Technology is becoming increasingly present in everyday life, and introducing students to robotics and STEM fields is more important than ever.
Competitions such as the “Make Your City Smart 2026” Robotics Competition give students the opportunity to learn through direct experience, work as a team, and put their ideas into practice. At the same time, these kinds of projects help develop creativity, logical thinking, and the ability to find solutions to real problems in an engaging and interactive way.
A competition that inspires future generations
The Make Your City Smart robotics competition, organized by Asociația Măgurele Science Park in partnership with Robohub, reached its fourth edition this year. The competition encouraged students to imagine how technology and robotics could contribute to the development of smarter and more people-friendly cities.
Starting in February, students were invited to register by creating an essay or a drawing on the theme of the role robots could play in the cities of the future. More than 40 creative students passionate about technology answered the challenge, and the most original entries were selected for the training stage and participation in the competition final.
The first stage – training session and discovering the world of robotics
On May 5, 2026, the selected students participated in the training session organized at the headquarters of Robohub, where they had the opportunity to explore the world of robotics and smart technologies more closely. The session was coordinated by Ana Maria Stancu, who introduced participants to several interactive projects and concepts from the field of robotics.
The students were able to see robots capable of holding conversations, a robotic cat created using simple mechanisms, an intelligent chessboard, and other examples showing how technology can be integrated into everyday activities. During the session, participants also learned how LiDAR sensors work, what role they play in smart navigation, and how to properly program the components of the micro:bit kits provided during the competition.
This training stage provided students with the foundation needed to develop their own projects, while also giving them the chance to learn in a practical, interactive way closely connected to current technologies.
The competition final – creativity, technology, and emotion
The competition final took place on May 12, 2026, bringing together the 10 finalists in an event dedicated to project presentations, judging, and awarding the best ideas.
The event was opened by our colleagues Daniela Blebea and Laurențiu Dinu, who presented the 3D trophy awarded to the winner of the competition. Laurențiu Dinu explained to participants how the trophy had been designed and created in Tinkercad, as well as the 3D printing process behind it, especially for those passionate about modeling and 3D printing.
Project evaluation
The projects were evaluated by a jury made up of:
- Ana Maria Stancu – founder of RoboHub.ai and CEO of Bucharest Robots. She supported the students during the training session, guiding them with professionalism and enthusiasm.
- Mihai Peca – ECDL-ICDL România trainer, one of the longest-standing collaborators within the MSP educational community and present at every edition of the competition, always participating enthusiastically in activities dedicated to children.
- Lucia Maria Predeteanu – representative of Inspectoratul Școlar Județean Ilfov, where she works with dedication and passion as an inspector for extracurricular activities, thus completing the jury panel.
According to the competition regulations, the judging criteria focused on:
- the technical aspect and programming accuracy;
- the way the functions of the devices were designed;
- project coherence;
- presentation creativity.
Each criterion was scored by the jury from 1 to 10, with emphasis placed both on technical functionality and the originality of the students’ ideas.
Winning projects
First Prize was awarded to G. Alexandru, a 4th-grade student, for his project of an automated garbage collection vehicle designed for a smart city. The project impressed the jury through its practical usefulness and the way technology can help improve urban services.
Second Prize went to D. Sofia, a 4th-grade student, with a project in which a small robot automatically waters a flower based on specific signals and predefined conditions.
Third Prize was awarded to S. Andrei, a 4th-grade student, for the project “Residential Eco-F,” a creative proposal focused on sustainability.
We also thank the other courageous participants who overcame their emotions to deliver the most creative and enthusiastic presentations. We would also like to thank Bit&R for the vouchers offered to the winners, through which they can learn programming for free directly on their platform using interactive games and exercises designed to spark their curiosity.
An event built through involvement and passion
The competition concluded with a group photo alongside all participating students, each of whom was awarded by the MSP team in recognition of their involvement, creativity, and courage to explore the world of technology.
The event was not only a competition, but also an educational experience filled with enthusiasm, discovery, and joy, once again demonstrating how important it is to give children access to technology, innovation, and opportunities to turn their ideas into reality.
As Steve Jobs once said, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” Through the projects presented during Make Your City Smart 2026, the students demonstrated not only creativity and teamwork, but also the desire to find smart solutions for the challenges of the future. For many of them, the competition represented the first step into a field where ideas can become real change, and we look forward to welcoming them to future educational activities organized by MSP.
