FIRST Tech Challenge INTO THE DEEP Premier Events
December 23, 2024
In July 2025, the city of Eindhoven will pulse with energy, creativity, and competition as it welcomes 96 FIRST® Tech Challenge teams from over 30 countries to the FIRST® Tech Challenge European Premier Event. This is more than a tournament. It’s a celebration of international collaboration, cutting-edge technology, and the unstoppable spirit of youth engineering.
EXPLORE: A Gateway to the Future (July 1-2)
Before any matches begin, teams will dive into the world of high-tech innovation that defines Eindhoven as one of Europe’s foremost technology hubs.
The event kicks off with exclusive access to some of the region’s most forward-looking companies in semiconductors, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. These behind-the-scenes tours offer students a first-hand look at the future of industry and perhaps even their own career paths. Think of:
- Stepping inside the ASML Experience Center to explore the technology behind the world’s most advanced chip machines.
- Seeing how Thermo Fisher Scientific contributes to breakthroughs in science with precision instruments.
- Visiting VDL, where advanced automation and modern machining demonstrate how European manufacturing stays competitive.
- Watching high-precision motion systems come to life at AAE.
- Taking a guided train ride through DAF’s truck assembly line, witnessing how an iconic Dutch brand builds the vehicles that move Europe.
Day two brings the academic side of Eindhoven into focus. Dutch universities will host campus tours and scholarship sessions, connecting teams with student-led engineering groups solving real-world challenges in energy, mobility, and healthcare. The day culminates in a deep dive into study opportunities in the Netherlands, showcasing Eindhoven not just as a place to visit but to build a future.
CELEBRATE: One Global Community (July 3-4)
As teams transition into competition mode, the event becomes a platform for global connection.
Thursday is dedicated to judging, inspections, and practice matches, a day of careful preparation and final adjustments. Friday marks the official start of qualification matches, setting the stage for the high-stakes action to come. But even more than that, Friday is about community. The venue will be transformed in the evening into a festival-like team social with live entertainment and shared experiences that transcend nationalities, languages, and backgrounds.
This is the beating heart of the event. Teams form friendships, share ideas, and experience the true meaning of Gracious Professionalism®.
PLAY: Strategy, Speed, and Resilience (July 4-5)
By Saturday, the full intensity of the competition is on display.
In just one and a half days, teams will compete in up to 10 qualification matches. The schedule is tight, demanding strategic brilliance and mechanical reliability. Robots must perform consistently, alliances must be smartly formed, and every moment counts.
What sets the FIRST Tech Challenge European Premier Event apart is its unique and expansive playoff format. Each division will advance eight alliances of three teams, two active and one backup, to a combined 16-alliance double-elimination playoff bracket. This means nearly half of the competing teams, 48 out of 96, will earn a place in the final bracket.
With two competition fields and two practice fields per division, this is a full-scale, high-performance environment. The double-elimination format introduces new layers of strategy and resilience. A single loss won’t end your run, but a second one will. Teams must bring not just strong robots, but smart decisions and steady nerves.
It is competition at its finest. Fast-paced, unpredictable, and inspiring to watch.
Beyond the Arena
Surrounding the competition is a full ecosystem of learning and engagement:
- A public STEM Expo will showcase hands-on technology for all ages.
- Live streaming will broadcast every division and match, reaching a global audience.
- A partnership with REV Robotics provides each team with a $50 voucher and a Ship-to-Pit service, ensuring critical parts arrive directly where they are needed most.
Be Part of It
The FIRST Tech Challenge European Premier Event is not just about building robots. It is about building futures. Whether you are a team, a volunteer, an industry supporter, or a curious visitor, Eindhoven will offer an unforgettable experience of what is possible when technology meets teamwork.
More details and updates: ftcpremierevent.eu
Written by the European Premier Event Organizers and FIRST Tech Challenge staff