SINGAPORE, Nov. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Robot Olympiad International Final 2025 officially opened on Wednesday at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre.
Young Minds Shaping The Future
This year's theme "The Future of Robots," explores how robotics can help address global challenges and improve lives with solutions in areas such as sustainability, health, accessibility and more. Close to 600 teams will compete across four categories — RoboMission, RoboSports, Future Innovators, and Future Engineers — showcasing creative solutions to real-world problems through hands-on robotics challenges.
These teams have advanced to the WRO International Finals through local and national competitions throughout 2025. The global competition will culminate in a closing ceremony on 28 November 2025, when winners across all categories will be announced.
More Students Choose Robotics
Participation in WRO is on the rise. The 2025 season saw a 14% lift in official participants, increasing from 24,577 teams in 2024 to 27,920 teams worldwide in 2025. Overall growth reaches 20% when including starter projects designed to make robotics and STEM education fun and accessible for beginners.
"Robotics education is about fostering the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers, so I am very pleased to see this growing traction," said Claus Ditlev Christensen, Secretary General of the World Robot Olympiad Association. "Part of this success comes from WRO's entry-level robotics initiatives, such as RoboStarter. This year, we have given more than 14,000 students a friendly, flexible, and low-pressure introduction to robotics."
Another initiative with significant potential is the free global learning platform WRO Learn, which connects and amplifies WRO's many teaching efforts across its international network.
Expanding Access to Robotics and STEM Education
"WRO brings together bright young minds from around the world and highlights how young people can use technology to make a difference," said Ms Lynette Tan, CEO of Space Faculty, the national organizer for the WRO in Singapore and host for the WRO 2025 International Final. "Seeing the championship return to the birthplace of WRO marks a full-circle moment for us, and we are proud to host the International Finals. It cements Singapore's position as a leading hub for innovation and STEM education, and inspires the next generation of innovators and problem solvers."
During the WRO 2025 International Final there is also a special feature organized by Space Faculty, called Expand Space — a future-focused zone that brings together visionary ideas, new partnerships and cross-industry inspiration across Space, Robotics and AI.
The three-day event will conclude with a closing ceremony on 28 November 2025, where winners across all categories will be announced, partner prizes awarded, and the host country for the 2026 WRO International Final revealed.
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Singapore Hosts Record-Breaking World Robot Olympiad (WRO®) International Final 2025
- Signs contract with HMM's U.S. subsidiary, Washington United Terminals, to supply four port cranes
- Award reflects HD Hyundai Samho's design and manufacturing expertise, deep understanding of U.S. port operations and strong customer trust
- "We will support the MASGA project through the development of eco-friendly, high-efficiency port equipment"
SEOUL, South Korea, July 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- HD Hyundai shared on Saturday, July 25, that it recently signed a contract with Washington United Terminals Inc. (WUT) to supply four port cranes.
HD Hyundai Samho, a shipbuilding subsidiary of HD Hyundai, is now launching the Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation initiative, known as the MASGA (Make American Shipbuilding Great Again) project, through its entry into the U.S. port crane market.
The contract was signed as part of a terminal modernization project to replace aging cranes at WUT, the U.S. subsidiary of HMM, South Korea's largest shipping company, and expand the terminal's capacity to accommodate larger container vessels.
WUT currently operates eight quay cranes at the Port of Tacoma, four of which were supplied by HD Hyundai Samho in 1999. The project involves replacing two aging quay cranes with new cranes and adding two new yard cranes. Through the project, both companies expect to enhance port cargo-handling capabilities, expand capacity for larger vessels, and improve operational reliability.
Under the agreement, HD Hyundai Samho will carry out the entire project on a turnkey basis, including the design, manufacturing, transportation, installation, and commissioning of two quay cranes and two yard cranes, with all equipment scheduled for delivery by 2028.
The order reflects HD Hyundai Samho's advanced design and manufacturing capabilities, as well as its understanding of U.S. port operations and the trust it has built with customers. Since 1985, HD Hyundai Samho has supplied a total of twenty port cranes to major ports across the United States.
With growing emphasis from the U.S. government and industry on port supply chain resilience and security, Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation through the MASGA project is expected to continue expanding. This order is expected to further strengthen HD Hyundai Samho's business foothold in the United States.
"The port crane order for the Port of Tacoma is a meaningful achievement that reflects the recognition of our technological expertise and quality competitiveness, built through a wide range of domestic and international projects," an HD Hyundai Samho official said. "Going forward, we will support the MASGA project through the development of eco-friendly, high-efficiency port equipment."
Meanwhile, HD Hyundai Chairman Chung Kisun met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in May last year to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between South Korea and the United States in the shipbuilding industry. During the meeting, Chung introduced HD Hyundai Samho's crane manufacturing capabilities and proposed areas for collaboration.
- Quay Crane: A crane used to load and unload containers to and from vessels berthed at the port.
- Yard Crane: A crane used to load and unload containers onto and off vehicles within the terminal yard.
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HD Hyundai Samho Secures Order for Four Port Cranes at Port of Tacoma, Advancing MASGA Project
