Registration open for 2026 — Early entries get priority mentorship slots! Secure your spot now →
Season 3 — 2026 Now Open

The World's First
Re-Wilding
Innovation Olympiad

Where student innovators, nature scientists, and digital creators join forces with the Pixodus characters to rewild our planet — and compete to represent India at the global stage in South Korea.

50K+
Students Enrolled
120+
Cities
₹10L+
In Prizes
🇰🇷 TOP WINNER
FLIES TO KOREA
Season Grand Prize
🤖
PIXO R
RGB Whoctopus
🦐
PIXO G
The Meditator
🐈
PIXO W8
The Chronicler
🦋
OCEANO
Whale Guide
Registration closes:
165
Days
09
Hours
32
Mins
44
Secs
Register Now

Supported by & in collaboration with

Pixel Galaxy Studio
KOCCA Korea
RIO AIGNITE
Saving Icebergs IP
Indian Talent Olympiad
Climate Science Foundation
About RIO

What is the Re-Wilding Innovation Olympiad?

RIO is a global student movement that believes the next generation of innovators will be the ones who rewild our planet. It is not just a competition — it is a curriculum, a community, and a call to action for every student from Class 4 to undergraduate level.

Through three extraordinary challenge tracks — Nature & Ecology, Ritual & Culture, and Applied Imaginations & Cognitive Science — students discover that rewilding the Earth begins with rewilding the mind.

RIO is backed by the Pixodus character universe from Pixel Galaxy Studio's Saving Icebergs IP — a story of three RGB Whoctopus characters and a W8 guide who travel the planet teaching communities how to bring nature back. This is not a textbook. This is an adventure.

🌿
Nature & Ecology
Understand, protect, and rebuild wild ecosystems
🌎
Ritual & Cultural Intelligence
Indigenous wisdom as environmental strategy
🧠
Applied Imaginations & CogniSense
Creative thinking + cognitive science for planet-scale solutions

Our Mission

To nurture a generation of Greenie Agents and RIO Innovators — students who are committed to making the world a better, wilder place. Through interactive challenges, real-world projects, and the Pixodus story universe, students gain the skills, knowledge, and courage to become true guardians of the Earth.

RIO runs across 45 immersive learning sessions hosted on the Rio Voyage app, available in 120+ cities. Every challenge is tied to a Pixodus character's quest — making the science feel like the adventure it actually is.

"The planet doesn't need managers. It needs re-wilders."
The Pixodus Universe

Meet Your Pixodus Guides

Each character in the Saving Icebergs story represents a different dimension of planetary rewilding. Complete their challenges. Earn their badges. Join their mission.

🤖

PIXO R — Red Whoctopus

Nature Track

The bold explorer of the trio. Pixo R dives into the most polluted ecosystems and sparks the cleanup. Students in the Nature track follow Pixo R's field missions — from coral reef restoration to urban forest mapping.

🦐

PIXO G — Green Whoctopus

Ritual Track

The meditating philosopher of the group. Pixo G connects ancient ritual wisdom to modern ecological science. Students in the Ritual track study indigenous knowledge, traditional ecology, and ceremonial land stewardship through Pixo G's story arc.

🐈

PIXO W8 — White Chronicler

CogniSense Track

The artist and visual chronicler who processes the world through creation. Pixo W8 holds the brushes, the data, and the questions. Students in the Applied Imaginations track design creative solutions using cognitive science and systems thinking.

🦋

OCEANO — The Whale Guide

All Tracks

The giant silent guardian — sketched but never fully seen, always present. Oceano's intelligence guides all three Whoctopus characters and symbolises the planetary intelligence that students unlock through the Olympiad. The Grand Prize is named in Oceano's honour.

The Saving Icebergs Story

The IP Universe behind RIO

Saving Icebergs is the story of three RGB Whoctopus characters and their W8 guide on a journey to rewild Planet Earth. Each chapter of the book corresponds to one RIO challenge track. As students complete Olympiad rounds, they unlock new chapters of the story — making their academic journey part of a living, evolving narrative adventure. The book is published by Pixel Galaxy Studio as part of the GTM Fuel IP universe.

