Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Saudi national team for science and engineering departed for the United States on Friday to compete in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF 2025), which will be held in Columbus, Ohio, from May 10 to 16 with more than 1,700 students from 70 countries.

Saudi Arabia, represented by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) and the Ministry of Education, has participated in ISEF annually since 2007.

The Kingdom has so far earned 160 awards at the prestigious global fair — 110 major awards and 50 special ones.

The Saudi delegation includes 40 students presenting high-caliber projects in promising scientific fields.

These students were selected from the winners of the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity “Ibda’a 2025,” out of 200 finalists whose projects qualified for the final stages.

The Olympiad is one of 20 programs run by Mawhiba annually for gifted students.

In late 2024, ISEF organizers announced an increase in Saudi Arabia’s accepted projects to 40, up from 35 in the previous edition.

Engineer Anas Al-Hunayhen, Director of Research Programs and Innovation Development at Mawhiba, attributed the increase to the high quality of Saudi projects and a surge in local participation, including in regional and central educational exhibitions.

Ibda’a 2025 saw the registration of more than 291,000 students who submitted 23,000 projects across 22 scientific fields.

Finalists were selected through a rigorous evaluation process, culminating in the Ibda’a exhibition hosted by Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh in February.

Saudi participants underwent an intensive year-long training program by Mawhiba to refine their research and presentation skills.

The program included six development phases, diagnostic assessments, and expert-led coaching in scientific communication and competition readiness.

ISEF is the world’s largest platform for pre-university research and innovation projects. Student entries are evaluated by an elite panel of international scientists and experts, offering global exposure and recognition for outstanding scientific achievements.