The Paraguayan Spark UPSP Team claimed two trophies in the VEX U university category of the International Robotics and STEM Skills Championship 2025-2026 in Mexico. The Paraguayan students won the Tournament Championship and the Driver Skills Championship. Their victory in the Driver Skills category has earned them qualification for the VEX Robotics World Championship, to be held in Saint Louis, Missouri in 2026 and 2027.
Another team representing Paraguay, team Kressbot, from “Heinfried Wolfgang Kress” Básic School, won on the VEX IQ Middle School category. Standing out as a leading team, formed by five students from 14 and 15 years old, they also secured second place on the full competition’s podium.
The International Robotics Championship
From 26 to 28 of November 2025, robotics enthusiastic competitors reunited in Playa del Carment, México for the Campeonato Internacional de Robótica y Habilidades STEM 2025-2026, an international competition for bright young minds interested in STEM sciences, and inspired by programming and strategy.
This competition provided Paraguay with yet another opportunity to showcase the exceptional talent of its two outstanding teams, competing amongst 130 teams from various countries like China, the United States, Taiwan, Mexico, Uganda, and Paraguay.
Spark UPSP Team for the win
Through their hardworking performance in Driver Skills category, the Spark UPSP Team from Luque also accomplished their goal of being positioned third in the worldwide ranking of robotics teams.
Team coach Miguel Santin, guided the team represented by three competitors from different Paraguayan universities. With Maximiliano Santini, Micaela Cubilla and Mateo López, only half of UPSP members were able to participate: the team is in search of sponsors who can help their participation in the VEX Robotics World Championship in 2026.
Mateo López, who has been preparing with the team since May, shared his excitement for this new experience, competing against nearly 30 teams: “This was a good opportunity to showcase Paraguayan talent.”
Happy to help
The outstanding UPSP performance inspired other participants and coaches to ask for their help, and opinions in areas such as programming or machinery used.
“A small alliance formed between Latin Americans, teams from Paraguay and México. Since we were ranked high, we were asked questions such as how could others improve their code, what strategies we use to implement in our robot, and how to improve teamwork dynamic and organisation. We enjoyed giving strategy and engineering advice.”
An invitation well earned
Representatives from UC Berkley invited the team to participate in another VEX Worlds Championship and Artificial Intelligence at UC Berkley, in California, being held on 12 and 13 June 2026.
The Spark UPSP Team also competes in tournaments from Paraguay’s National Robotics League, organised by ReEduca. Since 2015, ReEduca has been boosting STEM initiatives in Paraguay for young students to access these opportunities in technology. Follow the Spark UPSP Team on Instagram.
Earlier this year, in a remarkable display of ingenuity, Paraguay’s UPSP1 robotics team clinched three prestigious awards and a top-fourth global ranking at the 2025 VEX Robotics Tournament in Dallas, Texas.
