Doha: The 18th Qatar Robotics and AI Competition kicked off Sunday in Doha. The contest is organized by the Ministry of Sports and Youth, represented by the Qatar Scientific Club (QSC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), buoyed by support from the Social and Sport Contribution Fund (DAAM).
According to Qatar News Agency, the event is held at Lusail Multipurpose Hall and spans two days, drawing participants from schools, universities, and youth centers, as well as technology enthusiasts nationwide. The opening ceremony witnessed the presence of HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Yasir bin Abdullah Al Jamal, along with various department directors and ministry officials.
The competition aligns with QSC's mission to enhance scientific and technological innovation among youth. It broadens horizons for young individuals to innovate in robotics, programming, and AI, strengthening their competitive edge and aligning with the rapid evolution of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Director of the Youth Affairs Department at the Ministry of Sports and Youth, Fawaz Abdullah Al Musaifri, emphasized the ministry's dedication to supporting such tournaments, which hold strategic importance in advancing Qatar's National Youth Policy, particularly in innovation and education. Al Musaifri praised the MoEHE and QSC for their exemplary organization, noting that this year introduces new events like cybersecurity challenges and updates to school-level contests.
Al Musaifri also mentioned that winners from this competition will have the opportunity to represent Qatar in future Arab and international contests. He explained that renaming the event from Schools Robotics Championship to Qatar Robotics and AI Competition aligns with the ministry's strategic plan, reflecting advancements in software and innovation training.
Fatima Al Mohannadi, Head of the Technical, Scientific, and Judging Committee, shared that the championship involves 2,500 students, 100 judges, and over 100 trainers, representing 250 schools. This edition features 18 categories and aims to discover and nurture talent by providing practical experiences and mentorship.
The competition's primary goal is to develop participants' scientific, engineering, and innovative skills, fostering analytical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork through real-world simulations in robot design and AI-powered solutions. It seeks to identify promising talents in this critical sector through a competitive and supervised scientific environment.
The event includes diverse contests such as autonomous robot design, intelligent systems programming, and technical simulation challenges. Participants will present innovative projects to panels of experts, academics, and specialists, evaluated on creativity, execution, technical solutions, and potential for development.
Workshops and interactive sessions will complement the event, introducing participants to the latest trends in robotics and AI, fostering knowledge exchange among students and experts, and building a community that supports scientific research and innovation in Qatar.