About the Competition

1. What is the National Robotics Competition (NRC) 2026 in Singapore?

NRC 2026 is a national, challenge-based robotics competition organised by Science Centre Singapore. Students work in teams to design, build, and program robots to solve mission-based challenges within a fixed time. The competition focuses on applied problem-solving, teamwork, and engineering thinking, and is widely recognised for portfolio building and DSA pathways.

Eligibility in Singapore

2. Who can participate in NRC 2026 and what are the age categories?

NRC 2026 is open to pre-schoolers and primary school students in Singapore.
· Pre-schoolers: 5-6 years old (birth years 2020-2021)
· Lower Primary: 7-9 years old (birth years 2017-2019)
· Upper Primary: 10-12 years old (birth years 2014-2016)
Age eligibility follows official competition guidelines.

3. Does my child need prior robotics or coding experience to join NRC?

No prior experience is required for pre-schoolers.

Prior experience is preferred for primary school students. NRC is a competitive robotics event and students are expected to have foundational robotics and programming skills. Pre-requisites apply, such as having prior experience with LEGO SPIKE Essentials or LEGO SPIKE Prime levels before joining competition training.

4. Can my child try a free NRC assessment before registering?

Yes. Students who are not currently enrolled with Empire Code but have prior robotics or coding experience may attend a free 30-minute NRC assessment. This session helps assess readiness and explain the training commitment before registration.

5. Do students compete individually or in teams at NRC?

NRC is team-based. Each team consists of 3 students. If you register your child individually, Empire Code will place them into a suitable team.

Competition Details

1. When and where will NRC 2026 be held in Singapore?

NRC 2026 is expected to take place in September 2026 at Science Centre Singapore. The exact date will be announced by Science Centre Singapore.

2. How do I register my child for NRC 2026 in Singapore?

Parents can register through Empire Code, which forms and trains teams for the competition. Registration closes on 31 March 2026.

3. How much does it cost to join NRC 2026 with Empire Code?

Pre-school Category

The NRC 2026 competition training package is S$1,000 per student for 25 hours of guided competition training. This includes official competition registration fees, competition materials and devices, and structured weekly training. Regular class credit packages cannot be used for NRC competition training.

Primary School Category

For primary school students, the NRC 2026 competition training package is S$2,200 per student for 48 hours of guided competition training. This includes official competition registration fees, competition materials and devices, and structured weekly training. Regular class credit packages cannot be used for NRC competition training.

Experience and Benefits

1. What will students do during the NRC 2026 competition?

Students design, build, and program a robot to complete mission-based challenges under time constraints. Teams are assessed on robot performance, strategy, and teamwork.

2. What are the benefits of joining NRC 2026?

NRC builds strong robotics, problem-solving, and teamwork skills while strengthening students’ portfolios for school programmes and DSA considerations.