World Creativity and Innovation Day 2026
International Schools Association
April 21st, 2026
World Creativity and Innovation Day
World Creativity and Innovation Day, celebrated annually on April 21, highlights the essential role of creativity and innovation in addressing global challenges and achieving sustainable development. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2017 through Resolution 71/284, the day promotes creative problem-solving and fosters innovative thinking worldwide.
Organiser:
Transylvania College
(Cluj-Napoca, Romania)
Colegio Internacional Caza Azul
(Tenerife, España)
Coordinating Team
Alphatronic: We are an ambitious group of students from Transylvania College, Cluj-Napoca with a powerful passion for robotics. We joined forces in order to shape our vision into reality, to fight for a better future and to support innovation. We want to improve the world around us through education.
Our objectives for the year 2025 was to win THE FIRST TECH CHALLENGE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, an international competition for people interested in robotics and STEAM fields and to design, build and program a competitive robot.
We were awarded international prizes like: Winning Alliance – 1st team selected & Honourable Mention for software innovation and quality @ Maryland Technic Invitational 2025; two important awards in the FIRST Tech Challenge 2025 World Robotics Championship: Design Award in the Edison division & Finalist Alliance 1st Pick; the 2nd prize in the Regional Service-Learning Award for Central and South-Eastern Europe with the project: Inspire Future Innovators: “The Robotics Club from idea to reality” and 3rd prize in the project presentation in Youth Leadership Encounter 2025: Leadership Across Oceans in Preserving Marine Ecosystems, with the project: “Into the deep”.
We know that we can accomplish our mission through hard work, perseverance and cooperation and that by encouraging STEM education and the FTC values we promote a better education.
The Casa Azul International School: committed to educational innovation and the promotion of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) skills, has actively participated in the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) robotics project for several years. This international programme promotes creativity, critical thinking and teamwork through robotics-based challenges and social innovation projects. We have received the following awards with different participating teams:
- In the 2016 FLL Canarias edition, the Diverguay 1 team received the Tenerife Science and Technology Park Award (Strategy/Innovation).
- In the 2018 edition, the Skynet team was awarded 2nd prize for robot design.
- In the 2022 edition, the Skynet II team was awarded 1st prize for robot behaviour.
- In 2025, the Skynet I team won 1st prize for Innovation Project.
The school’s STEAM methodology seeks to integrate science, technology, engineering, mathematics and the arts in a practical way. This integration allows students to develop key skills to face realistic and complex challenges (research, design, experimentation, teamwork, problem solving, etc.). Our school has been recognised as a Platinum STEAM Reference School. This recognition considers that the school not only offers STEAM activities (such as robotics, programming, applied science and integrated projects), but does so with excellence and methodological maturity, being recognised as an institution that integrates these skills structurally into its educational curriculum.
FIRST Tech Challenge VALUES and the connection with the World Creativity and Innovation Day 2026: “Harnessing Creativity for Global Progress”
The connection between FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) values and the World Creativity and Innovation Day 2026 theme, “Harnessing Creativity for Global Progress,” is profound and direct, as the core principles of FTC are specifically designed to cultivate the very skills and mindset required for global progress through creativity and innovation.
The FIRST Core Values emphasize a culture that directly supports the theme of “Harnessing Creativity for Global Progress.”
FIRST Core Value | Connection to “Harnessing Creativity for Global Progress” |
Innovation | “We use creativity and persistence to solve problems.” This is the most direct link. FTC actively pushes students to invent and engineer new robot designs and strategies (creativity) and to troubleshoot failures (persistence) to solve a complex, annual challenge. This mirrors the real-world application of creativity to solve global issues. |
Impact | “We apply what we learn to improve our world.” The theme’s focus on “Global Progress” is directly addressed by this value. FTC teams are often encouraged to engage in community outreach, using their technical and problem-solving skills to benefit others, showcasing how creativity and innovation can have a positive, tangible impact on society. |
Discovery | “We explore new skills and ideas.” Global progress starts with a willingness to learn, experiment, and question established methods. FTC’s season-long challenge encourages students to constantly research new technologies (skills) and brainstorm novel solutions (ideas). |
Teamwork & Inclusion | “We are stronger when we work together,” and “We respect each other and embrace our differences.” “Harnessing Creativity” on a global scale requires diverse perspectives and collaborative effort. FTC promotes working with different people (teammates, mentors, other teams via Coopertition®) to merge varied creative ideas into a stronger solution, which is essential for tackling complex global challenges. |
Gracious Professiona lism® | This philosophy, which means competing with unqualified kindness and respect, ensures that the pursuit of innovation and progress is conducted ethically and respectfully. This is crucial for “Global Progress,” which must be achieved through international cooperation and shared values. |
The entire structure of the FIRST Tech Challenge is a practical embodiment of the 2026 theme “Harnessing Creativity for Global Progress”:
- Challenging Problem-Solving: Each FTC season presents a new, complex robotics challenge (like the 2025-2026 theme, DECODE™). This forces students to move beyond simple, obvious solutions and apply creativity to design, build, and program a unique robot.
