Registration Opens for the Second National RoboFin Robotics Competition for Young Learners

Following the successful first competition, which brought together 55 teams and 214 pupils from schools across Montenegro, registration is now open for the Second National RoboFin Robotics Competition for Young Learners, scheduled to take place on 31 October in Podgorica. This year’s edition introduces a new feature: a dedicated competition category for first- and second-grade primary school pupils.

The competition is organised by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, the Central Bank of Montenegro, and the Innovation Fund of Montenegro, with the support of its sponsor, Crnogorska komercijalna banka AD Podgorica (CKB). It will take place on Saturday, 31 October 2026, at the Sports and Cultural Centre of the University of Montenegro in Podgorica, as part of Savings Week celebrations.

This year’s competition also introduces an important new feature: two age categories, ensuring that participation is tailored to pupils of different ages. The Robo Malci category is intended for first- and second-grade pupils, while Robo Znalci is designed for third- and fourth-grade primary school pupils. By introducing a dedicated category for the youngest participants, RoboFin gives children the opportunity to explore robotics, programming and modern approaches to learning from the very beginning of their education.

“The success of the first RoboFin competition set high expectations, but also brought additional responsibility to continue developing this initiative. This year, we are taking another step forward, with the aim of making robotics, creative thinking and financial literacy part of the learning experience of an ever-growing number of children. We believe that long-term, sustainable change in education is built precisely through initiatives like this — consistently, collaboratively and with a clear vision,” said Snežana Šćepanović, Head of the EU Projects Management and Support Department at the Innovation Fund of Montenegro and creator of the Robotics for Young Learners programme.

The competition is organised as part of the national programme Robotics for Young Learners, which brings together modern learning methods, STEM disciplines and financial literacy. Through hands-on challenges, pupils assemble and programme educational robots, developing logical thinking, creativity and teamwork while gaining basic knowledge of saving, planning and the responsible management of money and resources.

Competing teams will face two challenges. In the robotics component, teams will construct and programme a robot on-site, while the financial literacy component will involve tasks related to planning, saving and the rational use of resources. Each category will have its own challenges, scoring system, ranking and prizes.

In addition to prizes for the top three teams in each category, special awards will be presented for the best robot design and the best video on financial literacy.

All public primary schools in Montenegro are eligible to participate. Registration is open until 20 October 2026, and teams can register through the online form on the website: robotikazanajmladje.me/prijava-tima. Separate registration forms must be submitted for each category.

The competition rules and practice tasks for both categories are also available on the same website. Schools, teachers and educators are encouraged to register their teams, motivate pupils and give them the opportunity to take part in the competition. This year’s RoboFin is expected to provide another valuable opportunity for children to acquire new knowledge, develop teamwork skills and nurture their curiosity and creativity.

More information about the competition and the programme is available at www.robotikazanajmladje.me and on Instagram at @robotikazanajmladje.