" ...to create a world where science and technology are celebrated... where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes..."  -- Dean Kamen, FIRST Founder

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was established by Dean Kamen in 1989 as a multinational non-profit organization. FIRST seeks to aspire young people to engage more in engineering, technology, science, and math.

FIRST is supported by a variety of business corporations, universities, and government. In addition, over 14,000 FIRST volunteers help organize and spread the FIRST's vision to the younger generation.

Endorsed by over 70,000 young people and 25,000 volunteer mentors, FIRST continues to celebrate teamwork and innovation by organizing the breath-taking FIRST Robotics Competition, the thrilling FIRST Vex Challenge, and the exciting FIRST LEGO League.

FIRST Robotics Competition

"It's like life. There's never enough information. Never enough time. There's always competition and you need a strategy. We've created a microcosm of the real engineering experience." -- Dr. Woodie Flowers, Co-Founder FIRST Robotics Competition.

The FIRST Robotics Competition, consists of over 28,000 high school students from over 1,125 teams in 33 regional events, is the most intensive and challenging FIRST program. Each year, tens of thousands of high school students from all over the United States, Canada, Brazil, Ecuador, Israel, Mexico, and the U.K. dedicate over 6 weeks of time to build a functional robot to compete with other teams.

The competition not only motivates innovative thoughts, creative designs, and dedicating works, but it also encourages teamwork, friendship, safety, and, of course, gracious professionalism.