Press Release
High School Innovation Challenge Brings Together 1,560 Romanian High School Students in a National AI and Business Competition
449 teams from 188 high schools, representing 36 counties, are taking part in the first edition of the competition organized by the Romanian-American University, together with Google Romania and TotalSoft.
The first edition of the national High School Innovation Challenge (HSIC), organized by the Romanian-American University together with Google Romania and TotalSoft, has attracted 1,560 high school students, organized into 449 teams from 188 high schools. Participants come from 36 counties and 64 localities across Romania, confirming the growing interest among young people in artificial intelligence, technology and entrepreneurship.
Of the 1,560 participants, 48% come from outside Bucharest, while 71% are 10th- and 11th-grade students. The competition has brought together students from all types of high schools, including national colleges, theoretical high schools, technological and vocational schools, as well as private and international schools. Another indicator of the collaborative spirit encouraged by HSIC is the participation of 54 interdisciplinary teams, made up of students from two or more high schools, sometimes from different localities.
Teachers, The Main Drivers of Competition Participation in High Schools
Registration data highlight the essential role teachers play in engaging students and promoting educational opportunities. Recommendations from teachers and high school representatives were the main source of information through which participants learned about HSIC, followed by recommendations from classmates and friends.
The program also benefits from the support of local public administration through the cooperation agreement between the Romanian-American University and the Local Council of Sector 1, approved at its meeting on September 9, 2026. A total of 125 teams from high schools in Bucharest’s Sector 1 have registered for the competition.
Participation in the competition involves more than developing a technological idea. Throughout the eight-week program, students work alongside Romanian-American University faculty members and mentors with experience in technology and business, following a hands-on process that takes them from identifying a real-world problem and developing a prototype to validating a solution and building a business model.
From Prototype to Startup: The Competition Enters Its Second Stage
Following the first stage, held under the theme “Discover & Build”, participants have moved on to the second stage of the program, “Validate & Pitch”, which runs from November 2 to 29.
Students are exploring concepts such as AI agents, business models, cost structures and key performance indicators (KPIs), benefiting from practical sessions, mentoring and feedback from the specialists involved in the program.
The Semifinal will take place on November 26, when the 10 finalist teams will be selected. They will benefit from individual mentoring and presentation coaching sessions before taking part in the Grand Final on December 5, hosted in the Aula Magna of the Romanian-American University. The teams will deliver their pitches in English before a jury comprising academics, entrepreneurs and experts.
The total value of the prizes announced for this edition exceeds EUR 65,000, including EUR 45,000 in study scholarships and more than EUR 20,000 in products and cash prizes. The winning projects will also have the opportunity to join an international startup accelerator in the United Kingdom.
Igodemy, Supporting Innovation and Digital Transformation in Education
High School Innovation Challenge is supported by Igodemy, an educational platform specializing in innovative learning experiences. Together, the Romanian-American University and Igodemy develop and implement digital solutions designed to facilitate students’ access to relevant, modern and future-oriented education.
As part of HSIC, the collaboration has included the development of two dedicated digital tools that support the management and evaluation of the competition: a platform for registering and organizing projects, with built-in project analysis features, and a judging application designed for the mentors involved in evaluating the projects.
Both solutions were developed specifically for HSIC and enable the structured management of a large volume of registrations and projects, as well as their analysis and scoring based on established evaluation criteria. The judging application helps streamline the evaluation process and reduce the risk of calculation errors or overlooked criteria.
Strategic Partners for the Future of Education
As a Strategic Partner, Google Romania contributes its expertise and perspective in artificial intelligence and innovation, supporting the development of the skills future generations need to understand and use emerging technologies responsibly.
TotalSoft, also a Strategic Partner, brings its experience in software development and digital transformation to the program, offering students practical insight into how technology, automation and artificial intelligence can generate real solutions and opportunities in the business environment.
A Program Open to Collaboration with the Business and Technology Communities
The results of the first edition confirm HSIC’s potential to become a platform for collaboration between education, technology and the business environment, offering companies the opportunity to contribute directly to developing the skills of future generations.
The Romanian-American University aims to expand the program’s partner community and invites companies, organizations and professionals interested in education, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship to join the initiative. Their involvement can take various forms, from mentoring and specialist expertise to supporting student projects and developing new opportunities for participants.
Through HSIC, the Romanian-American University aims to create an environment in which high school students are not merely users of technology, but become creators of solutions, learning to identify real-world problems and turn their ideas into projects with practical potential.
More information about the competition and registration is available at liceeni.rau.ro.
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About the Romanian-American University
The Romanian-American University is a private, non-profit institution of higher education of public interest, recognized for its academic excellence and its constant support offered to students in their professional and personal development. The Romanian-American University is one of the top-performing private higher education institutions in our country, with over 50,000 graduates across its 35 years of activity. The university offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in fields such as international business, law, finance and accounting, management, computer science, tourism, sports and physical therapy, psychology and educational sciences, and, starting in 2026, general nursing and architecture. Through its international focus, academic partnerships, and collaboration with the professional environment, the Romanian-American University aims to provide students with a relevant education connected to professional realities and societal needs. Information regarding the educational offer, benefits, and admissions calendar is available at www.rau.ro.
About Google
Google is a global technology company that develops products and services designed to organize information and make it universally accessible and useful. Through its education programs and partnerships, Google supports the development of digital skills and prepares new generations for the opportunities of a technology-driven economy.
About TotalSoft
TotalSoft is a global digital transformation provider with over 30 years of experience and solutions implemented for more than 1,000 clients across 40 countries. The company developed the Charisma software suite, used to digitize and automate essential business processes—from ERP and human resource management to financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, supply chain, and retail. The Charisma suite connects data, systems, and processes into a unified platform, integrating AI for operational automation, planning, and real-time decision-making. Today, more than one million users carry out their daily work on TotalSoft platforms.
