On Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, the regional finals of the FIRST LEGO League took place at CSG Liudger Splitting in Drachten. Primary and secondary school students from all over Friesland participated in this technical competition.
The connection with the Innovation Cluster Drachten (ICD) was clearly visible during the finals. Six judges were from companies affiliated with the ICD. Thus, ICD companies made a concrete contribution to the assessment of young technical talent in the region.
CBS It Fundamint won the Champion's Award of the First Lego League for the second year in a row. With this victory, the school qualified for the national finals on March 14 in Martiniplaza Groningen. The competition revolved around technology, innovation and cooperation. This aligns closely with the goals of the ICD.
The FIRST LEGO League is an international competition for young people aged 9 to 15. Each year a social theme takes center stage. In 2026 it is Unearthed. Teams work on an innovative solution, build a robot and carry out missions. Skills such as collaboration and creative thinking also play an important role.
Two regional finals are taking place in Friesland. Besides Drachten, there is a final at NHL Stenden in Leeuwarden. The organization lies with NHL Stenden, Firda and CSG Liudger, with support from Techkwadraat. The use of judges from ICD companies underlines the importance of cooperation between education and business in Drachten and Friesland.
By being actively involved in initiatives such as the FIRST LEGO League, the Innovation Cluster Drachten contributes to talent development. In this way, we are working towards a strong future for engineering and technology in the region.
More information about the FIRST LEGO League can be found at www.firstlegoleague.nl
