Robots Playing Chess and Bowling, and Other STEAM Activities at Robotex MRC Cyprus 2025!

Cyprus’ leading educational robotics festival wrapped up with great success! Robotex MRC 2025 was organized by the Cyprus Computer Society (CCS) at the University of Cyprus Sports Center on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 June 2025.

PHOTOS DAY 1

PHOTOS DAY 2

On behalf of the President of the Republic, the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Mr. Nicodemos Damianou, officially launched the event. The event was honored by the presence of Mr. Demetris Skourides, Chief Scientist and Chairman of the Research and Innovation Foundation, which supports the event as a Diamond Sponsor, recognizing its importance in highlighting young talents in research and innovation in our country. Welcoming remarks were also delivered by representatives of the co-organizers: the new Chairperson of the Youth Board of Cyprus (ONEK), Ms. Constantina Achilleos and Ms. Fotini Georgiou, member of of IET Cyprus and of the Scientific Committee of Robotex MRC Cyprus. Finally, Mr. Evangelos Stivaktakis, General Manager of HERO (Hellenic Educational Robotics Organization), which organizes the MRC Global Olympiad, traveled from Crete to attend the event.

The 8th Robotex Cyprus and the 2nd MRC Cyprus competitions brought together over 600 robotics enthusiasts — students, university teams, and adults from across the island — who competed in more than 20 different robotics challenges.

Primary school teams presented creative robotic constructions under the theme Robots and the World of Water, with some offering innovative solutions to the pressing issue of water scarcity in Cyprus.

Robot Battles, Rally and Sports Challenges

On Saturday, robots competed in Line Following, Folkrace, Maze Solving, Archery, and Bowling tracks. Meanwhile, a Drone Competition with increased participation from public and private schools took place on the lower floor. Sunday featured exciting SUMO battles, a 15-meter rally track, and a Shot Put robotics challenge. The program also included Girls Firefighting, a contest exclusively for girls designed to inspire more young women to engage in STEAM fields.

Unique Chess Challenge and More STEAM activities

Visitors also witnessed a one-of-a-kind chess challenge in Cyprus: Human vs. Robot. In collaboration with the KAISSA Chess Club, CCS brought the SenseRobot to Cyprus for the first time, allowing both young and experienced chess players to test their skills against it.

Nearby, interactive exhibitions from the Oceanography Center of the University of Cyprus and the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI) explored the relationship between sea and technology.

For the first time, Robo.com.cy launched the Robo Pit Stop exclusively for participating teams to repair their robots. It also showcased the improved version of Kypruino, a unique Arduino Uno board designed and manufactured in Cyprus.

The audience also enjoyed a range of STEAM activities hosted by CCS, the Youth Board’s Makerspace Larnaka, and organizations such as ECECT, Novatex, and O3. Children and adults alike were entertained by the ECOMMBX dragon mascot and created 360-degree videos at the ECOMMBX photobooth, and received gifts from Joey by Bank of Cyprus. Also on site was the Laika robot dog from Neapolis University, which thrilled the crowd. A surprise dance performance by the Elena Clark Dance School closed the event on a festive note.

 

Connecting with Cyprus’ Innovation Ecosystem

Young participants had the opportunity to present their robotic creations to representatives of Cyprus’ startup ecosystem — researchers, scientists, investors, entrepreneurs, and serial founders — invited by CCS through strategic partnerships, especially within the Femme Forward Future Startup Founders EU program and the newly formed CCS – Women team.

Robotex MRC Cyprus was organized by the Cyprus Computer Society in collaboration with the University of Cyprus, the Youth Board of Cyprus (ONEK), and IET Cyprus. The event was held under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, and approved by the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, and the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK). This year’s event was powered by ECOMMBX, joining for the first time as “Powered by” sponsor. The Bank of Cyprus continued its support as “Youth Supporter,” and XM participated as “Tech Partner.” The Neapolis University was Gold Sponsor, Hellas SAT Silver Sponsor, and Bronze Sponsors included Novatex Solutions Ltd, ZEBRA Consultants, NETinfo, Kardex, ICDL, with Robo.com.cy as the event's gift sponsor.

The winning teams will represent Cyprus at the upcoming Robotex International in Estonia and MRC Global Olympiad in Crete continuing the country’s strong international presence in educational robotics. In addition, high school students earned scholarships thanks to the longstanding support of private universities including Neapolis, EUC, UNIC, Frederick, UCLan Cyprus, University of London, and the newly established American University of Beirut (AUB).

More than 100 volunteers and judges, along with the Organizing and Scientific Committees of Robotex MRC Cyprus, contributed selflessly to ensure the event’s success. The next milestone for the team is the Awards Ceremony in October.

Competition results are available at www.robotex.org.cy. For more information, contact the Cyprus Computer Society at +357 22460680. Highlights of the event and livestreams are available on the Robotex Cyprus YouTube Channel, and social media updates can be found using the hashtag #RobotexMRCCy25.

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Stakeholders:

  • Organizer: Cyprus Computer Society (CCS)
  • Co-organizers: University of Cyprus, Cyprus Youth Board, IET Cyprus Local Network
  • Under the auspices of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Christodoulides
  • Approved by: the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth and the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber of Cyprus (ETEK)
  • Diamond Sponsor: Research and Innovation Foundation and Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy
  • Technology Partner: XM
  • Youth Supporter: Bank of Cyprus
  • Gold Sponsor: Neapolis University Pafos
  • Silver Sponsor: Hellas Sat
  • Bronze Sponsors: Novatex Solutions Ltd, ZEBRA Consultants, NETinfo, Kardex, ICDL
  • Prizes: Robo.com.cy
  • Universities: University of Nicosia, European University Cyprus, Frederick University of Cyprus, UCLan Cyprus, American University of Beirut
  • Supporters:
    • Cyprus Pedagogical Institute
    • Services: Graphic Stories, MAK AD, gra.des, C.K. Matrix, Arnold's Digital Printers, Logicom Distribution & CISCO Meraki, Panis Pieri, UACG, O3-Out of the Ordinary.
    • Associations: ACM, IEEE, Association of Computer Science Teachers and Association of Computer Science Teachers Association of Design and Technology Professors, CITEA, Start up Greece
    • Activities: ECECT, KAISSA, CMMI, Oceanography Centre UCY
  • Communication Sponsors: Cyprus News Agency, Alpha Cyprus, Reporter, Super FM, StudentLife.com.cy, Infokids.cy, IT, Panis News, LIFO.

About

Robotex Cyprus: The pancyprian robotics competition organized based on the

standards of the international competition ROBOTEX INTERNATIONAL of Estonia. 


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