Orqa Launches Croatia’s First School Drone League for STEM Training
Croatian technology company Orqa has introduced a national-level drone league targeting elementary school students. The initiative combines simulation-based training with competition to support early STEM development.
Croatia-based drone technology firm Orqa has launched the country’s first school drone league, aimed at introducing elementary school students to applied aerospace and robotics concepts through structured competition.
The program was developed in cooperation with the Centar izvrsnosti Splitsko-dalmatinske županije and is supported by telecommunications provider A1 Hrvatska. According to the organizers, the initiative focuses on building foundational knowledge in drone systems, flight operations, and regulatory awareness, alongside practical piloting skills.
A total of 21 school teams from the cities of Osijek and Split are participating in the inaugural edition. Students will train using the Orqa FPV.Ctrl drone simulator, enabling them to gain hands-on experience in a controlled digital environment while developing competencies relevant to real-world unmanned aerial systems operations.
The competition structure includes regional qualification phases, with the top four teams advancing to the final event. Two teams each from Osijek and Split will compete in the concluding stage.
The final is scheduled for May 15 and will take place during the Osijek Drone Expo. The event is expected to bring together participants, educators, and industry representatives, providing a platform for early talent identification and engagement with the broader drone and defense technology ecosystem.
The initiative reflects a growing emphasis across Central and Eastern Europe on integrating emerging technologies into early education pipelines, particularly in areas relevant to dual-use systems and future defense-industrial capabilities.
