HERO – Hellenic Educational Robotics Organization

• September 30, 2025
• admin

In Greece, educational technologies and robotics have flourished in recent years.

HERO – Hellenic Educational Robotics Organization is a dynamic non-profit organisation based in Heraklion, Crete, which leads the development and dissemination of educational robotics and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) technologies in Greece and internationally.

The object of H.E.R.O. is the organization of Global Robotics Competitions, as well as non-profit actions, exhibitions, festivals, etc. in the field of Educational Robotics, New Technologies and STEAM.

Background and Mission

HERO was founded in 2021 by people with a passion for robotics aiming at the proper development and dissemination of educational robotics, engineering, programming and related sciences in Greece. The headquarters of the organisation are in Heraklion, Crete, with members, friends and partners from all over Greece and abroad. The organization works primarily with volunteers, with an emphasis on collective effort, creativity, and the inclusion of vulnerable groups.

Objectives, Vision & Values

• The dissemination of robotics and engineering sciences through an environment of “noble competition, transparency and equal treatment”.
• Equal access without discrimination to educational robotics.
• The integration of vulnerable groups in educational robotics, with emphasis on people with motor or mental disabilities.

The good practice of Robotics Competitions

HERO organizes and participates in many actions, educational programs and competitions:

• MRC Global Olympiad (Minoan Robotsports Competition) – one of the main competitions organised by HERO in Greece. The 5th edition of the competition is scheduled for 3-6 April 2026 and is aimed at teams at all levels (primary, high school, high school, universities and even adults) with many categories of sports robotics.
• The above competition also includes the Minoan RobotSports Junior Festival, the 1st Festival in Greece that focuses on Sports Robotics and can be organized by Schools, Municipalities, Communities, Cultural Associations and Educational Robotics Centers, as it does not have an absolute competitive character and all teams are awarded independently the position they occupy.
• Unknown Mission League (UML) – a competition where teams learn the mission on the same day and within a limited time have to design and programme robots to respond (Learningon the fly). The institution is scalable as it takes place in various regions of Greece. In addition, the 12 best teams have the opportunity to compete in international competitions such as FIRA Roboworld and RoboChallenge.
• Robotex Hellas – a national competition enabling teams to excel and participate in international events, with categories such as Starship Girls’ Firefighting, Simple Line Following, Enhanced Line Following, Maze, etc.
• Biznovation Challenge – a student competition combining robotics, innovation and entrepreneurship with a focus on contemporary issues such as climate change, sustainable agri-food, local gastronomy. Age categories range from primary (D – F) to higher education. Through this process, participants will understand basic principles of entrepreneurship: development of innovative solutions, design of business strategies, creation of sustainable market models.

Other competitions of the organisation that demonstrate the essence of the initiative as a good practice are:

• Robocup: the categories ‘RESCUE’ (identifying victims in reproducible disaster scenarios), ‘FOOTBALL’ (with groups of autonomous mobile robots), ‘STAGE’ (dressed robots meet in creative, interactive and collaborative ways with people).
• Robofest: the Greek Branch of the Global Robotics Competition from Lawrence Technological University in Michigan, USA. The teams that will qualify from the Greek competition claim a place in the grand final at the U.S. competition headquarters.
• Yokozuna Robot Yusho.

Why is HERO’s competitive educational robotics good practice?

The educational robotics competitions organized by the organization are a good practice because:

• Promote STEAM skills by contributing to the dissemination of advanced digital skills;
• Develop critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving at a variety of ages and without discrimination;
• Enhance teamwork, equal participation, accessibility and inclusion through automation, engineering and programming applications;
• It is a scalable institution and can be easily replicated due to the nature of networking and interconnection that governs the establishment of competitions.

Collaborations & Memoranda of Understanding for Expandability of Actions

HERO has concluded memoranda of cooperation with national and international institutions (e.g. Universities, events such as Robotex with international events, etc.), as well as constantly expanding its activity by collaborating with local authorities.

In 2023, there was an agreement between the organisation and Neapolis University Pafos (Cyprus) to organise the MRC – Minoan Robotsports Competition as a national representation in Cyprus. In 2025, it signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Hellenic E-Sports Federation, with a view to holding the MRC in Heraklion, Crete.

Statistics & Achievements

According to an article on robotics in Greece, HERO is one of the key organisations promoting competitions and training in robotics, along with other organisations in Greece such as WRO Hellas and EduAct.

The latest MRC – Minoan Robotsports Competition was attended by over 4,000 competitors from more than 30 countries – showing the scope and international dimension of the competition. Participation in the UML – with thousands of students competing in several cities at the same time – was also wide showing that the organisation has managed to mobilise a large number of young stakeholders.

The Hellenic Organisation for Educational Robotics HERO is a model for the effective integration of robotic technology in today’s education, triumphing in the effort for a society of knowledge, innovation and advanced digital skills.

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More information: info@he-ro.gr