For 20 Years, FIRST and Qualcomm Have Worked Together to Create Opportunities that Connect Students to Innovation, Leading Technology, and Future STEM Careers.
MANCHESTER, N.H., April 27, 2026 – FIRST® is proud to celebrate 20 years of collaboration with Qualcomm Incorporated during the 2025 – 2026 season, marking decades of shared commitment to inspiring and preparing young people through STEM.
The partnership began in 2006, when FIRST was in its early stages of global expansion, and Qualcomm had just celebrated a milestone year marked by significant innovation and growth. Recognizing that building a strong STEM workforce depends on investing in students early, Qualcomm supported FIRST to help create pathways for young people to develop the technical skills needed for tomorrow’s careers. It has since grown into one of the longest-standing corporate partnerships in FIRST history.
“At Qualcomm, we are proud to celebrate 20 years support of FIRST. Over the past two decades, our collaboration has empowered students to engage with technologies that are shaping the future, from artificial intelligence to intelligent computing,” said Angela Baker, VP, Corporate Responsibility and Chief Sustainability Officer for Qualcomm. “Through hands-on experiences, students gain valuable insight into the innovations driving today’s industries, helping to build a strong STEM workforce for tomorrow.”
Qualcomm deepened its commitment in 2016 by becoming a FIRST Strategic Partner, a designation reserved for organizations that provide significant long-term investment through funding, mentorship, volunteerism, equipment, and other support that strengthens FIRST programs worldwide.
Since then, Qualcomm has helped power a range of key FIRST programs and initiatives, including FIRST® Tech Challenge, FIRST Championship, annual season themes, workshops and lessons focused on emerging technology and the intellectual property process, and historical FIRST awards, such as the Global Innovation Award.
That support has come to life in several different ways across the FIRST community:
“We are grateful to Qualcomm for investing heavily in FIRST and evolving alongside us over the past 20 years as we’ve worked together to create more opportunities for young people around the world,” said Chris Moore, FIRST CEO. “As technology and STEM education continue to evolve, we look forward to deepening our partnership and opening new pathways that inspire and prepare the next generation for what’s ahead.”
Beyond sponsorship and volunteerism, Qualcomm has also helped strengthen the technical experience for FIRST participants by supporting the early integration of control systems in FIRST Tech Challenge and also technology such as the Vivid‑Hosting VH‑109 FRC Radio, which replaced older OpenMesh radios and is now the standard solution supported by FIRST® Robotics Competition for robot communication. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. also continues to provide AI-enabled developer tools and technical expertise that support innovation across the FIRST community today.
Through their longstanding relationship, FIRST and Qualcomm continue to equip young people with the skills, tools, and mentorship needed to turn potential into impact, opening pathways to STEM careers and enabling students to use the skills learned to make a positive difference in the world. As both organizations mark this milestone, they remain focused on the future, continuing to strengthen a partnership that nurtures the next generation of innovators and expands opportunities for current and future FIRST participants worldwide.
Watch the partnership celebration video to hear how 20 years of collaboration have shaped opportunities for FIRST students, alumni, and the future of STEM.
About FIRST
FIRST® is a robotics community that prepares young people for the future. FIRST provides life-changing, team-based K-12 robotics programs that give young people the skills, confidence, and resilience to build a better world. Boosted by a global support system of volunteers, educators, donors, and sponsors, teams operate under a signature set of FIRST Core Values to conduct research, fundraise, design, build, and showcase their achievements during annual challenges.
An international not-for-profit organization founded in 1989, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) has a proven impact on STEM learning, interest, and skill-building well beyond high school. Participants and alumni of FIRST programs gain access to education and career discovery opportunities, connections to exclusive scholarships and employers, and a place in the FIRST community for life.
Learn more at firstinspires.org.