Moldova launches its first national AI olympiad at Tekwill
Hundreds of students, teachers, and technology enthusiasts gathered at Tekwill Expo Day 2026, an event highlighting digital innovation. The exhibition featured the official launch of the country’s first National Artificial Intelligence Olympiad, where top young programmers competed to secure a spot at the global finals in Kazakhstan.
Innovative student projects
Aiming to mitigate environmental crises, several participants engineered intelligent solutions designed to combat climate change. Among them was Delia Maxim, a tenth-grade student at the Mihai Eminescu Theoretical High School in Chisinau.
"This is our Eco House project. We tried to represent the solar panels, the wind turbines. Thus, if we can look here, we have represented a rainwater drainage system, and then from the groundwater the water is pumped and filtered and then goes to the greenhouses, and then to the tanks where the flowers and vegetables are watered," says Delia Maxim.
Interactive science exhibits
Demonstrating core principles of physics and magnetism, organizers provided simplified, hands-on explanations for the general public. Tatiana Nichifor, development manager at a local science and curiosities park, presented a curated selection of interactive exhibits.
"We came here to show people how magnetism takes place. Every child, adult can interact and understand, meaning to test. Likewise we can show our air pump. For them to know Newton's law, to understand how it works, to understand how it can be applied in life," says Tatiana Nichifor.
Digital educational tools
Visitors tested an array of advanced equipment, ranging from virtual reality headsets and educational robots to drones and 3D printers. These tools stood at the forefront of the interactive display.
"We came with digital educational technologies, VR glasses, little robots of all kinds, circuits of all kinds, educational drones, 3D printers. At the entrance to the arena there is a wagon that simulates a fab lab which also has such technologies and where we present how they can be used in class to teachers, but also to curious students," mentions Victoria Belous, the director of CNIDE "Clasa Viitorului".
National AI milestone
The cornerstone of this year's edition remained the official debut of the Artificial Intelligence Olympiad. The competition establishes a formal framework for young Moldovan talents to assert themselves internationally.
"A day completely dedicated to education, educational skills, and educational projects, both in schools and in extracurricular programs. It is the first time we are organizing an official olympiad in artificial intelligence in the Republic of Moldova and the winners will go to Kazakhstan to represent our country," underlines Ana Chirița, event organizer.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
