Keralite Benson George Becomes First Indian to be Selected for the Judging Panel of First Tech Challenge in USA

KOCHI:
Benson Thomas George, a prominent robotics expert and founder of Dubai-based Unique World Robotics, has been officially selected to the judging panel of the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Michiana Premier Event 2026, a leading international competition organised in Indiana, USA.

The competition is organised by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), one of the world’s largest organisations promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

The FTC, conducted for students aged 12 to 18, is aimed at promoting innovation and hands-on learning in science, engineering and emerging technologies.

George’s selection marks a significant international recognition, as he is the only Indian citizen and the only Malayali to be part of the high-level judging panel comprising global technology experts.

“Platforms like FTC provide students across the world with opportunities to gain hands-on exposure to cutting-edge technologies and develop projects that create meaningful social impact. Such initiatives strengthen the global STEM ecosystem. Being selected to this international judging panel and representing India and Kerala at the global level is a great honour and a valuable opportunity,” George said.

The FTC Michiana Premier Event 2026, held in South Bend, Indiana, from June 18 to 21, witnessed participation from 106 teams representing different countries.

The event is considered one of the most prominent competitions in the FTC calendar, with outstanding student performers gaining opportunities for admission to leading international universities, including MIT Boston, the University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon and Stanford, along with scholarship opportunities valued at more than USD 80 million.

FIRST primarily conducts three major international competitions — FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) and FIRST Global Challenge.

As part of the judging process, teams are evaluated through rigorous criteria covering robot construction, including design, coding and innovation, along with engineering process, documentation, teamwork, and community impact.

The competition featured six major award categories — Development, Innovation, Connect, Outreach/Impact, Sustainability and Match Performance — through which student achievements in science and technology were assessed.

FIRST promotes emerging technologies including robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), space tech, Internet of Things (IoT), AR/VR, pure sciences and mathematics. The organisation receives strong support from NASA, the United States Department of Defense, and more than 100 Fortune 500 companies, including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Tesla and OpenAI.