The Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania's Development officially launches the 2026 edition of the national campaign "100 Youngsters for Romania's Development", a project dedicated to discover, support and promote young Romanians with exceptional performances.
The campaign aims to bring to the forefront pupils and students who stand out for outstanding achievements in education, science, culture, arts, innovation and sport, giving them visibility and development opportunities. Registration for the 2026 edition is open online from January 16 and proposals can be submitted throughout the year until December 1 by filling in the online form available on the fundatiadanvoiculescu.ro website.
The campaign is in its third edition, bringing together 200 elite young people from across the country. They represent the generation that has taken Romania to major international competitions and achieved results that confirm the high potential of Romanian education.
Previous finalists include international Olympians in mathematics, computer science and physics, young researchers in emerging fields such as microelectronics, biotechnology and neuroscience, world-class medal-winning athletes, globally recognized artists and inventors.
In total, the young people selected in the two editions have won hundreds of medals in international or national olympiads and competitions, have been admitted to prestigious universities in Europe and the United States, and some of their research projects have been presented at international academic conferences. The campaign was, for many of them, the first step towards a path of excellence recognized in the global scientific and educational environment.
În 2025, campania a fost completată de lansarea studiului „Tiparul neurocognitiv al excelenței românești”, o cercetare realizată în parteneriat cu Institutul BrainMap, care explorează modul în care gândesc și se dezvoltă copiii și tinerii cu potențial înalt.
The global context confirms the importance of these initiatives. According to data published by UNESCO and the OECD, countries that invest in training and retaining high-potential young people show a significant increase in innovation and economic competitiveness. In Europe, more than 60% of young people included in excellence programs go on to work in strategic fields, from applied research to technology and entrepreneurship. Romania is thus in line with an international trend that emphasizes performance and education as a driver for development.
With this new edition, the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania continues its mission to create a national network of excellence and to provide young people with real resources to transform their talent into a concrete contribution to the country's development.
The "100 Youngsters for Romania's Development" campaign is an educational and inspirational project that shows that Romania only has a future if young people are supported to follow their vocation.
