Between April 17–20, 2026, the national stage of an extraordinary initiative — the National Olympiad of Artificial Intelligence (ONIA) — took place at Politehnica. HRIA was proud to be among the institutional partners and co‑organizers of this event.
The national stage brought together high‑school students who achieved the best results at the county level. Separate rankings were prepared for each grade, with official prizes and medals awarded by the Ministry of Education. The top participants will now move forward to the national training teams.
We are also sharing an excerpt from the speech delivered by Prof. Dr. Adina Florea, HRIA Project Director and President of the ONIA Scientific Committee:
“We have concluded a remarkable edition of the National Olympiad of Artificial Intelligence — a competition of excellence dedicated to high‑school students passionate about technology, innovation, and the future. ONIA is more than a contest: it is a space where talent, serious work, and the courage to explore a cutting‑edge field are recognized and encouraged.
In a world transforming at breathtaking speed under the influence of AI, you have shown that you are ready to take the lead and guide this transformation with responsibility and ethics.
I warmly congratulate all participants! Whether you leave today with a medal or with a new experience, you are already part of the technological elite. Your ability to solve complex problems is the true achievement.
Among the organizers of this Olympiad is the Romanian Hub for Artificial Intelligence, the national project I coordinate, whose mission is to strengthen Romania’s AI ecosystem by supporting research and collaboration across academic, economic, and institutional sectors. For us, being involved in this Olympiad is a direct investment in the future of Romanian artificial intelligence — and in the young people who will build it. We need you, your ideas, your discipline, and your energy for Romania to truly matter in this strategic field.”
The National Olympiad of Artificial Intelligence (ONIA) is an educational competition dedicated to high school students passionate about technology and innovation. Organized with the support of the Ministry of Education and Romania’s leading technical universities, ONIA offers young people the opportunity to develop their skills in one of the most dynamic fields of the 21st century.
The competition unfolds across three stages — county, national, and national team selection — each representing a step in the development of students’ competencies. The challenges combine theory with practice, evaluating not only conceptual understanding but also the ability to implement real solutions using modern AI and machine learning tools.
The winners will have the unique opportunity to represent Romania at the International Olympiad of Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), competing alongside some of the most talented young people in the world and showcasing the excellence of Romanian education in technology.