How to Join the Movement

Your RIO Journey — 5 Stages

From registration to representing India in Korea — every step builds your skills, your profile, and your planet-saving portfolio.

🖌
1

Register Online

Open — 31 Aug 2026

Visit rio.olympiad.in — register free. Receive your unique Pixodus Participant ID via email. Unlock the Rio Voyage app starter missions.

🏭
2

Qualifiers Round

1 – 10 Sep 2026

25-minute online quiz. 10 questions across your chosen track. Score 8/10 or above to advance to the Quarter Finals.

Online Quiz
🏆
3

Quarter Finals

20 – 30 Sep 2026

25-minute advanced quiz. 15 questions. Score 13/15 to qualify as one of the top 1000 Quarter-Finalists. Earn the Wearable Badge of Honour.

Advanced Quiz
📝
4

Semi-Finals

10 – 20 Oct 2026

3-hour online essay writing. Propose innovative, real-world solutions to a global environmental challenge. Top 100 become Semi-Finalists.

Essay Challenge
🇦🇷
5

Finals

15 Nov 2026

Pitch your groundbreaking idea live. Top 10 Finalists named Defenders of Earth. Top Winner receives the Oceano Grand Prize — a fully funded trip to South Korea.

Grand Final Pitch
Rewards & Recognition

Why Participate? Because the rewards are real.

From digital certificates to a fully funded Korea trip — every stage of RIO delivers tangible recognition for your innovation.

🇰🇷

Oceano Grand Prize — Fly to South Korea

The top winner of RIO 2026 will receive a fully funded trip to South Korea — including flights, accommodation, and participation in a youth innovation summit hosted by KOCCA (Korea Creative Content Agency). You will represent India on the global stage, present your rewilding innovation to international judges, and join the Pixel Galaxy Studio creative circle as a Young Innovation Ambassador.

✈ Flights covered 🏠 Accommodation included 🎖 KOCCA Youth Summit 🎖 Innovation Ambassador title Documentary feature ₹2,50,000 cash prize
Top 10 Finalists

Defenders of Earth

Featured in the RIO documentary. Opportunity to represent India globally. National media coverage. Certificate signed by Pixel Galaxy Studio and KOCCA.

₹2,50,000 + Korea trip (top 1)
Top 100 Semi-Finalists

Staff of Greenie Agents

Exclusive Staff of Greenie Agents digital badge. Invitation to the RIO Online Innovation Summit. LinkedIn-verified achievement. Mentorship from Pixel Galaxy Studio curators.

Digital Badge + Mentorship
Top 1000 Quarter-Finalists

Wearable Badge of Honour

Physical Wearable Badge of Honour — a symbol of your commitment to planetary rewilding. Official Quarter-Finalist certificate. Pixodus character collectible digital card set.

Physical Badge + Digital Collectibles
All Participants

Digital Certificate of Participation

Official digital certificate. Your unique Pixodus Participant ID. Access to the full Rio Voyage app curriculum. Entry into the RIO global alumni community.

Free to All

🏫 For Institutions & Schools

🌿 Green Campus Certification
🏆 Earth Guardians Excellence Award
🌟 Champion of Change Award
🎓 Educator of the Year Award
📺 School Featured in RIO Documentary
🌎 National Rewilding School Network Membership
Choose Your Challenge

Three Innovation Tracks

Pick the track that matches your passion. Each track has its own Pixodus guide, challenge curriculum, and prize path.

01

Nature & Ecology

Study and propose solutions to real-world ecological challenges — coral reef degradation, urban deforestation, wetland loss, and species extinction. Guided by Pixo R, the bold explorer.

Biodiversity Ecosystem Mapping Wildlife Corridors Reforestation
02

Ritual & Cultural Intelligence

Explore how ancient indigenous practices, traditional ecological knowledge, and cultural ritual systems offer the most sophisticated planet-care frameworks ever developed. Guided by Pixo G, the meditating sage.

Indigenous Knowledge Sacred Ecology Ritual Practice
03

Applied Imaginations & CogniSense

Design creative, technology-driven solutions to planetary crises using cognitive science, systems design, AI, and imaginative thinking. Guided by Pixo W8, the white chronicler-artist.

