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In personRobotics for Good Youth Challenge

Robotics for Good Youth Challenge South Africa

    • Applications closed
    Date
    31 October 2025
    Timeframe
    08:00 - 16:30 SAST Johannesburg
    Duration
    8h 30 minutes

    The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge South Africa is the prestigious South African National Event of the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge, organized by ITU and The Cortex Hub, in partnership with Google. This event forms part of ITU’s broader collaboration with Google and will.i.am to expand AI and robotics training for young people across Africa, bringing hands-on learning, robotics kits, and teacher support to underserved communities.

    Experience the excitement as South African teams showcase their skills in the leading UN-based global robotics competition, focusing on the critical area of agriculture and food security. This National Event, to be held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, as part of AI for Good Impact Africa, at AI Expo Africa 2025, is a qualifying tournament leading to the Grand Finale in Geneva during the AI for Good Global Summit 2026.

    This global competition is open to any individual or team willing to design, build, and program a robot to address the proposed food security challenge on the competition game board.

     

    Benefits for the finalists

    The winners, one from the junior category and one from the senior category, of the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge National Event will receive:

      • Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Grand Finale ticket at the AI for Good Global Summit 2026
      • Travel and accommodation support provided for team members and mentors
      • Practice area with 1 x table, 2 x chairs, power supply & premium WiFi
      • Lunch pack for per team member selected to participate in the Grand Finale
      • Complimentary Discovery Pass per team member to attend the AI for Good Global Summit 2026
      • Networking opportunities with the UN and other potential partners
      • Opportunity to gain awareness through global media coverage

     

    WHAT IS THE ROBOTICS FOR GOOD YOUTH CHALLENGE? 

    The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge is the leading UN-based global robotics championship, inviting students aged 10 to 18 to develop AI and robotics-based solutions to tackle global challenges. This programme offers a unique entry point into STEM disciplines while fostering problem-solving and teamwork skills that are critical for the next generation of digital leaders. Organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), participants design, build, and program robots to complete missions that address real-world issues. The competition promotes the use of free and open-source software and hardware, allowing unrestricted assembly and programming of the robots.

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