A Generation Ready to Build
Early results from the simulation show AI education is gaining real traction
The simulation brought together 298 students from 38 counties and 117 schools. The top score was 296.74, with an average of 143.6 points.
In a field that evolves month by month, the truest sign of progress isn't hype—it's consistency. Students who don't just dabble in AI, but practice it regularly. A framework where hands-on work becomes second nature. And when that habit takes hold, real direction emerges.
The ONIA 2026 simulation, held on Saturday, January 17, is clear evidence that AI education in Romania is maturing. It's not just about the numbers—though nearly 300 students from across the country is impressive. It's about the quality of engagement: participants trained real AI models, thought critically, and treated this as a genuine competency test rather than a casual experiment.
Top 15 Leaderboard
| # | Name | Grade | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sasha Costea CN Informatică „Tudor Vianu" | 12 | 296.74 |
| 2 | George-Lucian Blidar CN „Barbu Știrbei" Călărași | 10 | 296.00 |
| 3 | Ștefan Asandei Colegiul Național Iași | 12 | 296.00 |
| 4 | David Alexandru Ilie CN „Ion Creangă" | 11 | 295.72 |
| 5 | Ștefan Iancu LT „Tudor Arghezi" Craiova | 11 | 294.67 |
| 6 | Petru Boca LT Internațional de Informatică București | 8 | 294.50 |
| 7 | Patric-David Baidoc LI „Tiberiu Popoviciu" Cluj | 10 | 293.90 |
| 8 | Mircea Maxim Rebengiuc CN Informatică „Tudor Vianu" | 12 | 293.19 |
| 9 | Andrei Bucur CN „Mircea cel Bătrân" Constanța | 10 | 293.11 |
| 10 | Carina Brebenaru CN „Sfântul Sava" | 10 | 293.00 |
| 11 | Vlad-Cristian Neagu LT Internațional de Informatică București | 9 | 292.81 |
| 12 | Răzvan Dedu LT „Mihai Eminescu" Călărași | 10 | 292.29 |
| 13 | Nistor Iulian LI „Tiberiu Popoviciu" Cluj | 12 | 291.66 |
| 14 | Ian Ștefan-Cazacu CN „Emil Racoviță" Cluj | 10 | 291.18 |
| 15 | Grigore Denis-Andrei CN Informatică „Matei Basarab" Vâlcea | 11 | 290.42 |
Statistics
The average score was 143.6 points, with a median of 143.6. 56 participants scored above 250 points, 94 exceeded 200, and 185 achieved over 100 points.
Distribution by Grade
| Grade 7 | 2 students |
| Grade 8 | 7 students |
| Grade 9 | 42 students |
| Grade 10 | 82 students |
| Grade 11 | 112 students |
| Grade 12 | 48 students |
Geographic Reach
Participation was anchored in several strong regional hubs while maintaining nationwide diversity. Here are the top counties by number of participants:
This spread reflects both established preparation centers and growing interest in AI beyond the traditional hotspots.
Top Schools
- LT Internațional de Informatică București — 24 participants
- CN Informatică „Tudor Vianu" — 22 participants
- CN „Mihai Viteazul" Ploiești — 12 participants
- CN „Mircea cel Bătrân" Constanța — 10 participants
- CN „Carol I" Craiova — 10 participants
What the Results Tell Us
Two things stand out: First, there's already a strong core of high performers with impressive scores and solid work habits. Second, the relatively even score distribution shows this isn't a competition reserved for a select few—it's a learning space where more students can enter, grow, and excel. That's the hallmark of a field becoming a true discipline: when clear pathways emerge, not just isolated peaks.
The consistent representation of multiple counties in the top rankings confirms the simulation worked as intended—a realistic exercise in selection and calibration. The tight margins between top scores point to a highly competitive field and a solid foundation for the stages ahead.
Looking Ahead
For us, this simulation validates a simple belief: the effort is worth it. The interest is real, the potential is there, and the infrastructure to support growth exists.
So the message is straightforward: we're just getting started.
What's next: the regional contest in Focșani with onsite and online participation, then the local contest on February 14th across Romania, with an estimated 500 students. regional.olimpiada-ai.ro