The Romanian-American University, together with Google Romania and TotalSoft, Strategic Partners, is launching “High School Innovation Challenge” (HSIC), the first national AI and Business competition dedicated to innovative high school students. The initiative aims to support entrepreneurial spirit, critical thinking and the development of digital skills among young people, giving them the opportunity to turn ideas into projects with real-world applicability and impact.
The relevance of the project is also strengthened by the involvement of the local public administration in Bucharest. At its meeting on September 9, 2026, the Sector 1 Local Council approved a cooperation protocol with the Romanian-American University to support the “High School Innovation Challenge” educational program, 2026 edition. Through this protocol, high school students have free access to practical activities focused on artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and innovation. The program also places emphasis on critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, and the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence.
“For the Romanian-American University, High School Innovation Challenge is a concrete way to build, from high school onwards, bridges between education, technology and the world in which young people will work and create. At a time when artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way we learn and work, we believe it is essential for students not only to learn how to use technology, but also to understand it, put it at the service of ideas, and take responsibility for how they use it. The fact that this project is supported through a cooperation protocol approved by the Sector 1 Local Council and provides free access for students further strengthens its dimension as an educational initiative with public impact.” said Prof. univ. dr. habil. Costel Negricea, Rector of the Romanian-American University.
For Google Romania, involvement in the project supports the need to develop skills that go beyond the occasional use of artificial intelligence tools.
“The generations entering high school today will be the first to build and work in an economy where artificial intelligence will be a natural part of almost every field. That is why we believe AI education must go beyond tools and help young people ask the right questions: what problem do we want to solve, who are we building a solution for, what value can it bring, and what responsibilities do we take on when using this technology? High School Innovation Challenge creates exactly this space for experimentation and learning, where students can turn curiosity into ideas, and ideas into solutions with real potential.” said Elisabeta Moraru, Country Manager, Google Romania.
High School Innovation Challenge is aimed at students in grades 9 to 12, regardless of their field of study, who can register in teams of 2 to 5 members. No advanced programming experience is required. Participants will identify real problems in their communities or society and develop technology-based solutions, following a process from idea to prototype and, subsequently, toward a solution with implementation potential.
Throughout the eight-week competition, participants will receive guidance from faculty members of the Romanian-American University and mentors involved in the project. The process is structured into two main stages: “From Idea to Prototype”, taking place from October 5 to November 1, and “From Prototype to Startup”, from November 2 to 29. Students will work on market analysis, customer discovery, development of the first MVP, automation and AI agents, business strategy, costs and KPIs, while also benefiting from pitch sessions and feedback from mentors.
“Artificial intelligence will change not only the technology we use, but also the way companies, products and professions will be built in the coming years. For a technology company such as TotalSoft, innovation also means the responsibility to pass on the experience we have accumulated and to create contexts in which the new generation can experiment, build and learn directly from people who develop technology every day. Through High School Innovation Challenge, we want to offer young people more than access to AI: the confidence that they themselves can become creators of the next generation of technology-based solutions and businesses.” said Gorkem Tursucu, CEO of TotalSoft.
Through its involvement in High School Innovation Challenge, TotalSoft brings to the program the perspective of applied innovation in the business environment and its experience in developing software solutions used internationally. The company’s specialists will help students explore the possibilities offered by AI, automation and new software development models, and understand how technology can evolve from an experiment into a product with relevance for the economy and society.
In the final stage, selected teams will benefit from individual mentoring, product and business feedback, and 1:1 Pitch Coaching sessions. The grand final will take place on December 5, 2026, in the Aula Magna of the Romanian-American University, where finalists will present their projects to a jury made up of professors, entrepreneurs and experts.
In addition to the practical experience and mentoring provided by specialists, participants will receive certificates of participation, while the winning projects will receive technology prizes and the opportunity to join an international startup accelerator. Finalists will also have priority in educational programs and camps organized by the Romanian-American University for high school students.
The total value of the prizes provided by the organizers and program partners exceeds 65,000 euro, of which 45,000 euro are awarded as study scholarships, while more than 20,000 euro are offered in products and cash prizes.
Registration for High School Innovation Challenge is open until October 2, 2026, inclusive, and the competition will take place from October 5 to December 5, 2026.
More information about the competition and registration is available at liceeni.rau.ro.
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