Romania shines at International Artificial Intelligence Olympiad with eight medals

Romania's young talents have made a remarkable mark at the International Artificial Intelligence Olympiad (IOAI) 2026, bringing home three gold, two silver, and three bronze medals. This impressive achievement showcases the skills and dedication of the eight students who represented Romania at the event.

Taking place from August 2 to 8 in Astana, Kazakhstan, the IOAI saw participation from competitors across 108 countries and territories. The Romanian team, under the guidance of Robert Mihai Colca, a PhD student at the University of West Timișoara, displayed exceptional talent and hard work.

David Georgescu from the 'Constantin Diaconovici Loga' National College in Timișoara, Alexandru Thury-Burileanu from the 'Mircea cel Bătrân' National College in Constanța, and Roland Petrean from the 'Silvania' National College in Zalău each earned a gold medal. Their success is a testament to their commitment and the support they received during their preparations.

In addition to the gold medalists, Mihnea-Teodor Stoica from the International Theoretical High School of Informatics in Bucharest and Darius-Adrian Dobre from the 'Matei Basarab' National College in Râmnicu Vâlcea secured silver medals. Meanwhile, Iulian Nistor, Daniel-Antoniu Bence-Muk, and Matei-Tudor Pop, all from Cluj-Napoca, proudly claimed bronze medals.

The Romanian team's journey to the IOAI was supported by the Ministry of Education and Research, alongside the Union of Computer Science Teachers in Romania (UPIR), which played a crucial role in the students' preparation. Robert Mihai Colca and Mihai Nan, a faculty member at the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, were the main coordinators guiding the students.

The University of West Timișoara is also a significant player in the field of artificial intelligence, having launched several study programs in this discipline. It is a founding partner in the Romanian Artificial Intelligence Hub (HRIA), a project that fosters a thriving ecosystem for AI excellence in Romania. The HRIA collaborates with six representative universities, including the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca and the University of Bucharest, to unify the efforts of the AI community across the country.

Through these initiatives, Romania is not only nurturing young talent but also strengthening its position in the global AI landscape, paving the way for future advancements in technology and innovation.