Sparktech #24345 is one of the robotics teams of the “Tudor Vianu” National College of Computer Science in Bucharest. Founded in 2023 by three students passionate about robotics, the team started to grow rapidly in September 2024 with the recruitment of 9th-grade students from CNITV.

The team participates in the FIRST Tech Challenge Romania national robotics program, organized by the “Nație prin Educație” association. More than 220 teams from all over the country take part in this program every year, involving over 5,000 students and mentors.

FIRST Tech Challenge is an international robotics competition for high school students. Teams design, build, and program robots capable of completing specific tasks in a different technical game each season. The goal of the program is to encourage young people to explore STEM fields through hands-on activities, teamwork, and solving real-world problems.

Today, Sparktech has 15 members and 13 volunteers, guided by 3 experienced mentors in FTC and STEM education. The team is organized into five departments:

• 3D Design – creates the digital design of the robot, from sketches to 3D modeling;

• Mechanics – transforms the design into reality by building and assembling the robot;

• Programming – writes the code that controls the robot’s movements and functions;

• Marketing – promotes the team and sponsors on social media and at events;

• Administrative – manages the budget, logistics, and overall operations of the team.

Each department contributes to the team’s success through collaboration, perseverance, and constant innovation.

The team’s mission is to combine a passion for science with teamwork, learning engineering principles through participation in the FIRST Tech Challenge, and to share the values of STEM education within the community. As a result, members develop both technical skills in design, assembly, and programming and non-technical skills, such as communication, public speaking, and event organization.

In just two years, Sparktech has made its mark in robotics competitions, with each award confirming the team’s vision:“Coding dreams, powering reality”, inspiring imagination and transforming students’ ideas and dreams into something real, functional, and useful.

Awards 2024–2025

• Nation Through Education Award – Southern Regional FTC 2024;

• Think Award – 1st Place – European Premier Event 2025, recognizing engineering design,

innovation, and season-long commitment;

• 2nd Place – Transylvania Tech Challenge 2025.

Beyond competition preparation, the team is actively involved in the school community, aiming to promote values such as responsibility, collaboration, and professionalism—helping students develop the mindset and reflexes needed to become creative, ethical professionals capable of working efficiently in any technical or leadership field.

Team members regularly participate in events like School Days and Carfest, where they organize robotics demonstrations and presentations. They also visit local schools to offer younger students the chance to explore the fascinating world of technology. Collaborations with other FTC teams through joint activities and idea exchanges strengthen the spirit of partnership and learning.

With the start of the new season, DECODE, the team aims to reach an even higher level of performance. Members are working on developing a more efficient and precise robot, applying the experience gained in previous seasons and experimenting with new ideas. The team also continues to promote STEM education among students through contests, robotics competitions, and school visits.

Through these initiatives, Sparktech strives to inspire and nurture a new generation of curious, creative, and engaged students.

For Sparktech, every competition means more than just an award, it is an opportunity to learn, innovate, and bring science closer to young people