- Translating Ideas into Action: Creativity alone is insufficient; it must be harnessed (the key verb in the theme). FTC requires students to take their creative concepts and translate them into a functional, working robot and strategic plan—the essence of innovation and application for progress.
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): World Creativity and Innovation Day is tied to advancing the UN’s SDGs. FTC’s emphasis on Impact often aligns with these goals, as teams use their robotics and STEM skills to address issues in their community, from education outreach to finding innovative solutions for local problems.
The FIRST Tech Challenge provides a comprehensive, hands-on environment where students learn to actively harness their creativity (Innovation, Discovery) in an inclusive and collaborative setting (Teamwork, Inclusion, Gracious Professionalism) to create tangible global progress (Impact).
General goals
Raising awareness about the importance of Creativity and Innovation:
Creativity fuels progress by providing solutions to complex challenges such as poverty, economic inequality, and climate change. It powers industries like design, media, performing arts, and technology, making significant contributions to job creation, economic growth, and cultural preservation.
Encouraging student efforts to contribute to Global Innovation
On this day, individuals, organizations, and nations are encouraged to embrace creativity as a tool for solving global challenges.
Promoting STEAM education, cross curricular activities, addressing real life challenges
Encourage critical and creative thinking, design thinking, trial and error process, educational strategies that focus on discovery, Project Based Learning and Service Learning. Develop knowledge, skills, tools and values, encourage students to actively participate in society and address global challenges. Support educational initiatives to contribute to a more stable and prosperous world, to find creative solutions and innovate in various fields.
Supporting the Sustainable Development Goals:
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – Promoting economic opportunities through creative industries.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – Supporting innovation and technological progress to drive sustainable development.
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – Encouraging innovative solutions to create sustainable systems and reduce waste.
Activity
Please see below some suggestions of activities appropriate for kindergarten, primary, middle school and high school students, related to the World Creativity and Innovation Day 2026 theme, “Harnessing Creativity for Global Progress,” including STEM and FTC values. You can adapt them to your community or be creative and
General / All Stages:
- Discuss about the FTC values (presented above), create slides / posters / short videos about what they mean for creativity and innovation in your community
Specific activities (per student age):
Kindergarten (Ages 5-6): Creative Foundations & Discovery
Focus: Discovery, Teamwork, and basic Creative Problem-Solving using simple materials.
Activity | Description & STEM Focus | FTC Value Connection |
The “Help Our Friend” Rescue Challenge | Students work in small groups to build a safe pathway or structure (using blocks, LEGO Duplo, or recycled materials) to move a small stuffed animal (the “friend”) from one high spot to another low spot without touching the floor. | Discovery & Innovation: Experimenting with materials (Engineering) to find which shapes and connections are strongest. Teamwork: Learning to share ideas and materials to achieve a common goal (Global Progress begins with collaboration). |
The Global Needs Color-Mix | Introduce a simple “problem” (e.g., “The Earth is too sad/gray”). Students mix primary-colored paints or food coloring to “invent” a new color that represents a solution (e.g., green for clean water, yellow for sunshine/energy). | Creativity & Impact: Using art (Science of color mixing) to express a positive impact they want to make. They are literally “creating” progress. |
Primary School (Grades 1-5): Simple Prototypes & Community Impact
Focus: Innovation through the Engineering Design Process, simple Impact projects, and Gracious Professionalism.