Systems Thinking AI for Nature Cognitive Design
How to Join

Simple to Start. Powerful to Finish.

1

Register for free online

Visit rio.olympiad.in and create your profile in under 3 minutes. Choose your innovation track. Get your unique Pixodus Participant ID instantly.

2

Download the Rio Voyage app

Access 45 immersive learning sessions across your chosen track. Complete weekly missions. Collect Pixodus character story chapters as you progress.

3

Take the Qualifiers quiz

25 minutes. 10 questions. Everything you need to know is in the app curriculum. The quiz opens 1st September 2026.

4

Advance through the rounds

Quarter Finals, Semi-Finals, and the Grand Finale. Each round unlocks more of the Pixodus story — and brings you closer to the Korea stage.

5

Represent. Inspire. Rewild.

Whether you reach the Finals or the Qualifiers, every RIO participant joins the global Greenie Agents alumni community — a lifelong credential in planetary innovation.

Eligibility & Key Details

🎓

Students Class 4 to Undergraduate — All Indian students enrolled in any recognised school, college, or university

🌎

120+ Cities — RIO is available in every state of India. International registrations welcome.

💻

100% Online — All rounds (Qualifiers, Quarter Finals, Semi-Finals) are fully online. The Grand Final is hybrid — online + live venue.

📄

Team or Individual — Participate solo or as a team of up to 3. Teams receive a collective certificate and shared prize eligibility.

🔓

Registration is free — No fees to participate. All curriculum content is free via the Rio Voyage app.

🇮🇳

Languages — English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi. More regional languages launching Q2 2026.

Got Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is RIO 2026 free to participate in?
Yes — completely. Registration, all quiz rounds, the essay challenge, and access to the Rio Voyage app curriculum are 100% free. There are no hidden fees at any stage.
What is the Korea trip prize exactly?
The top winner of the Grand Final receives a fully funded trip to Seoul, South Korea — flights, accommodation, and participation in the KOCCA (Korea Creative Content Agency) Youth Innovation Summit. The trip also includes a feature in the RIO documentary and ₹2,50,000 cash prize.
Do I need to be a science student to participate?
Not at all. RIO welcomes students from all streams — science, arts, commerce, vocational, and interdisciplinary programmes. The three tracks are designed to reward creative and cultural thinking as much as scientific knowledge.
What is the Pixodus Universe / Saving Icebergs?
Saving Icebergs is a published IP from Pixel Galaxy Studio — the creative company behind RIO. It follows three RGB Whoctopus characters (Pixo R, Pixo G, Pixo W8) and their whale guide Oceano as they rewild the planet. RIO's curriculum is tied to this story — students unlock chapters as they progress through each round.
Can my school register as an institution?
Yes! Schools and colleges can register as institutional partners, receive the Green Campus Certification, nominate students for all rounds, and compete for the Educator of the Year and Champion of Change awards. Contact partnerships@rio-olympiad.in.
What is the Rio Voyage app?
Rio Voyage is the free learning app that hosts all 45 RIO curriculum sessions across the three tracks. It includes video lessons, quizzes, character story chapters, and assessment tools. Available on iOS, Android, and web browser. All students who register get free access.
How are the Semi-Final essays judged?
Essays are judged by a panel of environmental scientists, educators, and Pixel Galaxy Studio creative mentors. Criteria: scientific understanding, innovation quality, real-world applicability, and communication clarity. Detailed rubric provided in the app before the Semi-Final opens.
Is there an age limit?
RIO is open to students from Class 4 (approximately age 9) through to undergraduate final year (approximately age 22). There are separate prize tiers for school-level (up to Class 12) and undergraduate-level participants in all rounds.
Registration Open Now

Ready to Rewild
the World?

Join 50,000+ student innovators across India who are learning, competing, and building real solutions for the planet's most urgent ecological crises — guided by the Pixodus characters and backed by KOCCA Korea.

Registration deadline: 31 August 2026 — Qualifiers begin 1 September 2026