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About NRC
Since 1999, Science Centre Singapore has been organising The National Robotics Competition (NRC) with support from the Ministry of Education, various partners and sponsors. To date, the competition has attracted more than 68,000 participants and 250,000 supporters.
NRC spurs interest and innovation offering students an opportunity to apply what they learnt in school and experience STEM hands-on through interactive and meaningful experiences. In the process, students develop skills such as problem solving, entrepreneurial
dare, creative thinking and team spirit.
This year's NRC will be held from 23 August 2025 to 13 September
2025, at Science Centre Singapore.
For further enquires, kindly email to NRC@science.edu.sg.
What is NRC? Click here to watch our video highlights from 2024!
NRC 2025
Registration for NRC2025 is now opened till 11 July 2025, 5pm. The registration fee for a team is $30, inclusive of 9% GST.
In addition, there will be early bird discount of $10 off for teams that register on or before 30 May 2025, 5pm. Click HERE to register now!
Challenge Schedule
Key Dates
| Registrations | 24 March - 11 July |
| Release of Challenge Booklet | Mid April |
| Challenge Announcement Webinar | 15 and 16 April |
| Online Challenge Consultations | 10 and 24 July |
| Trial Playfields | Mid July till Early August |
| Competition Period | 23 August - 13 September |
| Award Ceremony | 13 September |
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NRC Regular Category
Age (Hardware):
Lower Primary: 7-9 years old (SPIKE ESSENTIAL/WeDo 2.0)
Upper Primary: 10-12 years old (SPIKE PRIME/EV3/ROBOT INVENTOR)
Secondary: 13-17 years old (inclusive of Secondary 5) (SPIKE PRIME/EV3/ROBOT INVENTOR)
Tertiary: 17-20 years old (LEGO Education/ MATRIX Robotics/ Makeblock/ TETRIX Robotics)Team size: 2-3 people guided by a coach/mentor
Hardware: LEGO® based
Software: Free choice
Maximum size: Max. 25 x 25 x 25 cm
Characteristics: Build and program a robot that solves challenges on a field.
NRC Regular Category is a challenge-based competition. Students must design, construct and program an autonomous robot that can solve specific challenges on a field. Because the field is set up randomly each round, the robot needs to be able to make its own decisions during the run.
All parts of the robot, including controller, motors and sensors must be from LEGO® (MINDSTORMS® NXT or EV3, SPIKE PRIME or ROBOT INVENTOR).
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NRC Open Category
Age:
Primary: 7-12 years old
Secondary: 12-17 years old
Tertiary: 16-19 years oldTeam size: 2-3 people guided by a coach/ mentor
Hardware: Free choice
Software: Free choice
Maximum size: Must fit in 2m (wide) x 2m (length) booth
Characteristics: Develop a robot project that helps solve real world problems.
NRC Open Category is a project-based competition. Students create their own innovative intelligent robotics solution relating to the current theme of the season. There is no restriction on the use of materials. This includes free choice of controllers, motors, sensors, etc.
Teams will present their project and their robot model to a group of judges on the competition day. The judges will not only grade the robot solution but will also look at aspects of innovation and entrepreneurship.
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NRC AI Maker Series
Age:
Primary: 7-12 years old
Secondary: 12-17 years oldTeam size: 2-3 students guided by a coach/ mentor
Hardware: Free choice
Software: Free choice (for Primary school category, only robots that minimally run on block-based coding platforms)
Maximum size: 25 x 25 cm (No height limit)
Characteristics: Teams are to design an Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Learning (ML) model for your robot to finish the challenge. The robot is required to complete as many rounds as possible around the track while detecting the mission cards within 2 minutes.
There are no restrictions on the type of robot materials, but it must be self-powered.
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NRC Pre-school
KUBO Challenge Age:
Pre-school: 5-6 years old
Team size: 2-5 students guided by max 2 coaches/mentors
Hardware: KUBO
Software: KUBO
Characteristics:
NRC (Preschool) Kubo Resources
ARTec Challenge Age:
Pre-school: 5-6 years old
Team size: 2-5 students guided by max 2 coaches/mentors
Hardware: ARTec Coding+ Set
Software: ARTec Icon Programming
Characteristics: In this edition of the ARTec Robotics (Preschool) in NRC, children will build and code the robots to perform different missions and solve problems. They are also required to think critically and work as a team as they complete the missions.
For any enquiries regarding this category, please email enquiries@wow.com.sg -
NRC CoSpace Robot Challenge
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NRC Smorphi
NRC Smorphi Autonomous Challenge Age:
Upper Primary: 10 – 12 years old
Secondary: 13 – 17 years old
Senior: 16 years and aboveTeam size: 4 to 5 members guided by a coach/mentor
Software: Free Choice
Hardware: Smorphi line of robots
Maximum Size: Max 40cm X 40cm X 40cm in square form
Characteristics:Build and program a robot that can achieve maximum area coverage in a given layout setting.
NRC Smorphi Autonomous Challenge Category is a team-based Competition. Students must design, construct and program the Smorphi robots to autonomously achieve a maximum area coverage in a given layout. Only Smorphi line of robots can be used for the competition.
NRC Smorphi Pilot Challenge Age:
Upper Primary: 10 – 12 years old
Secondary: 13 – 17 years old
Senior: 16 years and aboveTeam size: 4 to 5 members guided by a coach/mentor
Software: Free Choice
Hardware: Smorphi line of robots
Maximum Size: Max 40cm X 40cm X 40cm in square form
Characteristics:Build and program a robot that can achieve maximum area coverage in a given layout setting.
Under the NRC Smorphi Pilot Challenge Category, teams must build and program their Smorphi robot to be controlled wirelessly. One student from the team must pilot the robot towards achieving a maximum area coverage in a given layout setting. Only Smorphi line of robots can be used for the competition.
NRC Smorphi Imaginary Challenge Age:
Secondary: 13 – 17 years old -
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Please direct any other queries to NRC@science.edu.sg or contact us at +65 64252582.
