From September 26 to 29, Athens hosted the world’s largest robotics competition, the FIRST Global Challenge, bringing together young talents from across the globe. This marked the first time the competition was held in Greece and an impressive milestone for the Greek National Robotics Team, which achieved 4th place—a historic first.

The event began with a spectacular Opening Ceremony at the iconic Panathenaic Stadium. Teams from 193 countries paraded proudly in the Parade of Nations, followed by an electrifying performance by the Black Eyed Peas, setting the stage for an unforgettable robotics competition.

In the following days, nearly 400 matches took place at the Peace and Friendship Stadium, showcasing innovation, teamwork, and the ingenuity of the next generation of STEM leaders.

Prominent figures welcomed participants, including the Greek Minister of Digital Governance, Mr Dimitris Papastergiou, and the Deputy Minister, Mr Konstantinos Kyranakis. Adding to the excitement, U.S. President Joe Biden shared a personal message, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended the matches to congratulate the Greek team on their remarkable performance.

Qualco Foundation was proud to support the Greek Team, whose 4th-place finish was extraordinary and inspiring. This achievement reflects the team’s dedication, passion, and collaborative spirit. At Qualco Foundation, innovation is at the heart of what we do, and we are committed to supporting initiatives that open doors for students across Greece to access STEM education and unique opportunities like the FIRST Global Challenge.