The local teams competing to represent Mauritius at the world’s largest STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) challenge, the STEM Racing™ competition, were introduced on Thursday, 12 June 2025. The presentation took place during a ceremony held at the EDB Auditorium in Ebène.
Present at the event were the Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, Dr. Avinash Ramtohul and the Australian High Commissioner to Mauritius, Ms. Kate Chamely.
Organized under the theme “Building a Future for the Youth and the Next Generation for a Smart, Inclusive, and Innovative Mauritius”, the competition aims to inspire young participants to dream big, engineer their future and showcase their talents on the global stage. This initiative is a collaborative effort between STEM Racing™ Mauritius, the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, and the support of the Economic Development Board (EDB). Seventeen educational institutions are participating, with teams competing for a spot in the national finals scheduled for August. The winners will then represent Mauritius at the world finals in Singapore this September.
In his address, Minister Ramtohul emphasized that digitalisation is now embedded across all aspects of life. He highlighted that the STEM Racing™ project provides an engaging platform for students to learn and develop essential skills. The Ministry strongly supports such initiatives, as they complement students’ academic pursuits while fostering professional competencies.
He also praised the creativity, confidence and effort demonstrated by the participating teams during the video presentations showcasing their members and project contributions. “Through your participation, you have applied your knowledge, learned the importance of teamwork by leveraging diversity as a strength and focused on achieving both individual and collective goals”, the Minister told the students. He expressed his pride in how they have developed skills in areas such as marketing, communication and manufacturing.
Addressing the gender gap in STEM subjects, Minister Ramtohul encouraged girls to pursue STEM fields actively and work towards achieving gender balance in future careers. He also announced the Ministry’s plans to extend access to Maupass — a digital platform — to students aged 14 and above. This initiative aims to promote an inclusive digital journey by providing young learners with a digital identity early on, helping to bridge the digital divide. He explained that empowering students with Maupass will enable them to develop digital skills, assist others who face difficulties in onboarding and foster a more inclusive digital society.