Cyprus showcases youth talent at Robotex 2024
Robotex MRC 2024, Cyprus’ largest educational robotics festival, concluded with resounding success over the weekend of June 29 and 30.
Organised by the Cyprus Computer Society (CCS) and hosted at the University of Cyprus Sports Centre, the event drew hundreds of participants and captivated thousands of visitors.
In a ceremonious opening, Nicodemus Damianou, the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, representing President Nikos Christodoulides, inaugurated the 7th Pancyprian Robotex Robotics Competition.
This year marked the introduction of the Minoan Robotsports Competition (MRC), a significant expansion that the Deputy Minister described as a heartening development, showcasing the engagement of the youth with technology.
The event was also graced by Andreas Efstathiou, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) and Rector of European University, Cyprus. As the diamond sponsor, the RIF played a vital role in supporting Robotex MRC 2024, which, according to Efstathiou, “fosters a culture of research, innovation, and technology, crucial for nurturing future talents.”
Following the welcoming speeches, Costas Agrotis, president of the CCS, introduced representatives from the co-organisers, including Maria Militiadou, Deputy Director of the Youth Organisation, Vasos Vassiliou, Associate Professor and Vice President of the Department of Informatics at the University of Cyprus, and representatives from IET Cyprus and the Greek Educational Robotics Organisation.
The competition itself was a spectacle of innovation, attracting over 600 roboticists from across Cyprus, competing in more than 25 robotic challenges. Enthusiastic crowds, comprising parents, friends, and technology fans, enjoyed a series of robot battles, interactive technology exhibitions, and various engaging activities.
Highlighting the inclusivity theme, primary school students presented robotics projects aimed at fostering a more inclusive society through technology. The event also featured competitions in Line Following, Folkrace, maze navigation, and archery, alongside a highly anticipated drone competition.
The festival continued on Sunday with a dance performance by students from the Elena Clark School of Dance. Drone competitions included a new SUMO challenge, a 15-meter rally track event, and a novel robotic shot-put sport. Notably, the Girls Fire Fighting challenge aimed to inspire more girls to explore STEAM fields.
A memorable moment was provided by the Bank of Cyprus Transformer interacting with Neapolis University’s robotic dog, Laika, along with the debut of the conversational Einstein robot by students from Pascal English School.
Also making a big impression was the Robotex Cyprus Kypruino, the unique limited edition Arduino Uno board of Cypriot manufacture presented at the Robo.com.cy booth.
Additionally, interactive booths with new technologies from the Youth Organisation’s Makerspace, a robotic hand painting by the teams of Novatex and NGO ECECT, and educational products Lego Education by O3-Out of the Ordinary were displayed.
The Cyprus Informatics Association’s booth featured European projects Drones Steam by Emphasys and InvesTech by Cyric.
The event was infused with youthful energy by presenters Savvas Constantinou and Andria Zanti.
Organised by the CCS and co-organised by the University of Cyprus, the Youth Organisation, and IET Cyprus, the event was under the auspices of President Nikos Christodoulides and endorsed by the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Youth, along with the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (Etek).
Additional support came from XM as a tech partner and the Bank of Cyprus as a youth supporter, with Neapolis University, Hellas SAT, and Huawei among the gold and silver sponsors.
It is noted that for the effective organisation of the festival, more than 100 volunteers and judges, and members of the Organising and Scientific Committees of Robotex MRC Cyprus, respectively, worked pro bono.
The festival sets the stage for the upcoming Winners’ Awards Ceremony in October. Successful teams will advance to international competitions in Crete in April 2025 and Robotex in Estonia in December 2024, continuing Cyprus’ legacy of excellence in robotics.