LG Electronics sponsors 2026 FIRST Global Challenge robotics competition

LG Electronics announced Thursday that it is sponsoring the 2026 FIRST Global Challenge, an international youth robotics competition running from Oct. 7 to Oct. 10 in Songdo, Incheon.

The FIRST Global Challenge is a competition organized by FIRST Global, a US-based nonprofit, since 2017. Youth representative teams from 185 countries design and build their own robots to complete missions and solve problems. This year's event opened Wednesday at Songdo Convensia in Incheon — the first time the competition has been held in South Korea.

This year's competition carries the theme "Sparks of Innovation" and challenges participants to tackle wildfire prevention and recovery, issues that have grown into global concerns due to climate change. Competitors use robots and solutions of their own making to carry out various tasks in environments simulating the stages of a wildfire — from ignition through containment to recovery.

During the competition, LG Electronics will operate a booth introducing its robotics vision and future robot technology. Its humanoid robot LG CLOi will also greet participants at the booth. The company plans to share stories of the young participants' challenges, collaboration and growth through LG Electronics' global channels and digital platforms.

LG Electronics is developing its robotics project — which combines robot platforms, robot intelligence and data capabilities — as a physical AI-driven growth engine for the future. The company is building a broad lineup spanning industrial and commercial robots to home robots, and has also developed manufacturing and development capabilities for key robot components, including actuators.

More recently, the company has been accelerating its push to secure core technologies that enhance robot autonomy and versatility by operating LG Data Factory, a facility that collects and manages the large-scale data needed for robot learning and operation. The company's strategy is to link data gathered from the Data Factory and other sources with Nvidia's robotics solutions to advance its Robot Foundation Model.

"We will support the next generation in contributing to solving global problems through innovation and a spirit of challenge, and spread the message that differentiated technologies such as robotics can create a better life and a better future for our planet," said Kim Hyo-eun, head of brand management at LG Electronics.