Contest Challenges Design of Device For Use By James Bond in Costa Rica

British spy James Bond as Q, the fictional research and development division of the British Secret Service. But, if he were to ever come to Costa Rica, he would without a doubt be able to count on the MICIT, the Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología.


Sean Connery, the best Bond ever. A word Bond, James Bond, it's butt out in Costa Rica!

British spy James Bond as Q, the fictional research and development division of the British Secret Service. But, if he were to ever come to Costa Rica, he would without a doubt be able to count on the MICIT, the Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología.

Q (Major Boothroyd) Character from the James Bond film series. Peter Burton and Desmond Llewelyn, (top), R which later became Q (John Cleese, bottom left) and Algernon (Alec McCowen, bottom right)

And just in case Bond would ever be in Costa Rica on a mission, the MICIT is launching a contest that challenges Costa Ricans a device that James could not do without.

The contest is called Concurso Nacional de Aplicaciones de Automatización y Robótica (National Competition Application Automation and Robotics), better known as RobotiFest 2012.

The contest promotes the construction of apparatus for the fictional big screen character and traditional robots.

To ensure that the gadgets are up to par to the needs of the legendary MI6 spy, the British Embassy in Costa Rica will make the evaluation of the presentations.

The contest is open to scientists and engineers 15 years of age and older and coordinated by the engineering schools of the Universidad de Costa Rica, the Universidad Nacional and the Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (TEC) - the Costa Rica Institute of Technology.

There are two categories: Bond Challenge and General category, each with themes on manufacturing and logistics, services, and biorobotics and environment.

The last day to register for the contest is September 1, 2012 and the winners chosen on November 1, 2012, in an event to be held at the Antigua Aduana in San José.

Disqualified will be entries that involve plagiarism in all its forms or for any reference to war, violence, racism or discrimination.

More information on the contest and registration is available at: http://robotifest.com/