Speech by Min(TR) Grace Fu at the World Robot Olympiad International Finals 2025 Opening Ceremony

1.             Good afternoon, and a warm welcome to the WRO International Finals 2025.

2.             As the birthplace of the WRO, Singapore is proud to host the Finals once again since the first edition in 2004, marking an exciting homecoming.

The WRO has grown to be a global movement

3.             We are seeing the largest turnout in WRO International Finals history this year, with almost 600 teams from over 90 countries. It is heartening to see strong interest from our talented young minds.

4.             I wish to thank Space Faculty, Singapore’s national organiser for WRO since 2023, for empowering youths to translate knowledge into future-shaping ideas on a global stage.

Singapore is committed to nurturing future-ready STEM talent

5.             Singapore believes that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education is important in nurturing students with problem-solving skills, curiosity and creativity, to enable positive change.

6.             Through STEM fields like robotics, students are encouraged to develop knowledge and skills in coding and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to solve real-world challenges.

Building a smarter world together using robots

7.             The WRO similarly emphasises the value of innovation for impact. This year’s theme, “The Future of Robots”, invites participants to design intelligent machines for a smarter future.

8.             Robotics is a growth area for Singapore. We are developing autonomous vehicles, drones for the safe washing of high-rise facades, and robots that support healthcare services. We have established the National Robotics Programme to deepen our robotics capabilities.

9.             It is important for us to impact our society for the better, and I found two inspiring stories among this year’s finalists:

a.    First, Team Braillience from India, in the Elementary category. 10-year-old Vivaan and 12-year-old Tvisha are helping visually impaired children learn Braille more independently in communities with limited teaching resources.

b.              The second, Team TechNova, from Singapore in the Senior category. Ciaryn, Harshini and Pakwan built a robotic janitor, RoboGo, to clean restrooms and improve public hygiene.

10.          There are many more among you that are innovating to make impact on our lives and our communities.

Embarking on the next technology frontier in Space

11.          Another exciting frontier research area is Space. It captivates the imagination and is synonymous with breakthrough technologies.

12.          This year, Expand Space, a platform bringing academia and industry together, makes its debut at the Finals. I encourage everyone to explore the showcase where robotics, AI and Space technologies intersect.

13.          We are also celebrating the winners of the International Space Challenge (ISC), where youths tackle real-world problems using AI-driven solutions. I would like to congratulate all ISC winners.

Conclusion

14.          As host of the WRO International Finals this year, we recognise that young talents can create impactful solutions to serve the society.

15.          The robots created today can benefit the cities of tomorrow, that you, our youths, will have a stake in.

16.          Technology is only as good as it is relevant to the people it is serving. So even as you are pursuing your passion in STEM, stay close to your community and pay attention to the people who are less able and privileged than you. Be the beacon that will light up others’ lives through your innovation and brilliance.

17.          Thank you.