IMSCC Marks 20 Years of Global STEAM Education

The 20th International Mathematical Science Creativity Competition & Conference (IMSCC 2026), co-hosted by the Foundation for the Advancement of STEAM (FAS; Chairman Shin Ki-hyun) and Korea National University of Education (KNUE; President Cha Woo-gyu), was successfully held over two days, October 30-31, at KNUE in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do.

Marking its 20th anniversary this year, the competition was held as an international event under the theme ‘4Dframe × Embodied AI: Play, Create, Interact!’, sharing creative works and educational achievements that integrate mathematics, science, engineering, the arts and technology. Built on a network of 20 member countries, the event gave students, teachers, researchers and education professionals the opportunity to share the results of creative STEAM education and to broaden the possibilities for international cooperation.

This year, 230 teams advanced to the finals across 12 divisions, with participants ranging from young children to elementary, middle and high school students, university students and adults. Using 4Dframe, participants built physical structures that embody mathematical and scientific principles, and presented a wide range of creative works incorporating AI and robotics.

Education Leaders Present a Vision for the Future of Creative STEAM Education

At the International STEAM Teacher Awards ceremony on October 30, KNUE President Cha Woo-gyu stressed in his welcoming remarks that the advancement of creative STEAM education begins with the imagination and practice of teachers who nurture students’ curiosity and create new learning experiences in the classroom. He also expressed his hope that educators from many countries would share their experience and wisdom across borders and discover new possibilities for education.

In his congratulatory address, Yoon Gun-young, Superintendent of the Chungcheongbuk-do Office of Education, emphasized that in a rapidly changing era, what matters more than technology itself is a human-centered perspective and the ability to solve problems creatively. He added that international exchange among students and teachers of different languages and cultures will become a valuable educational asset for future generations.

Agus Setiabudi, Vice Rector of Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, noted in his congratulatory remarks that as artificial intelligence is rapidly introduced into education, hands-on learning that links 4Dframe with AI can play an important role in developing students’ creativity and problem-solving skills.

At the opening ceremony of the main competition on October 31, FAS Chairman Shin Ki-hyun emphasized that over the past 20 years, IMSCC has grown beyond a domestic creativity contest into an international forum for STEAM education with participants from around the world. He noted that in the age of AI, the ability to identify future problems on one’s own and to create solutions by combining science, technology and creativity is especially important.

In his congratulatory address, Do Seong-hoon, Superintendent of the Incheon Metropolitan City Office of Education, conveyed the message that the more AI provides quick answers, the more important it becomes to discover new questions, to not fear failure, and to solve problems collaboratively.

Atip Latipulhayat, Vice Minister of Primary and Secondary Education of Indonesia, also sent congratulatory remarks, praising the educational value of a competition in which knowledge is built through play, creation and interaction. The remarks were read on his behalf by Amalia Fitria, Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Korea.

230 Teams in 12 Divisions Turn Creative Ideas into Real Works

The finals on October 31 featured competitions in 12 divisions, including Play, Creativity, Maker, Invention and Capstone Design. Using 4Dframe, participants explored geometric structures and mathematical principles and presented a wide variety of works applying them to scientific inquiry and engineering design.

Creative ideas connected to everyday life drew particular attention, including an eco-friendly plant-growing system, a robot for delivering supplies at disaster sites, and inventions designed to solve everyday problems. Beyond the quality of their finished works, participants demonstrated the real value of STEAM education through an inquiry process of identifying problems and repeatedly designing, building, testing, and improving.

The competition was also significant in offering opportunities for creative challenge and international exchange to participants of all ages and educational backgrounds, including students in special education.

International STEAM Teacher Awards… Recognizing the Innovative Work of Educators Worldwide

On October 30, the first day of the event, the ‘2026 International STEAM Teacher Awards’ ceremony was held at Cheongram Art Hall, KNUE.

The International STEAM Teacher Awards were established to recognize teachers who practice creative STEAM education connecting science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics in the classroom, and who have contributed to developing and researching innovative educational programs, mentoring students, and advancing international cooperation in education.

This year, seven teachers working in Korea, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Sweden, and other countries were selected as award recipients. The recipients shared the creative STEAM teaching experiences and achievements from their own classrooms, adding meaning to international cooperation in education.

International Conference and Student Forum… Discussing the Future of STEAM Education

An international conference and a student forum were also held during the event.

At the conference, research and teaching cases were presented on a wide range of topics, including STEAM practice in schools, multisensory and language-integrated learning, sustainability and STEAM education, mathematical structures and modeling, and community partnerships for expanding access to education.

In particular, a range of programs — including an interactive keynote performance by balancing artist Byun Nam-seok — showcased new educational approaches that link mathematical and scientific thinking with artistic creativity.

