Read what Tech Valley Leaders are saying about FIRST!

The FIRST^® Robotics Competition (FRC) is the premier engineering challenge for high school students. Teams of students, working closely with teachers and volunteer mentors, have six weeks to conceptualize, design, build, program, modify and test a robot to participate in a competition that changes each year.

On March 15-17, 2018, New York's Tech Valley region will once again be home to premier a FRC event, located on the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute campus in the state-of-the-art East Campus Athletic Village Arena (ECAV). 31 teams, including competitors from Québec, Brazil and New York, will gather to compete in another exciting year of high-tech competition!

More about FIRST^® and this event

This year's game challenge:
FIRST^® POWER UP^SM!

Watch this year's game animation!

We can't do it without our volunteers and sponsors.

> Complete event details

2017 Webcast Archive is available! Watch all the matches, Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Speakers and Awards!

Watch the action-packed 2017 Highlight Video!

March 9, 2018 - Troy, NY
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute To Host Fifth Annual New York Tech Valley Regional FIRST® Robotics Competition March 15-17

March 16, 2017 - Troy, NY
STEM Stars: High School Students Showcase Engineering Excellence in FIRST® STEAMworks^SM

March 16, 2017 - Troy, NY
Robot-building competition gets underway at RPI

March 9, 2017 - Troy, NY
Robot Madness: Local Students Demonstrate Engineering Excellence in FIRST® STEAMWORKS^SM Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Set to Host New York Tech Valley Regional FIRST® Robotics Competition

January 20, 2017 - Troy, NY
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Hosts FIRST® Robotics Kickoff Event

January 7, 2017 - Manchester, NH
Details of FIRST STEAMWORKS^SM 2017 Robotics Game Revealed

March 22, 2016 - Troy, NY
Local and Internationl High School Students Recognized for Outstanding Achievement During NY Tech Valley FIRST® Robotics Competition

March 17, 2016 - Troy, NY
High School Students from Capital Region and Beyond Set to Showcase Design and Engineering Skills in FIRST® Robotics Competition

February 18, 2016 - Troy, NY
Local Students Demonstrate Engineering Excellence at "FIRST STRONGHOLD^SM" Regional Robotics Event

January 9, 2016 - Manchester, NH
Details of FIRST STRONGHOLD^SM 2016 Robotics Game Revealed

November 11, 2015 - Ballston, NY
Local High Schools Receive more than $70,000 in Grants from New York Tech Valley FIRST Sponsors

November 8, 2015 - Ballston, NY
News video: Students compete in robotics competition