Two Cypriot student robotics teams have made their mark on the international stage, representing Cyprus at prestigious global events as part of the 2025 FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL) season, which this year focused on the theme of ocean exploration.

With the support of the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) and under the coordination of the Cyprus Computer Society (CCS), the teams ROBOTHEADZ and Robomac travelled to the United States and Greece, respectively, showcasing Cypriot innovation and teamwork through science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

ROBOTHEADZ, coached by Dr Pericles Cheng of STEM Education Cyprus, earned the Champion’s Award and first place in the FLL Cyprus 2025 competition, securing their place at the global FIRST® Championship in Houston, Texas.

Held from April 16 to 19, the championship welcomed more than 50,000 participants from 160 countries, offering students the chance to collaborate, compete, and exchange ideas on a global scale.

The ROBOTHEADZ team, made up of ten students aged 12 to 16, designed and programmed a robot to complete complex tasks on the Robot Game field.

They also presented an Innovation Project: a high-tech diving mask equipped with artificial intelligence, capable of identifying fish species in real time with the aim of detecting invasive and potentially dangerous marine life in wetlands.

Out of 160 competing teams and nearly 2,000 participants in their specific competition, ROBOTHEADZ ranked among the top 100 teams worldwide.

Meanwhile, Robomac, representing the Technical School Makarios III in Nicosia, took part in the FIRST® LEGO® League Open International Greece 2025, held in Corinth on May 2-4.

The team secured second place and received the Innovation Project Award in the national competition, earning their place at the Open International.

Comprising ten students and led by computer engineering educators Panayiotis Englezakis and Andreas Andreou, Robomac competed among 48 teams from 40 countries.

The event emphasised networking, knowledge exchange, and collaborative learning in robotics and engineering.

Robomac impressed judges with their ethical approach, technical skill, and originality.

They were recognised as ambassadors of Cypriot innovation and returned home with a strong commitment to sharing their knowledge within the broader school community.

The Cyprus Computer Society extended heartfelt congratulations to both teams and their coaches for their accomplishments and wished them continued success in their STEM endeavours.

The society also thanked the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) for its vital support of both the international delegations and the national robotics competition.

CCS reaffirmed its commitment to promoting student engagement in robotics, informatics, and cybersecurity through ongoing events and competitions.

These include Robotex MRC Cyprus 2025 in June, the Cyprus Cyber Security Challenge (CCSC) in July, and participation in international informatics Olympiads in August.

More information about CCS events and activities can be found at www.ccs.org.cy or via the society’s social media platforms.