At the student forum, elementary, middle and high school students took part in hands-on activities and joint projects on themes such as the environment, sustainability and future mobility. Working and presenting in teams, participants shared ideas with one another and gained experience in creative problem-solving.

Winners of the 20th International Mathematical Science Creativity Competition

At the awards ceremony held on the afternoon of October 31 in the main auditorium of the Gyowon Cultural Center at KNUE, awards were presented for outstanding works in each division, along with Distinguished Service Awards commemorating the competition’s 20th anniversary.

This year’s Grand Prize was awarded to 10 teams across 10 divisions: six from Korea, two from Hong Kong, one from Sweden, and one from Indonesia.

The Grand Prize winners of the 20th IMSCC are as follows.

IMSCC 2026 Grand Prize Winners

- Creativity I: Oak Explorers (Korea)
- Creativity II: HK-02 (Hong Kong, China)
- Creativity III: HK-05 (Hong Kong, China)
- Mechatronics I: Jeomchong (Korea)
- Mechatronics II: Orca It (Korea)
- Mechatronics III: Hullalla (Korea)
- Analog Product Maker: Folding Cutting Board (Korea)
- Digital Product Maker: Team Sweden 2 (Sweden)
- Invention Maker: Goddess (Korea)
- Capstone Design: Coix Squad (Indonesia)

Overcoming a Visa Refusal Three Years Ago to Win Silver… Hope and Determination from Two Filipino Students

At this year’s competition, Jennalyn Barquin and Nicole Sapno from Pampanga Province, the Philippines — invited through FAS’s social contribution program — competed as a two-person team, Shadow Eagle, in the Analog Product Maker division and won a Silver Award, a hard-earned achievement.

Three years ago, the two students had planned to visit Korea to take part in the international competition, but their visa applications were refused due to incomplete parental financial documents, and they missed the chance to compete on the international stage. Refusing to give up on their dream of science, they tried again, visited Korea this year, and won a Silver Award at the international competition for the first time, proving their creativity and talent.

The invitation was made possible through the sponsorship of Sung Myung-ki, CEO of Yeoeui System and former chairman of the INNOBIZ Association, and Seongbok Central Church, with FAS covering the travel expenses to Korea for a total of seven people, including the students, their educator and accompanying family members. The award is a meaningful example of how students who might otherwise be excluded from international education opportunities due to financial hardship can realize their potential when given the right support and opportunity.

This achievement reflects the spirit of FAS’s educational giving program — ‘So that poverty does not decide what children can become’ — and reaffirms IMSCC as a place of opportunity where hidden talent is discovered and dreams come true.

Beyond 20 Years of Achievement: A New Leap for Global Creative STEAM Education

Launched in 2007 at the National Science Museum, IMSCC began as a creativity competition for students in Korea and has grown into an international STEAM education platform bringing together students, teachers and researchers from around the world.

The competition expanded its international exchange from 2015 and continued international cooperation and educational activities through online competitions during the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s 20th-anniversary event marked an important turning point — a chance to look back on two decades of accumulated achievements in creative science education and to prepare for a new leap forward over the next 20 years.

FAS plans to continue strengthening cooperation with schools and educational institutions in Korea and abroad with IMSCC at its center, and to steadily expand the spread of 4Dframe-based creative STEAM education and international educational exchange.

Through partnerships with businesses, educational institutions and public-interest organizations, FAS will also continue its educational giving and social contribution activities so that talented students can take part in creative challenges and international exchange regardless of their educational environment or financial circumstances.

Event Overview

- Event: The 20th International Mathematical Science Creativity Competition & Conference (IMSCC 2026)
- Korean name: 제20회 국제수리과학창의대회 및 콘퍼런스
- Dates: Friday, October 30 - Saturday, October 31, 2026
- Venue: Korea National University of Education, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea
- Co-hosts: Foundation for the Advancement of STEAM (FAS) · Korea National University of Education (KNUE)
- Theme: 4Dframe × Embodied AI: Play, Create, Interact!
- Scale: 20 member countries; 230 finalist teams in 12 divisions
- Main programs: International Mathematical Science Creativity Competition, International STEAM Teacher Awards, International Conference, International Student Forum

About the Foundation for the Advancement of STEAM

Established in 2013, the Foundation for the Advancement of STEAM (FAS) is a nonprofit public-interest foundation dedicated to promoting interdisciplinary education and developing future scientific talent by integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. Its major activities include organizing the International Mathematics and Science Creativity Competition (IMSCC), conducting teacher training programs in Korea and abroad, supporting creative science education, facilitating international educational partnerships, and providing scholarships and educational opportunities to promising students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The Foundation is particularly committed to reducing educational inequalities and helping children around the world discover and develop their creativity and potential.

언론연락처: Foundation for the Advancement of STEAM (FAS) International Public Relations Office Jung-hwa Yoon Director of International PR +82-31-553-7774 Ha-jong Park Secretary-General

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