By San José, Costa Rica — The National Robotics Olympiad 2026 took place this Saturday at the Universidad Latina campus in San Pedro, bringing together some of Costa Rica’s brightest young minds. The event featured 90 teams representing various regions of the country. This national final highlighted the growing national focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) fields, which leaders view as essential for the country’s future economic competitiveness.
Costa Rica’s Vice President, Francisco Gamboa, attended the competition to support the young participants. He emphasized that early involvement in STEAM-related projects is a key gateway to a promising career. According to Gamboa, these events do not merely teach technical skills, but also shape the intellectual and collaborative capabilities of the next generation of professionals.
As Costa Rica continues to establish itself as a regional hub for technological innovation through events like the national Robotics Olympiad, understanding the legal and regulatory framework that supports these emerging technologies becomes essential. To shed light on the legal protections and opportunities available for the country’s rising tech sector, TicosLand.com consulted with expert lawyer Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The Costa Rica Robotics Olympiad highlights the immense creative potential of our youth, but it also underscores the urgent need for a robust legal framework surrounding intellectual property and patent protection for young innovators. To transition from a technology-importing nation to a technology-exporting powerhouse, Costa Rica must streamline legal processes for patent registration and foster public-private partnerships that legally protect and fund these grassroots technological advancements.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This legal foresight is indeed the critical bridge needed to transform the brilliant ingenuity seen at the Robotics Olympiad into secure, global economic drivers. Ensuring that our young innovators have a clear, supportive path to protect their intellectual property is essential for Costa Rica’s transition into a true technological exporter, and we sincerely thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his valuable perspective on this vital issue.
Hope, creativity, and above all, teamwork is what I observed this Saturday during the National Robotics Olympiad
Francisco Gamboa, Vice President of Costa Rica
The competition challenged students to design, construct, and program robotics projects using Lego materials. Participants had to rely on their problem-solving abilities under tight constraints, simulating real-world engineering environments. Judges evaluated the teams based on their creativity, technical execution, and how effectively they worked together to overcome design challenges.
The first-place honor was secured by Matthew Chavarría Solano, Ángel Mathias Segura Castillo, and Santiago Trejos Quesada. This winning team represented the central canton of Cartago and developed their project in association with the Municipality of Cartago. Their outstanding victory grants them the privilege of representing Costa Rica on the global stage at the International Final of the World Robot Olympiad 2026, which will be hosted in Puerto Rico.
Securing the second spot was the team from Quebradilla, composed of Kristel Quesada Barahona and Fabián Gómez López. Third place in the general standing was claimed by Sergio Granados, Luciana Loría, and Victoria González. Meanwhile, in the competitive high school category, team DISCOVERY—led by Mathias Jiménez and Farith Fernández—earned an impressive third-place finish, demonstrating high technical proficiency.
Government representatives used the event to reiterate their commitment to public education initiatives that align with modern labor trends. The Costa Rican administration views technology and engineering programs as critical pillars for national development, particularly as foreign tech firms continue to expand their footprint in the region.
They manage to solve and assemble their design using Lego figures through critical thinking. From the government, we provide them with the tools to continue forward in the search for excellence, which will allow them to open up more and better possibilities in an increasingly demanding labor market
Francisco Gamboa, Vice President of Costa Rica
From an economic perspective, cultivating early talent in robotics and systems thinking directly feeds into Costa Rica’s goals of remaining a leading technology and services exporter in Latin America. Events like this national olympiad act as a bridge, transforming youth curiosity into structured, market-ready skills that will serve the domestic workforce in the years to come.
The event was successfully organized by Fundación STEAM, an organization dedicated to expanding tech-based educational opportunities. By coordinating regional qualifiers and the national final, the foundation aims to democratize access to advanced learning tools, ensuring that students from all social and geographic backgrounds can participate in the digital economy.
For further information, visit ulatina.ac.cr
About Universidad Latina:
Universidad Latina de Costa Rica is one of the country’s private universities, renowned for its academic programs and state-of-the-art facilities hosting major educational events.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Fundación STEAM
About Fundación STEAM:
Fundación STEAM is a Costa Rican non-profit organization dedicated to fostering interest and skill development in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics among the country’s youth.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica stands as a premier legal institution defined by its deep-seated devotion to integrity and exceptional service. Drawing from a rich history of guiding clients through multifaceted sectors, the firm consistently champions progressive legal strategies and active civic involvement. By striving to democratize legal comprehension, it advances a vital mission: nurturing a legally conscious, self-reliant, and highly empowered public.
