Aragón will host the first National Championship of AWS DeepRacer, an innovative competition aimed at encouraging STEM careers among Spanish students through mobility challenges involving autonomous cars. The initiative, launched by the Regional Minister of Education, Science, and Universities, Carmen Susín, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the Academy of Inventors, will culminate in a grand final in Aragón.
Announcement and Context of the Championship
The announcement of the championship was made at the AWS Summit Madrid, where Carmen Susín emphasized the importance of this event for developing skills in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning among young people. The event, held at IFEMA, attracted around 15,000 visitors and also featured Eva Valle, Minister of Economy, Competitiveness, and Employment. Both authorities explored the latest technological innovations presented by AWS.
The competition, which will be held for the first time in Spain, aims to involve students aged 14 and older, allowing them to gain hands-on experience with autonomous car technology. The national final of the championship will be held in Aragón, consolidating its position as a leader in educational innovation.
Objectives and Organizing Entities
The championship is a collaboration between AWS, the Government of Aragón, and the Academy of Inventors, aimed at democratizing access to technology and fostering STEM careers. Carmen Susín stressed that the project will allow students to move from «hearing about AI» to directly experiencing it, applying a «learning by doing» methodology.
Participation will be free for all educational institutions, with no prior experience in AI required. This accessibility aims to ensure equal opportunities across the territory, promoting technological careers regardless of the geographical location of the participants.
Participants, Categories, and Development of the Competition
The championship is open to students throughout Spain, with two categories based on age and educational level: one for students aged 14 to 18 and another for those over 18. Participants will train autonomous driving models to compete in virtual and physical circuits.
The tournament will begin with a virtual qualifying phase, followed by regional finals in each community. The grand national final, to be held in Aragón, will gather the best teams in the country for an in-person event featuring 1/18 scale cars.
Interested institutions can register through the Academy of Inventors’ platform, the entity responsible for the technical coordination of the championship. This competition is part of AWS Futuro IA, a coalition aiming to integrate technological skills into education.
With this championship, Aragón positions itself as a hub for technological talent, bringing technology that is both current and future into the classroom. Minister Susín invites all educational institutions to participate, assuring that the best teams will be welcomed at the grand final next academic year.
