What Happened
Inventor and engineer Dean Kamen delivered a keynote lecture on October 28 at the Ascanio Arosemena Training Center of the Panama Canal. Kamen, known for creating the Segway and the iBOT wheelchair and for founding the nonprofit FIRST Global, spoke about the role of innovation in transforming societies and the importance of inspiring new generations to engage with science and technology.
Event and FIRST Global Challenge
During his presentation Kamen described FIRST Global as a nonprofit that promotes international educational robotics competitions where young people collaborate on designing and programming robots to address global challenges. He recalled that the FIRST Global Challenge was founded eight years ago to bring together, much like the Olympic Games, one team per country to celebrate the power of technology and creativity.
The competition has previously been hosted in cities including Washington, Dubai, Singapore and Athens. This year’s event will be held in Panama from October 29 to November 1, 2025, with the participation of more than 190 nations.
Background: Why Panama?
Kamen highlighted Panama’s symbolic role as the connection between oceans and continents, calling the country an apt setting to unite young people around cooperation and innovation. He also expressed enthusiasm for seeing the operation of the Panama Canal firsthand, noting the canal as one of the world’s most iconic engineering feats.
What This Means
Hosting the FIRST Global Challenge in Panama places the country at the center of a global conversation on STEM education and international collaboration. The Panama Canal Authority framed the visit and the competition as part of its commitment to knowledge, education and innovation—pillars it says drive sustainable development and foster scientific exchange across generations and nations.
By bringing global teams and attention to Panama, the event supports efforts to connect young people with practical engineering experiences and international peers, while highlighting the canal’s continuing role as both an engineering landmark and a platform for educational initiatives.