UMAEF Support Helps Moldovan Robotics Team Compete on the Global Stage

In May 2026, Team CaiVerziPePereți, Moldova’s national robotics champion, represented the country at the FIRST Championship 2026, the world’s premier youth robotics competition. Competing in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) division alongside 342 teams from more than 70 countries, the team marked its first appearance on the global stage—an achievement made possible through years of investment in STEM education and innovation.

Since 2023, Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF) has invested nearly $2 million to strengthen Moldova’s future workforce by expanding access to high-quality STEM education, robotics, and digital skills. These investments help prepare young people for careers in technology and advanced industries while supporting the talent pipeline needed for Moldova’s long-term economic growth.

The results have been significant: more than 170 schools have been equipped with modern educational technologies, 62 robotics clubs have been established, seven FabLab innovation spaces have been created across the country, and more than 800 teachers have received specialized training, including study visits to Estonia’s internationally recognized innovation ecosystem. Today, these initiatives engage more than 50,000 students, 40% of whom are girls, helping them develop the technical and problem-solving skills needed to succeed in the modern economy.

Moldova’s national robotics program has grown remarkably since its launch in 2014 with just six schools and 240 students. Today, Moldovan teams have earned 13 international medals, including gold medals at competitions in Dubai, Geneva, Singapore, Athens, and Panama City, demonstrating the country’s growing excellence in robotics and STEM education.

Through strategic investments in education, innovation, and youth development, UMAEF continues to help build a more competitive, innovation-driven economy while creating opportunities for the next generation of Moldovan talent to succeed both nationally and internationally.