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.
Check out the challenges & missions for NRC 2026!
Register your teams HERE for NRC 2026!
Registration closes
1 July, 3pm (OPEN Category)
8 July, 3pm (All Regular Categories & AIMS)
Competition Dates
| 17 August 2026 | 18 August 2026 | 19 August 2026 | 20 August 2026 |
|
Preschool Robot Run Day 1 |
Preschool Robot Run Day 2 Regular CAT Presentation: - Upper Primary |
Preschool Robot Run Day 3 Regular CAT Presentation: - Upper Primary |
Preschool Robot Run Day 4 Regular CAT Presentation: - Secondary |
| 24 August 2026 | 25 August 2026 | 26 August 2026 | 27 August 2026 | 28 August 2026 |
|
Preschool Presentation Day 1 |
Preschool Presentation Day 2 Regular CAT Robot Run: - Upper Primary |
Regular CAT Robot Run: - Upper Primary |
Regular CAT Robot Run: - Secondary |
OPEN Category Regular Category: - Presentation Finals |
Closing & Award Ceremony
1 September 2026
(More details such as timing and schedule will be shared closer to the date)
** Updated as of 20th May 2026
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).
Age:
Primary: 7-12 years old
Secondary: 12-17 years old
Tertiary: 16-19 years old
Team 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.
Age:
Primary: 7-12 years old
Secondary: 12-17 years old
Team 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 a given time frame.
There are no restrictions on the type of robot materials, but it must be self-powered.
| KUBO Challenge |
Age:
Pre-school: 5-6 years old
Team size: 2-5 students guided by max 2 coaches/teachers
Hardware: KUBO
Software: KUBO
Characteristics: A mission-based competition where children code and fabricate add-ons for a robot to solve missions on a playfield.
Please direct any other queries to NRC@science.edu.sg.
Organised by