Apply Now: Robotics for Good Youth Challenge 2026–2027

Application Deadline: September 1, 2026

Applications and participation opportunities are now open for the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge 2026–2027, a global educational robotics competition led by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The initiative gives young people an opportunity to learn robotics and artificial intelligence while designing practical solutions to real-world challenges.

For African students, schools, technology clubs, educators and youth-focused organizations, the challenge offers more than a conventional robotics competition. It creates a pathway for young people to develop technical abilities alongside teamwork, critical thinking, project management and problem-solving skills.

The 2026–2027 edition will focus on health emergencies, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO). Participants will explore how robotics can contribute to healthcare systems, emergency response and community resilience.

The programme is particularly relevant as African countries work to expand digital skills and prepare young people for an increasingly AI-driven economy. The challenge has already reached more than 18,000 participants across 50+ countries, with over 2,000 teams participating through 75 local chapter events.

About the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge

The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge was launched by the ITU in April 2024 to make AI and robotics education more accessible to young people worldwide.

Instead of simply asking participants to build robots for competition, the programme connects technology education with real-world problems. Each edition introduces a global challenge, encouraging participants to design, build and programme robotic solutions that address a particular social or environmental issue.

A major strength of the programme is its platform-agnostic approach. Teams are not required to use one specific robotics kit. They can design their solutions using locally available hardware and materials. This can help reduce the cost barrier that often prevents students in underserved communities from participating in robotics programmes.

The 2026–2027 edition moves the focus to health emergencies, creating opportunities for young innovators to think about challenges such as emergency response, healthcare support and resilience.

Who can participate?

The competition has two age categories:

• Junior: Participants born between 2012 and 2016.
• Senior: Participants born between 2008 and 2011.

The age-based structure allows students to engage with challenges appropriate to their developmental and technical level.

Students can participate through an in-person National or Regional event where a Local Chapter is available. Where an in-person competition is unavailable, teams can participate online by developing their project and submitting a video for judging.

Benefits of the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge

Participating in the challenge can provide young innovators with valuable technical, educational and networking opportunities.

Key benefits include:

• International competition experience through a global UN-linked robotics initiative.
• AI and robotics skills developed through practical, hands-on project work.
• Problem-solving experience focused on real-world health emergency challenges.
• Teamwork and leadership development through collaborative project development.
• Global networking with young innovators, educators, technology professionals and international stakeholders.
• Potential opportunity to reach the Grand Finale during the AI for Good Global Summit.
• Complimentary Discovery Passes to the AI for Good Global Summit for participating Grand Finale team members and mentors.
• Youth Zone exhibition opportunities for selected teams to showcase their projects.
• Exposure to global leaders, including UN representatives and programme partners.
• Media and storytelling opportunities, including potential coverage of participating teams.
• International recognition for innovative projects and achievements.

For African participants, the ability to work with locally sourced materials is particularly valuable. Students do not necessarily need access to an expensive international robotics kit to begin exploring their ideas.

Eligibility and Participation Routes

The opportunity has two main routes.

For young people and student teams

The competition is designed for young people in the Junior and Senior age categories. Participants can take part through an established local or national competition where available, or use the online participation route where there is no physical event.

Schools, robotics clubs, youth organizations and educators can therefore play an important role in helping students form teams, develop projects and prepare submissions.

For organizations that want to host a Local Chapter

Public and private organizations, government institutions and ministries can apply to organize an in-person Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Local Chapter in their country or region.

Applicants need to provide information about their organization, proposed competition arrangements, venue, registration details and experience with robotics or technology projects focused on sustainable development.

This route could be especially valuable for African NGOs, schools, technology hubs, universities and youth development organizations seeking to establish a structured robotics opportunity for young people in their communities.

Application Process and Key Dates

For organizations applying to organize a Local Chapter

Organizations interested in hosting an in-person competition should complete the official Apply to Organize application and provide the requested organizational and event information.

Deadline: September 1, 2026.

For teams participating online

Teams without access to a physical Local Chapter can prepare their robotics project and submit a video for evaluation.

Video submission deadline: April 1, 2027.

Because competition arrangements can vary by country, prospective participants should regularly check the official ITU/AI for Good page for Local Chapter announcements and participation instructions.

Why You Should Apply

The biggest value of this challenge is that it shifts robotics education from simply learning how technology works to using technology to solve meaningful problems.

For students, this can become a strong practical project to discuss in future scholarship, university, internship or innovation applications. For schools and youth organizations, participating can also strengthen STEM programming and provide a platform for showcasing student achievements.

Tips for a Strong Application or Project

1. Start with the problem.
Rather than beginning with an impressive robot idea, identify a specific health emergency problem and explain why it matters.

2. Keep the solution practical.
Judges are likely to value a clear, workable concept over unnecessary technical complexity. Think about who would use the robot and how it could operate in a real environment.

3. Use locally available resources.
The platform-agnostic structure gives teams room to experiment with accessible materials. This can encourage creative engineering rather than dependence on expensive equipment.

4. Document the development process.
Keep photographs, short videos, design sketches, testing notes and explanations of how the team improved its prototype.

5. Demonstrate teamwork.
Make it clear what different team members contributed, from programming and engineering to research, presentation and project management.

6. Check the official rules carefully.
Competition requirements can change between editions. Read the current rulebook and official instructions before building the final project.

Conclusion

The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge 2026–2027 offers young innovators an exciting opportunity to combine AI, robotics and social impact. With the new edition focused on health emergencies, participants can develop technology skills while exploring solutions to challenges that affect communities around the world.

Schools, robotics clubs, educators and youth organizations should begin preparing early. Organizations interested in hosting a Local Chapter have until September 1, 2026, while online teams have until April 1, 2027 to submit their project video.

For more information and to apply, CLICK HERE

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