Four student robotics teams from Moldova, Techno Storm, Sirius, Yunet Robotic, and RoboRangers, took part in the FIRST Tech Challenge European Premier Event, held July 4–6, 2025, in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The competition brought together 96 teams from 25 countries.

All four Moldovan teams reached the play-off stage. RoboRangers advanced to the quarter-finals and placed fifth overall. This is Moldova’s second year participating in FIRST Tech Challenge events, following a single national competition to date.

The country’s participation is part of a broader robotics education effort supported by Moldova’s National Educational Robotics Program. Launched in 2014, the program is now integrated into the national technological education curriculum. It currently reaches more than 50,000 students across 270 schools and involves over 650 trained teachers.

Program aims to expand international collaboration

The program is implemented by the National Center for Digital Innovation in Education under the Ministry of Education and Research, with support from the Innovate Moldova Programme, funded by Sweden, as well as the Western NIS Enterprise Fund. USAID and UKAid have also supported its development.

Veronica Esanu, STEM education coordinator at Innovate Moldova, served as part of the international volunteer and judging team at the Eindhoven event. “Being part of the international volunteer and judging staff at the European Premier Event was a truly rewarding experience,” says Esanu. “I had the chance to build valuable international connections with representatives from the UAE, Israel, Italy, Morocco, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.”

She adds, “These conversations marked an important step toward positioning Moldova as a future host partner for FIRST Tech Challenge events.”

Track record in international competitions

Moldovan robotics teams have previously competed in several global contests. At the FIRST Global Challenge, they earned medals in Mexico (2018), Dubai (2019), Geneva (2022), and Singapore (2023). In 2024, Moldovan students received first place for Robot Design at the FIRST LEGO League Challenge in Bodø, Norway.

Team RoboRangers is scheduled to represent Moldova at the 2025 FIRST Global Challenge in Panama.