Activity | Description & STEM Focus | FTC Value Connection |
“Solve a School Problem” Invention Challenge | Students identify a problem in the school or classroom (e.g., too much noise, long bathroom line, food waste). They sketch and build a simple prototype (using craft sticks, cardboard, foil, and tape) to solve it. | Innovation: Applying the Engineering Design Process (Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Improve). Impact: Solving a problem in their local community, learning that innovation is practical and useful. |
Balloon – Powered Progress | Teams design and build a simple wheeled vehicle powered only by the air from a balloon. The “Global Progress” element is a cargo of small weights (representing food or medicine) that must be transported to a finish line. | STEM: Physics (Newton’s Third Law, force, motion) and basic Mechanical Engineering. Gracious Professionalism®: Competing with other teams, but helping anyone whose vehicle doesn’t work by sharing design tips. |
Middle School (Grades 6-8): Robotics, Systems Thinking & Global Challenges
Focus: STEM Application, complex Innovation, and using Coopertition® principles.
Activity | Description & STEM Focus | FTC Value Connection |
The Sustainable City Water Filter Design | Teams are tasked with designing and building a multi-stage water filtration system using household materials (sand, gravel, cotton, activated charcoal) to clean a quantity of murky water. The project ends with testing the water purity. | STEM: Environmental Science, Civil Engineering, and Materials Science. Innovation: They must creatively combine materials to solve a real-world, global water security challenge. Impact: Direct connection to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. |
Coding for Good: Micro-Game Design | Using a block-based coding platform (like Scratch or Vexcode), students work in pairs to design a micro-game or interactive story that teaches a solution to a global issue (e.g., recycling, saving electricity, healthy eating). | STEM: Computer Science (Coding logic and algorithms). Teamwork & Coopertition®: Teams can review and give constructive, kind feedback (Gracious Professionalism) to help other teams improve their game before presenting. |
High School (Grades 9-12): Real-World Solutions & Deep Impact
Focus: Systematic Innovation, Ethics, Research, and deep application of all FTC Core Values for complex Global Progress.
Activity | Description & STEM Focus | FTC Value Connection |
Global Energy Efficiency Audit & Solution | Teams conduct an energy audit (real or simulated) of a space in the school or community. They use data to design an innovative, cost-effective, and scalable solution (e.g., a smart lighting system, insulation upgrade, or solar power plan). The output is a detailed technical proposal and a financial projection. | STEM: Physics, Data Analysis, and Systems Engineering. Innovation & Impact: Requires research and a structured approach to a real-world problem. Gracious Professionalism®: The proposal must consider the ethical, financial, and environmental impact on all stakeholders. |
Digital Diplomacy for Progress | Teams research one (or two different countries ) facing a similar challenge (e.g., food scarcity, infrastructure decay). They must creatively design a technology/app that could be used by that country (or both countries to share resources or knowledge), then create a short presentation pitch (a la the FTC Presentation Judging process). | Innovation & Discovery: Using digital tools to bridge gaps. Inclusion & Teamwork: Requires researching diverse perspectives and designing a solution that works across different cultures and economic levels. This is the essence of “Harnessing Creativity for Global Progress.” |
These activities encourage students to view creativity not just as art, but as a systematic tool (STEM) for solving large-scale problems (Global Progress), all while embodying the collaborative and respectful culture (FTC Values) necessary for true global cooperation.
Final Act
Celebrate within your school, together or per divisions, the children/students projects and experiences.
Interview participants related to the impact of applying the FTC values in everyday life of their community and related to the STEAM competencies they have developed.
Prepare a short summary (video / slideshow / interview / written report) of your activity explaining your experience within the project .
Rules & Recommendations
Share your project, listen to guest speakers, and engage in activities around the topic. (Video of joint activities to be posted on the web and shared at the final online event.)
Collect the most relevant evidence pieces (audio-video materials) in this drive folder:
The time of the online meeting will be decided according to the time zone of the registered participants. The link will be provided closer to the event.
If you have any questions please contact us.
Please express your interest to participate by writing an email to: simina.bejenaru@transylvania-college.ro ; alphatronic.team@gmail.com (Whatsapp: +40740066736)