The National Artificial Intelligence Olympiad (ONIA) — already a magnet for more than 716,000 enrolled students across Brazil — has reached a historic milestone: it now enjoys formal cooperation from UNESCO. The announcement, shared on ONIA’s official channels, means the UN agency becomes an institutional partner, boosting the competition’s global profile and opening new doors for collaboration (https://www.oniabrasil.com.br/).

About UNESCO. Founded in 1945, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization works worldwide to foster peace and sustainable development through inclusive education, scientific progress, cultural preservation and freedom of expression. In Brazil, the UNESCO Office in Brasília supports public policies in these areas, forges partnerships with government, universities and civil society, and coordinates nationwide training and research projects.

Why this matters for ONIA. According to Professor Richard Lucht, CEO of EduSpace and member of the Organizing Committee, UNESCO’s seal of approval brings instant international credibility, attracts new supporters and aligns ONIA’s actions with the UN Sustainable Development Goals — especially Quality Education (SDG 4) and Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure (SDG 9). The partnership will also spur exchanges with global initiatives in AI literacy and teacher training.

Who runs ONIA? Three Brazilian institutions share the helm:

EduSpace: An EdTech company managing the competition’s operations and providing the digital platform that powers the Olympiad.
IIA/LNCC: The Brazilian AI Institute, dedicated to addressing the needs of researchers and the AI scientific community, organizing events and training sessions, and facilitating Brazil’s engagement in international initiatives.
H2IA/UFPel: The Technology and Innovation Hub at the Federal University of Pelotas, which serves as the Olympiad’s scientific committee.

Together they craft the rules, design the exams and select Brazil’s delegation to the International Olympiad in AI (IOAI). With UNESCO on board, the organizers plan to expand free learning materials, scale up teacher development and cement Brazil’s reputation as a leader in K-12 AI education.