FIRST is a nonprofit organization founded in the United States that works to inspire young people’s interest in science and technology and to nurture their creativity.
Its mission is to make specialized fields such as engineering, programming, and design accessible and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of age or experience. At the heart of FIRST’s philosophy is the belief in maximizing young people’s potential through science and technology.

The robotics competitions organized by FIRST have grown into international events that bring together students and mentors from around the world. Among them, the high school–level FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition) is highly regarded as a large-scale program in which teams design and build full-size, heavyweight robots and compete in strategically complex games. In addition, FIRST offers multiple age-appropriate programs, such as FTC for middle school students and FLL for younger children, allowing participants to progressively develop their technical skills and collaborative abilities.

What truly sets FIRST apart is its educational philosophy, which goes far beyond a simple robotics competition. In addition to improving technical skills, FIRST is designed to cultivate essential 21st-century skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. It places strong emphasis on unique core values like Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition, which promote both competition and cooperation. These principles provide participants with universal lessons that remain valuable regardless of their future career paths.

FIRST is an international educational community dedicated to sharing the joy of science and technology and nurturing the innovators of tomorrow. By offering experiences that encourage passionate challenges, collaboration with peers, and the creation of new value, FIRST continues to have a profound impact on young people around the world.