01 Nov A Beautiful Week in Panama: The 2025 FIRST Global Challenge Concludes, Awards Announced

Panama City, Panama – 1 November, 2025 – After four days of competition, collaboration, and cultural exchange, the 2025 FIRST Global Challenge has concluded with an astounding display of talent, innovation, and global unity. Based on the theme Eco Equilibrium, with a focus on biodiversity, the competition brought together the next generation of STEM leaders from 191 nations for the most international robotics challenge in the world. The Title Sponsor of the 2025 FIRST Global Challenge was Lam Research.

This year’s challenge tasked participants with navigating their robots through a rich, simulated world to carefully restore habitats, maintain ecological balance, and protect vulnerable species, emphasizing the delicate systems that support our planet and the critical role innovation plays in their survival. In addition, teams also took part in the Eco Equilibrium – New Technology Experience (NTE), developing projects that use emerging technologies to protect biodiversity and promote sustainable solutions within their own communities.

This event would not have been possible without the support of FIRST Global’s Panamanian partners, including the government of the Republic of Panama and local STEAM education non-profit FUNDESTEAM. Panama’s Minister of Tourism, Gloria de León, said about the event, “Having brilliant young minds from more than 190 countries gathered in Panama is a true source of pride. This event goes beyond competition, leaving a legacy that inspires new generations to pursue science and robotics. Our country stands before the world as a vibrant nation where nature, culture, and technology coexist in harmony, positioning Panama as a global hub for knowledge, sustainability, and international events.”

Marvin Castillo, the founder and President of FUNDESTEAM, shared about the event, “On behalf of FUNDESTEAM, we express our immense pride in hosting the FIRST Global Challenge 2025 in Panama. From October 29th to November 1st, we welcomed over 190 countries in an extraordinary event that turned Panama into the world’s epicenter for youth innovation. Witnessing thousands of young people passionately collaborating on the ‘Eco Equilibrium’ challenge has been an inspiration, solidifying our country as a hub for STEAM education and planting a seed of change and cooperation for the future.”

Over 20 awards were presented to teams based on their robot performances, their efforts to promote STEM education, foster international collaboration, and exemplify FIRST Global’s core values. See below for the full list of award winners, along with select quotes from awarded students. Find descriptions of each award category here.

Albert Einstein Award for FIRST Global International Excellence (Overall Winner)

Gold: Kazakhstan

Silver: Aruba

Bronze: Lebanon

Team Kazakhstan, who has been the #1 points-scoring team four years in a row, said “Starting from 8th place back in 2017, we’ve been striving every year to reach new heights. For us, it’s not about collecting medals—it’s about growing together, building a better future through cooperation, and representing Kazakhstan as a leader in innovation. Our big dream is to host FIRST Global 2027 and welcome our worldwide family to our beautiful homeland!”

FIRST Global Winning Alliances (Tournament Finals)

Gold: Venezuela, Mexico, Panama, Cameroon

Silver: Serbia, Lithuania, Malta, Kenya

Bronze: Kazakhstan, Aruba, Bolivia, Jamaica

Team Jamaica, who overcame immense obstacles to attend the FIRST Global Challenge during the ravages of Hurricane Melissa, said, “This award means more than an award and a medal. It’s showing Jamaica’s resilience and diversity, stepping up through months of hard work.”

FIRST Global Grand Challenge Award (Most Points Scored Tournament-Wide)

Gold: Kazakhstan

Silver: Venezuela

Bronze: People’s Republic of China

Team People’s Republic of China, who scored Bronze in the FIRST Global Grand Challenge Award for the second year in a row, said, “We are excited to post on social media so teams can continue to do this and reach more students in China and share our story so they can do it too!”

Innovator Award (New Technology Experience)

Gold: United Arab Emirates

Silver: Islamic Republic of Iran

Bronze: Colombia

Team United Arab Emirates, whose NTE project was titled “Semi-Permeable Sodium Alginate Hydrogels for Cell and Genetic Preservation,” said, “I think we can democratize cell preservation for everyone and make it accessible for anyone in any part of the world.”

Zhang Heng Award for Engineering Design

Gold: Mexico

Silver: Spain

Bronze: Greece

Team Greece, who last year served as the host nation of the 2024 FIRST Global Challenge, said, “We will always continue and we will never give up. We think that innovation and STEM is the future and we’re going to win this when we can. We will find every way to promote it.”

Ustad Ahmad Lahori Award for Innovation in Engineering

Gold: Moldova

Silver: China

Bronze: Indonesia

Dr. Mae Jemison Award for International Unity

Gold: Canada

Silver: Peru

Bronze: Nigeria

Team Canada, who received their award for their work breaking down barriers to STEM education, said, “The most important thing is who we represent, because we come from a really poor background. In this poor background, that’s where great ideas come from. Even though we didn’t have all the chances people have, we still made it.”

Rajaa Cherkaoui El Moursli Award for Courageous Achievement

Gold: Madagascar

Silver: Iran

Bronze: Liberia

Team Madagascar, whose win represents the “can-do” attitude prized at FIRST Global, said “We are so happy. It’s unbelievable. With our rank and match we did so bad because we had to face a lot of crises during preparations, so it is so honoring to get a gold medal but it is also so special. It really is a surprise.”

Jackie Bezos Award for International Enthusiasm

Gold: Venezuela

Silver: Vietnam

Bronze: Panama

Team Panama, representing the host nation of the 2025 FIRST Global Challenge, said “We are going to focus on our Foundation, on our schools, promoting STEM, and promoting robotics as a sport in Panama and beyond.”

Judges Award

Gold: Burkina Faso

Silver: Philippines

Bronze: Zimbabwe

Team Zimbabwe, who this year was composed entirely of students who are deaf or hard of hearing, said, “I’m so happy because it’s the first time we’re doing robotics and coming to the FIRST Global challenge.”

Francisco Jose de Caldas Award for Sustainable Excellence

Roberto Tovar

David Price

Heidi Lovett

Outstanding Mentors

Tunisia: Faten Khalfallah

Ethiopia: Dagmawi Girum

Kosovo: Elita Hajrizi

Niger: Daouda Hamadou

Philippines: Beryl Jhan Cruz

South Africa: Roxanne Reddy

Turkiye: Anil Cici

Cambodia: Yuki Sato

Romania:Annamaria Pop

Brazil: Nathany Santiago Machado