Romania has been crowned world champion in robotics thanks to the "AICitizen" team of young people from "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" National High School in Focșani, which emerged triumphant in the First Tech Challenge competition held in Houston, USA. The team from Focșani, led by teacher Tiberiu Oprea, have recently joined the '100 Young People for the Development of Romania' campaign, a national initiative managed and funded by the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania.
Romanian technology and innovation were represented on the podium alongside teams "The Clueless" from San Diego, California, and "Texpand" from Cape Town, South Africa. The First Tech Challenge competition is globally renowned for the intricacy of its challenges, which not only assess the participants' technical abilities but also evaluate their teamwork and problem-solving aptitude. In excess of 200 of the world's most accomplished robotics teams participated in the World Robotics Championship in the USA.
The success of the young people is not only a victory for the "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" National College, but also for the whole country, demonstrating the potential of young Romanians to excel at a high level in advanced technological fields. This achievement has consolidated the team's reputation as innovators and brought a new prestige to Romania on the world robotics scene. The "AICitizen" team is comprised of 12 students. The team members are Irina Curcă, Elisa Elena Baciu, Petru Stoica, Raul Ștefan Bușilă, Marius Bogdan Hanu, Rami Stănilă, Cosmin Daniel Lupu, Călin Matei Sandu, Ștefania Găină, Rareș Costin Constantinescu, Bianca Maria Gorgan and Tudor Deian Bernovici.
The triumph of these students serves to illustrate the significance of investing in the education and high-tech sectors, demonstrating how the younger generation can transform Romania into an internationally recognised technology hub. This achievement serves as a clear indication to all relevant parties, including the government, private sector, and educational institutions, to provide support and investment in the future talents of the country.
In addition to their academic achievements, the 12 students have also demonstrated their commitment to the "100 Youngsters for Romania's Development" campaign. This initiative serves to reinforce their vision and responsibility for the country's future, emphasising the importance of innovation and education as essential drivers of national progress and prosperity.
The "100 Youngsters for Romania's Development" campaign was initiated with the intention of fostering national unity and identity. It seeks to highlight the accomplishments of Romania's most distinguished children and young people, who have achieved renown on a national and international scale through their passion, dedication, and talent. The 100 individuals selected for this inaugural catalogue of Romanian excellence will be celebrated for their exceptional achievements and contributions to their communities and beyond. This inaugural catalogue is scheduled for release at the end of this year.
