Doha, February 15 (QNA) - The 18th Qatar Robotics & AI Competition kicked off Sunday in Doha.

The contest is organized by the Ministry of Sports and Youth, represented by the Qatar Scientific Club (QSC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), buoyed by support from the Social & Sport Contribution Fund (DAAM).

Held at Lusail Multipurpose Hall, the two-day competition attracts participants from schools and universities, as well as members of youth centers, alongside those interested in cutting-edge technologies from across the nation.

The opening ceremony was attended by HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Yasir bin Abdullah Al Jamal, along with various department directors and ministry officials.

The tournament is part of QSC's commitment to deepening the culture of scientific and technological innovation among young people, as well as broadening new horizons before them to innovate in robotics, programming, and AI, thereby bolstering their competitive capabilities and keeping up with the rapid evolution the world is witnessing in the domains of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Director of the Youth Affairs Department at the Ministry of Sports and Youth, Fawaz Abdullah Al Musaifri, highlighted to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the ministry has always been keen to back such annual tournaments, as they generate strategic significance in the pursuit of Qatar's National Youth Policy, particularly in the domains of innovation and learning.

Al Musaifri commended the efforts of MoEHE and QSC for the terrific organization of this competition, adding that this year the tournament has undergone numerous updates, including incorporating new events for the first time, such as cybersecurity challenges, as well as advancing certain contests directed at school students, in addition to modernizing laws and games.

Winners of this edition will be nominated to represent the State of Qatar in Arab and international competitions in the future, Al Musaifri noted.

He highlighted that altering the name from Schools Robotics Championship to Qatar Robotics & AI Competition is part of the ministry's strategic plan, in alignment with the rapid development in software fields and training within innovation incubators in schools and QSC, buoyed by the participation of university students in some advanced-level competitions.

Head of the Technical, Scientific, and Judging Committee for the Championship, Fatima Al Mohannadi, told QNA that school and university students from both genders participate in this championship, with the number of participants surging to 2,500 students, 100 judging members, as well as over 100 trainers, while the number of participating schools reached 250 public and civil schools.

Al Mohannadi noted that this edition includes 18 various categories. The first day was marked by a substantial turnout from participants. In addition to holding preliminary rounds and accommodating all registered participants, the competition significantly contributes to discovering and nurturing talents, by dint of providing hands-on opportunities and structured mentorship.

Through this platform, QSC ensures the development of students' technical skills in robotics and AI, while fostering a spirit of competition, communication, and teamwork among them.

The competition primarily aims to advance participants' scientific, engineering, and innovative skills, encouraging analytical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork through tactile experiences that simulate real-world challenges in robot design and programming, as well as developing solutions based on AI-powered technologies.

It likewise seeks to identify and nurture promising national talents in this vital sector through a competitive environment and specialized scientific supervision.

The event is set to include a variety of contests and challenges, including autonomous robot design, intelligent systems programming, and technical simulation challenges, alongside innovative presentations and projects submitted by participants before panels of judges comprising experts, academics, and specialists in engineering and technology fields.

Entries will be evaluated based on precise criteria considering creativity, accuracy of execution, effectiveness of technical solutions, and the potential for further development and practical application.

The event is set to be punctuated by workshops alongside interactive sessions that aim to familiarize participants with state-of-the-art trends in robotics and AI, offering the opportunity for sharing expertise among students and specialists, thereby helping build a knowledge-based community capable of supporting the path of scientific research and innovation in the nation. (QNA)