaluation.
The successful hosting of the FIRST Tech Challenge National Championship is a testament to the remarkable growth and enduring impact of the National Educational Robotics Program in Moldova. Launched in 2014, the program has evolved into a cornerstone of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education, scaling from a small pilot initiative to a nationwide movement that currently reaches over 50,000 students across more than 270 educational institutions. Supported by a network of over 650 trained educators and backed by strategic, long-term investments from international development partners such as USA, Sweden, and UK, robotics has successfully been integrated into the national technological education curriculum. By providing equitable access to cutting-edge educational tools and fostering a culture of innovation, the program is doing much more than teaching students how to build robots; it is actively equipping Moldova’s youth with the resilience, critical thinking, and highly sought-after technical skills necessary to become the next generation of global leaders in science and technology.