Asia-Pacific qualifier

Infomatrix — build it in NZ, show it to the world

An international computer-project competition where students present their own technology projects — software, robotics, media and AI. New Zealand entrants compete at the Asia-Pacific regional round in Sydney, and the best projects earn a place at the World Finals in Bucharest, Romania.

Nine categories Projects · Robotics · Hackathon Sydney round: 3–9 Dec 2026 World Finals: Bucharest
Register Your Interest See the Categories
Computer Projects
Software · Mechatronics
Robotics
Line follower · Sumo
Hackathon
CreAIthon flagship
9Competition categories
3Areas of tech
40+Countries at the World Finals
€12,000International prize pool
Compete in

Nine categories. One arena.

Whether your child writes code, builds hardware, edits film or trains models, there's a category built for it. Two of them are LEGO divisions reserved for junior builders.

Computer Projects

3 categories

Months of work, presented to a judging panel. You bring something you built.

  • 01
    Software DevelopmentAn app, tool or system that solves a real problem — judged on the idea as much as the code.
  • 02
    MechatronicsHardware and software as one build: sensors, actuators and the logic tying them together.
  • 03
    Digital StorytellingMake an argument land through digital media — film, animation or interactive work.

Robotics

4 categories

Machines that have to perform on the day, on the table, in front of a crowd.

  • 04
    Line Follower RobotAn autonomous robot that traces the course — cleanly, and faster than anyone else's.
  • 05
    Lego Line FollowerJuniorsThe same challenge in LEGO, for younger builders taking a first crack at autonomy.
  • 06
    Mini Sumo RobotTwo robots, one ring. Sensors, strategy and shove.
  • 07
    Lego Sumo RobotJuniorsRobot sumo rebuilt for junior competitors.

Hackathon

2 categories

No months of preparation. You get the brief at the event and hours, not weeks, to ship.

  • 08
    HackathonBuild something real from a standing start, against the clock.
  • 09
    CreAIthonFlagshipThe AI event — the whole point is what a student can do with a model in the room.

Not sure which one fits? That's the first conversation we have with every family — tell us what your child likes building and we'll point at the category.

How it works

Your project. A world stage.

Unlike an exam olympiad, Infomatrix is about what you build — students develop a technology project and present it to judges.

1 · Build a project

Students design and build something real — an AI tool, a robot, an app or a piece of software — over weeks or months, with mentoring along the way.

2 · Regional round, Sydney

Projects are presented to a judging panel at the Asia-Pacific regional round in Sydney, 3–9 December 2026, against entrants from across the region.

3 · World Finals, Bucharest

The top projects from each regional round qualify for the Infomatrix World Finals in Bucharest, Romania — medals, prizes and an international CV line before leaving school.

Key dates

The 2026 season

Now
Start your project

The earlier you start building, the stronger the entry. Register your interest and we'll help scope a project that fits the categories.

Spring 2026
Applications

Project documentation and the NZ$59 entry are submitted ahead of the regional round. We'll confirm the exact deadlines with registered families.

3–9 Dec 2026
Regional round — Sydney

Students present their projects to the judging panel at the Asia-Pacific regional round.

2027
World Finals — Bucharest

Qualifying projects represent the region at the Infomatrix World Finals in Romania.

How Vertex helps

We handle the details. You focus on the learning.

1

Scope the project

We help your child pick a category and shape an idea that's ambitious but finishable — the difference between entering and placing.

2

Build with mentoring

Regular check-ins keep the build on track, from first prototype to polished demo and documentation.

3

Practise the pitch

Judges score the presentation as much as the code. We rehearse the demo and Q&A until it's second nature.

4

The road to Sydney

We guide registration, submission deadlines and travel for the regional round — and Bucharest, if you qualify.

Questions?

Infomatrix FAQs

School-aged students with a technology project — solo or in a small team, depending on the category. You don't need to be a Vertex member, and you don't need to be an expert coder: the right project scope matters more than raw experience.
There are nine categories across three areas — computer projects, robotics and hackathons — listed in full above. If your child has built, or wants to build, an app, a robot, a film or an AI tool, one of them fits. The robotics side also has two LEGO divisions set aside for junior builders.
The Asia-Pacific regional round is held in person in Sydney, 3–9 December 2026, and presenting live is a big part of the experience. Register your interest and we'll confirm the format, costs and travel details for NZ families well before you need to decide.
Entry through Vertex is NZ$59 per project, which covers registration for the Sydney regional round and the work of getting the entry submitted. The real costs are travel and accommodation, which families arrange themselves, and if a project then qualifies for the World Finals in Bucharest, that trip is a further and much larger cost again. Nothing is payable until you've decided to enter.
Register Interest

Put your hand up for Infomatrix 2026

Tell us who's keen and we'll come back with categories, mentoring options and deadlines. Entry is NZ$59 per project, payable only once you've decided to go ahead.

Please enter the student's name.
Please enter a parent or guardian name.
Please enter a valid email address.

You're on the list!

Thanks — we've noted your interest in Infomatrix and we'll be in touch with categories, deadlines and next steps.

Registering interest doesn't commit you to anything — it just means we'll keep you in the loop for this season.