FlagshipTo be confirmed
RoboSumo
Robot sumo
Two robots face off in a circular ring. The one that pushes its opponent out wins. Several weight and size classes.
- Age
- ages 6–18
- Team
- to be confirmed
3rd national championship · 2027
Build a robot.Beat the best.Represent Kazakhstan.
AstanaTechCup is Kazakhstan's national technology championship for school and university students. Six disciplines, teams from every region of the country, and a place at the international RobotChallenge for the winners.
- Championship dates
- 15–16 May
- Venue
- Astana · L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University
Organiser
Co-organiser
The championship in numbers
- ~2500
- participants
- 720
- teams
- 17
- regions of Kazakhstan
- 3
- third edition
Figures from the previous championship, held at L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University.
Flagship discipline
RoboSumo
Two robots. A ring less than a metre across. Whoever leaves it first loses.
The most spectacular discipline of the championship, and the easiest one for a newcomer to grasp: the rules take a minute to explain, and winning comes down to engineering rather than budget. Several weight and size classes run in parallel, from simple builds for beginners to autonomous machines fielded by experienced teams.
Enter RoboSumoAge categories, team size and weight classes will be confirmed in the regulations.
Rules in a minute
Push your opponent out of the ring. Everything else is regulation detail.
A class for everyone
Size and weight classes mean a first-timer and a seasoned team never meet in the same bracket.
A crowd-puller
Bouts run over several rounds and draw the largest audience of the championship.
Disciplines
Six disciplines — pick yours
Each discipline has its own age categories and team size. Full technical requirements are in the championship regulations.
VEX
Competitive robotics
The international VEX Robotics platform: build, program and drive a robot as a team to complete this season's game challenges.
- Age
- ages 9–15
- Team
- up to 4 participants
LEGO
A first step into robotics
Building and programming robots on the LEGO platform. The best starting point for younger students and anyone trying competition for the first time.
- Age
- ages 6–18
- Team
- up to 3 participants
Arduino
Electronics and circuit design
Building microcontroller devices: your own circuit, soldering, sensors and code. For anyone who wants to understand how it all works underneath.
- Age
- ages 6–18
- Team
- up to 3 participants
Drones
Piloting and autonomous flight
Course racing, precision piloting and autonomous flight tasks. Reaction speed plus solid engineering on the airframe.
- Age
- ages 6–18
- Team
- up to 3 participants
Esports
Team competition
Team esports tournaments with a group stage and play-offs. The largest teams in the championship.
- Age
- ages 6–18
- Team
- up to 6 participants
The regulations will be published before entries open.
Your route
From entry to podium — seven steps
No hidden stages. You always know what comes next and what to prepare.
Step 1
Entry
Register your team in your chosen discipline and pay the entry fee. It takes a few minutes.
Step 2
Confirmation
The organising committee checks your team's details and emails you confirmation along with the discipline regulations.
Step 3
Preparation
Build your robot and write your program to the regulations. Answers to technical questions and breakdowns of previous seasons are published before the start.
Step 4
Technical inspection
On site, judges check your robot against the regulations: dimensions, weight, safety. Minor issues can be fixed within a grace period.
Step 5
Qualifying
Qualifying runs and bouts within your category. The result sets your position in the bracket.
Step 6
Final
Decisive bouts in every category, in front of the hall and the judging panel.
Step 7
Awards
Diplomas, medals and prizes. The strongest robotics teams get their shot at a place in Beijing.
Awards
The top prize isn't a trophy
Winners of the robotics disciplines earn the chance to represent Kazakhstan at the international RobotChallenge.
RobotChallenge · Beijing
Final — August 2027
The international stage takes place in Beijing. For championship teams it is a direct route to the world stage and opponents from dozens of countries.
Medals and trophies
For the podium in every category of every discipline.
Diplomas and certificates
A certificate for every participant, and letters of commendation for the schools and clubs that prepared teams.
Special awards
Separate prizes for unconventional engineering and standout results.
Prizes
Winners and runners-up receive commemorative and valuable prizes from the organisers and partners.
Who it's for
Choose your role
The championship is more than the teams on the floor. Find the route that fits you.
Competitor
A school or university student ready to compete. Put a team together and pick your discipline.
Register a teamParent
Want to enter your child but not sure where to start? Answers to the common questions about cost, travel and the level required.
Questions from parentsTeacher or club
Preparing several teams from a school or club? Register them and receive a commendation for your organisation.
Enter as an organisationSpectator
Come and watch. Admission details and the bout schedule are published shortly before the championship.
Plan your visitVolunteer
Help us run the championship: team registration, judging support, looking after guests.
Become a volunteerSponsor or partner
Thousands of participants, their families and their teachers across the country. Let's talk about partnership formats.
Request a proposalPress
Accreditation, photo and video material, and comment from the organisers.
Request accreditation
Registration
Enter your team
Fill in the form, pay the entry fee, and your team is on the list.
Frequently asked
Answered in advance
The things competitors, parents and teachers ask us most.
Didn't find your answer?
Write to the organising committee and we'll reply.
What does it cost to take part?
The entry fee is 50 USD per team, not per person. It covers participation in every stage of your chosen discipline, certificates and access to the venue. Everything else — travel, accommodation and building your robot — the team plans for itself.
We're from another region. How do we get there?
The championship is held in Astana. Teams usually plan to arrive the day before so they can get through technical inspection without rushing. The exact venue address, directions and recommended arrival time are sent to confirmed teams along with the regulations.
Is there help with accommodation for teams from out of town?
Accommodation is being confirmed with the organising committee. Mention it when you submit your entry, with your city and the number of people, and we'll suggest options near the venue and tell you whether any special rates apply for teams.
We've never competed before. Should we still enter?
Yes. The championship is open to teams at any level, from students building their first robot to experienced university teams. Every discipline has age categories, and RoboSumo adds weight classes on top, so beginners never face champions.
Where can we read the rules and technical requirements?
The full regulations are published before entries open and can be downloaded from this page. They cover robot dimensions and weight, permitted components, the format of bouts, and the judging criteria for each discipline.
How are teams selected for the international stage?
Places at RobotChallenge go to the strongest robotics teams based on the final. The selection criteria and the number of places are published in the regulations before the championship begins — nothing is decided behind closed doors afterwards.
Can we change the team line-up after entering?
Yes. Until entries close, changes are made by writing to the organising committee with your reference. After the deadline, substitutions are considered individually and only for good reason.
What if our team can't make it?
Let the organising committee know as early as you can, quoting your reference. The refund terms for the entry fee, and whether the place can be passed to another team from your organisation, are set out in the terms of participation.
Do we need to bring our own equipment?
Yes. Teams bring their own robot, tools and spare parts. There is a pit area at the venue with workbenches and power; what the organiser provides is listed in each discipline's regulations.
When is the entry deadline?
30 April 2027, inclusive. We'd suggest not leaving it late: places in some categories are limited, and no entries are accepted after the deadline.
Last time out
Last season's championship
720 teams, six arenas and two days of competition.
Photos and video from previous championships will be published here.
Behind the championship
Organisers and partners
Organiser
Co-organiser
Partners
Partner logos will be published here.
Become a partner
The championship brings together thousands of school and university students, their parents and their teachers from across the country. We're happy to discuss partnership formats, from backing a single discipline to headline partnership.
Get in touch
Organising committee
We'll answer questions about registration, the regulations and partnership.
Contact details for the organising committee will be published here.