Robopartans LTD blvd. Tzar Boris III 245, , +359 887 762 687 http://www.robopartans.com [email protected]

FLL in Bulgaria (2011-2013)

Historical Background

When we first organized an FLL Regional Round in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2011 the participant teams were 11. The following year this number increased to 14 teams. The last competition on 23rd of November 2013 witnessed the participation of 17 teams from three Bulgarian cities - Sofia, Varna and Gorna Oryahovitsa. In addition to that, we made an experiment with the organization of a separate tournament the same day, consisting of 5 teams of 8-9 year old kids, so that they could feel the excitement and the wonderful atmosphere in the venue. Although being very tense, the whole event was quite successful. The following videos will introduce you to some of the best moments during the competition in Sofia in 2011, 2012 and 2013:

● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9cplutT2vs (2011) ● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaWgGQmst8Y (2012) ● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAFsFgbHfn4 (2013)

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Robopartans LTD blvd. Tzar Boris III 245, Sofia, Bulgaria +359 887 762 687 http://www.robopartans.com [email protected]

Information About Us

School of robotics “Robopartans” is a for-profit organization, founded in 2009, which aims to engage children and students from early age in technical sciences such as mathematics, physics and information technologies. In Bulgaria, “Robopartans” has already worked with more than one thousand children in some of the biggest cities in the country - Sofia, Varna and .

The Robopartans team of young teachers and enthusiasts has not only vast experience in giving robotics classes to kids, but they have also presented demonstrations with LEGO robots in front of 15 000 pupils throughout the whole country.

Brief Organization Overview of the FLL Competition in Bulgaria

The organization of the FLL Regional Round in Bulgaria is realized as a non-profit activity and it receives serious incentives from companies of the Bulgarian IT sector such as SAP Labs Bulgaria, Telerik and Ciela. In 2010, members of the Robopartans team founded a non-profit organization called ICT School (Information and Communication Technologies School) which goals include: - improving the ICT education in Bulgarian schools; - increasing pupils’ interests in Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Information and Communication Technologies;

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Robopartans LTD blvd. Tzar Boris III 245, Sofia, Bulgaria +359 887 762 687 http://www.robopartans.com [email protected]

- overcoming the differences between the public education and the needs of the employers in the ICT sector. ICT School has its own website: http://ict-school.org/en/. There is also a special facebook page dedicated to the FLL events in Bulgaria: https://www.facebook.com/fllbg.

So far, the participants in the Bulgarian competition have come from the cities of Sofia, Varna and Gorna Oryahovitsa. In 2014, we have started to work on a program called “Robotics in Schools” which aims to give the opportunity to more kids from public and private schools throughout Bulgaria to take part in the competition. Also, along with the round in Sofia, we are planning to organize a second event in Varna in 2015.

The registration of the teams is managed online through the official site of “Robopartans” (www.robopartans.com).

“Robopartans” has organized robotics seminars for more than 30 mentors and teachers from the cities of Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv, Dimitrovgrad and Bourgas. The FLL mentors (coaches) are mostly Robopartans’ teachers and IT specialists. We are constantly trying to involve new people to devote themselves to the cause.

We can count on professional and reliable judges and referees who are employees in software companies and experts from other private organizations and governmental institutions.

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Robopartans LTD blvd. Tzar Boris III 245, Sofia, Bulgaria +359 887 762 687 http://www.robopartans.com [email protected]

In 2013 we had 19 judges and referees from the following companies and institutions: - Software AG - Kostal Bulgaria EOOD - SAP Labs Bulgaria - Telerik AD - Setelis Labs - Administration of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria - Chief Directorate “Fire Safety and Civil Protection” of the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior

As for the volunteers, every year there are new ones who are getting help and advice from more experienced ones. Usually the volunteers have been participants in the competition in past years.

Sponsorship

“Robopartans” has collaborated with public and private schools and has counted on the sponsorship of international and local organizations from the private sector such as SAP, Telerik, Ciela, Bulsatcom, 3DC, Prestigio (Asbis Bulgaria EOOD), Datecs and Empower United.

Large part of the expenses are covered by the sponsors. The expenses include travel costs and team organization costs (i.e. purchasing LEGO Mindstorms sets, etc.).

The general sponsor of the Regional Round in Sofia has been SAP Labs Bulgaria since the

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Robopartans LTD blvd. Tzar Boris III 245, Sofia, Bulgaria +359 887 762 687 http://www.robopartans.com [email protected] first edition of the competition in Bulgaria in 2011. But we are also constantly in search of new and dedicated sponsors.

Internet Activity

School of robotics “Robopartans” has a well established presence on the Internet: - Website (www.robopartans.com) - Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/robopartans?fref=ts) - Twitter (https://twitter.com/robopartans) - Youtube channel (http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNomCIHji76tj4y3ZyJVwrw)

Contacts Dragomir Anachkov Zhivko Kasabov M: +359 889 528213 M: +359 885 497086 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] W: www.robopartans.com W: www.robopartans.com

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