Colombia President‑elect Abelardo de la Espriella funds robotics team’s trip to Japan

President‑elect Abelardo de la Espriella announced that a private entrepreneur will cover all travel and accommodation costs for a 15‑member Colombian youth robotics team to attend the World Robotics Championship in Japan. The team, aged 7 to 14, includes children from Neiva, Barranquilla, Santa Marta and Envigado, who previously lacked state funding and missed earlier international events. De la Espriella presented the sponsorship as a model of public‑private collaboration, pledging broader policies to support science, technology and innovation during his upcoming administration.

The funding enables the students to represent Colombia on the global stage, showcasing the country’s talent in programming and technical development while highlighting the president‑elect’s commitment to youth education and technological advancement.