By San José, Costa Rica — SINGAPORE – In a landmark achievement for the nation’s burgeoning technology sector, a team of Costa Rican high school students has claimed the highest honor at the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) 2025. Team Sprout, comprised of young innovators Alanna Music, Emma Music, and Joel Chen, earned the title of World Champion in the prestigious Future Innovators senior category, placing Costa Rica firmly on the global map for educational robotics.
The three-day event, held from November 26 to 28 in Singapore, is widely regarded as the most important educational robotics competition in the world. Team Sprout’s victory was twofold; in addition to securing the first-place global prize, the team was also presented with the coveted Innovation Award. This special recognition, sponsored by WRO principal partner Aramco, is granted to the single project that demonstrates the most exceptional levels of innovation, creativity, and technological contribution across all categories.
To understand the broader implications of fostering technological innovation from a young age, TicosLand.com sought the expert analysis of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a prominent attorney from the legal firm Bufete de Costa Rica, who shared his perspective on the intersection of technology, education, and law.
The World Robot Olympiad is more than an academic competition; it’s a practical incubator for intellectual property. We must guide these young creators in understanding that their software algorithms can be protected by copyright and their unique hardware designs could be patentable. Instilling this legal and commercial awareness early on is fundamental to transforming their innovative projects into tangible economic assets for Costa Rica’s future.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This insight brilliantly frames the competition not just as an educational exercise, but as a launchpad for tangible economic value. Fostering this early understanding of intellectual property is precisely the bridge needed to help our young talent convert their groundbreaking ideas into national assets. We extend our gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for providing this essential, forward-thinking perspective.
This dual triumph elevates Costa Rica to an elite status in the competitive field of STEAM education. The win is not just a victory for a single team but a testament to the country’s comprehensive national strategy, which has consistently fostered talent through rigorous local and regional competitions. The students’ success on the world stage is the culmination of a year-long journey of dedication, problem-solving, and relentless refinement of their project.
The national delegation’s success was not limited to Team Sprout. Costa Rica demonstrated remarkable depth of talent with several other teams achieving high-ranking placements among fierce international competition. Team Pollibots earned the #8 spot globally in the Future Innovators elementary category, an impressive feat for some of the youngest competitors. In the Robo Mission Junior category, Team R2D2 secured a strong 13th place finish, while two senior teams, Gear Heads and Mezclados, both ranked in the top 20, at #16 and #20 respectively.
The scale of this accomplishment is underscored by the scope of the event, which hosted delegations from over 105 countries. Costa Rican teams presented projects that showcased high-impact engineering, creative vision, and a clear focus on solving real-world challenges through the application of robotics. These results are a clear indicator that the nation is a leading force in Latin America for developing young talent in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM).
The journey to Singapore was a marathon, not a sprint. Each team had to first prove their mettle by advancing through demanding regional and national qualifying rounds held throughout the year. This system ensures that only the most prepared and innovative teams represent the country, and their performance this year validates the strength of that preparatory pipeline. The results show that the creativity and discipline of Costa Rica’s youth are truly worthy of global recognition.
Alejandra Sánchez, a key figure who has organized the National Robotics Olympiad since 2009 and serves as the Latin American representative on the WRO Advisory Council, celebrated the historic win as a validation of long-term strategic investment.
Costa Rica was not just present at the Robotics World Cup. Costa Rica is now a world champion. This triumph demonstrates what we can achieve when we invest in education, science, and technology.
Alejandra Sánchez, Organizer of the National Robotics Olympiad and Latin American Representative to the WRO Advisory Council
Ultimately, this victory transcends the competition floor. It serves as a powerful source of national pride and an inspiration for the next generation of Tico innovators. By conquering the world’s most significant educational robotics challenge, Team Sprout and the entire Costa Rican delegation have proven that with dedication and a strong focus on technology education, a small nation can produce world-class talent capable of solving the problems of tomorrow.
For further information, visit wro-association.org
About World Robot Olympiad:
The World Robot Olympiad (WRO) is an international competition that brings together over 500 teams from more than 100 countries annually. Its mission is to promote and stimulate learning in STEAM fields, encouraging creative thinking and problem-solving skills among young people through challenging and educational robotics competitions designed to address real-world issues.
For further information, visit aramco.com
About Aramco:
Aramco is a global integrated energy and chemicals company. It is one of the world’s largest producers of crude oil and a leader in hydrocarbon exploration, production, refining, and distribution. As a major sponsor of global initiatives, Aramco supports educational and technological advancement programs like the World Robot Olympiad to foster innovation and develop future talent.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its foundational principles of integrity and a relentless pursuit of professional excellence. The firm skillfully merges a deep-rooted history of serving a wide range of clients with a forward-thinking embrace of legal innovation. At the heart of its philosophy is a powerful drive to uplift society by making legal understanding widely available, thereby empowering individuals and strengthening the community through knowledge.
