Saudi Arabia has made history once again, as young Saudi students showcased their talent and innovation at the prestigious 2023 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Championship held in Houston, Texas from 19th-22nd April 2023. The event saw 974 student robotics teams from 59 countries around the world exhibit and compete across FIRST programs, including the LEGO League, Tech Challenge and Robotics Competition.
Four Saudi teams participated in this year’s event, with the QPS_Saudi team from Jeddah competing in the FTC Challenge category, the Riyadh-based Emerald League team competing in the FLL Challenge category, and the Vision Innovators team from Riyadh and Tabuk also competing in the FTC Challenge category. Meanwhile, the Saudi Maker-Jr team, overseen by the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, competed in the FLL Explorer category.
Saudi Arabia achieved its best ever results at the competition this year, with its teams competing in the FTC Challenge for the first time and displaying exceptional levels of creativity and skill. In particular, the Saudi Makers team won the coding award for the FLL Explorer category and achieved a ranking in the FTC category, marking a significant achievement for both the team and the Kingdom.
Dr. Aiman Al-Barakati, CEO of the Saudi Federation for Robotics and RC Sports, emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s participation in the FIRST Championship reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to nurturing young talent in the fields of science and technology. He highlighted that events like this inspire a new generation of young leaders as he stated, “Through events like this, Saudi Arabia hopes to inspire a new generation of young leaders who will shape the future of the country’s technological advancement. We are proud of our national teams’ performance in this year’s FIRST Championship. Their success is a testament to their dedication and hard work in developing their technical and analytical skills.”
Through investing in STEM education and encouraging a mindset of improvement and innovation, the kingdom is aiming to develop a skilled workforce capable of leading the country’s technological transformation and economic growth.
Al-Barakati also stated, “The success of Saudi Arabia’s national teams in the FIRST Championship demonstrates the country’s potential to be a global leader in robotics and technology. The participation of Saudi youth in such events also serves as a platform for networking and exchanging ideas with students and professionals from around the world, contributing to the country’s vision of becoming a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.”
FIRST is a nonprofit organization that inspires young people to become leaders in science and technology.
