Hyderabad, India – September 15, 2026 – The World Robot Olympiad Association (WRO®) and Saudi Aramco are debuting the WRO STEM Entrepreneur Program, a new startup‑style competition that gives young innovators a chance to present their robotics solutions directly to industry leaders.
Unlike the traditional WRO competition, the pilot program invites 20 teams from 13 nations to pitch live before a panel that includes Aramco Ventures, the venture‑capital arm of Aramco, a representative from South African impact fund Kai Connect, and a delegate from the India STEM Foundation, the national organizer of WRO in India.
Program goals and support
The initiative aims to bridge the gap between technical expertise and real‑world entrepreneurship. Participants must clearly articulate the value of their robotic projects, answer challenging questions, and demonstrate commercial potential. The program is powered by Aramco, WRO’s strategic partner, and organized locally by the India STEM Foundation.
Four winning teams will share a total of $20,000 in awards and receive six months of mentorship from leading industry experts to help further develop their solutions.
Student projects highlighted
Among the entrants is Project CARED from the Philippines, created by 16‑year‑old John Lee Bacoco, 15‑year‑old Ahmika Julia Reyes, and 16‑year‑old Katarina Sening Parungao. Their robot integrates patient‑monitoring tools into a single system to reduce repetitive tasks for nurses. After interviewing nurses, patients, and volunteers, the team tested CARED in community health centers and school clinics, refining the design based on user feedback.
“We have seen how exhaustion and heavy workloads affect nurses in the Philippines. That is why we are excited to present CARED to industry professionals who may be interested in helping us bring it closer to real‑world use,” said Katarina Parungao, who leads design and functionality for the project.
Statements from organizers
Claus Ditlev Christensen, Secretary General of the World Robot Olympiad Association, said the program offers students their first experience presenting to entrepreneurs and industry leaders, providing insight into how ideas are evaluated and developed in the commercial world.
Hadeel Al‑Eisa, Manager of Aramco’s Corporate Citizenship Division, added, “At Aramco, our STEM efforts aim not only to inspire young people to pursue STEM disciplines, but also to equip them with the skills, confidence and opportunities to turn ideas into solutions. This new entrepreneurship program builds on that foundation, supporting young innovators as they take the next step from developing solutions to exploring their potential as entrepreneurs.”
Event details
The international pilot takes place on September 28, 2026, in Hyderabad, bringing together teams from Ghana, India, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Africa and Uganda.
For more information, visit the World Robot Olympiad Association website at wro-association.org.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
