European Rover Challenge Robotics Competition

The European Rover Challenge (ERC) is an international robotics and space engineering competition where student and amateur teams design, build, and operate Mars or lunar rover analogues in realistic planetary environments. It combines field robotics tasks (such as navigation, science sampling, and maintenance operations) with a large science and technology expo, lectures, and workshops focused on space exploration and STEM. ERC is organized by the European Space Foundation in collaboration with academic and industry partners, and is primarily aimed at university-level teams, though advanced high school students may participate if they form or join an eligible team that meets competition rules. Participants gain hands-on experience in robotics, programming, mechanics, electronics, and mission planning, build teamwork and project management skills, and network with space-sector professionals and researchers.