Students in grades 5-12 are invited to turn ideas into solutions and help shape positive change in their communities. Registration for the National Project Competition“STEAMˣ – Ideas in Motion” is open until 5 November 2026.

The competition is designed for teams of students and teacher-mentors, who will work over seven months to develop creative solutions to challenges faced by their schools, communities, or society. Starting from a real-life problem, participants will design, build, and test a solution that integrates at least three STEAM disciplines: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. Projects may take the form of prototypes, functional models, applications, automated systems, or experimental designs.

Projects that transform everyday challenges into practical solutions with tangible impact on schools, communities, and society are particularly encouraged in areas such as:

• Energy, climate, and the environment;
• Water and natural resources;
• Smart schools and communities;
• Health and well-being;
• Agriculture, nutrition, and bio-innovation.

Each team must consist of 3-5 students and be guided by 1 or 2 teacher-mentors. Depending on participants’ age, teams will compete in one of two categories: Junior (Grades 5-9), Senior (Grades 10-12). Schools are encouraged to form mixed teams that provide equal opportunities for girls and boys. Participation is free of charge.

Throughout the programme, teams will benefit from training sessions, expert mentoring, and material support for project development. The experience will conclude in May 2027 with the National STEAM Exhibition, where participants will showcase their solutions and results. The jury will award prizes in each category, as well as special distinctions for innovation, community impact, sustainability, and science communication.

Teams willing to participate are invited to register through the application form. The deadline for entering the contest is 5 November 2026.

More information about eligibility, the competition timeline, and evaluation criteria is available in the Competition Regulation.

The competition is organized by UNDP Moldova, with financial support from the Government of Norway, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research and the National Centre for Digital Innovations in Education “Future Classroom”. The initiative is part of the project “Transforming education in Moldova through Model Schools” and aims to develop 21st-century skills, foster collaboration, and bring learning closer to the real-world challenges we face.