International VEX Robotics European Open Brings 200 Competitors to Riihimäki

The international VEX robotics European Open competition starts in Riihimäki, Finland, on Tuesday 25 March 2025. The competition will host nearly 40 VEX robotics teams representing Türkiye, Poland, Slovenia, Czechia, Hong Kong, Andorra, Luxembourg, Germany, Kazakhstan, and Finland, and over 200 individual competitors.

“It’s fantastic that we can organise such a big international robotics competition in Riihimäki. The level of the competitors is very high, and our hometown is strongly represented – there are more than 60 competitors from Riihimäki,” says Reetta Viitanen, Robotics Education Senior Advisor at the City of Riihimäki’s Robotics Campus.

During Tuesday and Wednesday of the competition week, teams from the V5 series, mainly composed of secondary school students, will compete. On Thursday and Friday, it is the turn of the IQ teams to compete, with the youngest members aged 9 and the oldest 15.

The European Open competition will be held at Hyria Education’s Sakonkatu premises in Riihimäki (B-building). The public is very welcome to watch the competition and enjoy the international atmosphere.

In addition to exciting robotics challenges, highlights of the tournament include the opening and prize-giving ceremonies.

• The opening ceremony on Tuesday 25 March at 10.15 will include speeches by Teemu Seppälä, Technology and Innovation Director of the City of Riihimäki, campus coordinator Juuso Kerola from Hyria Education, and Doni Peltojärvi from Aalto Entrepreneurship Society.
• On Wednesday 26 March, the V5 series’ final competition challenge will start at around 14.00. The finals will be followed by an awards ceremony at around 15.15. The event will include speeches by Jouni Eho, the Mayor of Riihimäki, and Juho Pakarinen, Vice-Principal of Hyria Education.
• The opening ceremony on Thursday 27 March at 10.15 will include speeches by Jouni Eho, the Mayor of Riihimäki, senior lecturer Fernando Pacheco from HAMK and Miko Mantila from the Pohjolanrinne School in Riihimäki.
• On Friday 28 March, the IQ Series finals will start at around 13.15. The finals will be followed by an awards ceremony with speeches by Milla Koivulahti from the Riihimäki and Hyvinkää Region Junior Chamber of Commerce and campus coordinator Juuso Keerola from Hyria Education.

The competition will be streamed on the City of Riihimäki’s YouTube channel.  You can find more information about the competition schedule and challenges here.

“We hope that the competition will reach a large audience. This is a brilliant opportunity to learn about VEX robotics competition activities, and at the same time cheer on our young robotics pros,” says Viitanen.

The European Open competition is organised by the City of Riihimäki’s Robotics Campus in cooperation with Hyria Education.

“It’s great to be involved in organising such an important robotics competition. Cooperation with Riihimäki’s Robotics Campus provides a great opportunity for our students to learn and develop. The team from Hyria is also looking forward to the competition and the opportunity to measure their skills against international peers,” says teacher Jari Mattila from Hyria Education.

The European Open competition is supported by OP Häme, the Union of Professional Engineers, Riihimäen Kaukolämpö, and Aaltoes (Aalto Entrepreneurship Society).