In a move reflecting the rapid development witnessed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the fields of science and innovation, the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) organized a specialized symposium as part of the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF 2026) held in Phoenix, USA. This symposium aimed to highlight the pioneering Saudi national experience in building an integrated system for discovering and developing young scientific talent and managing international participation with high efficiency, thus contributing to creating a sustainable Saudi impact on global innovation platforms.
Historical context: The journey of “Mawhiba” and the ISEF exhibition
The Mawhiba Foundation was established to be the Kingdom's premier incubator for creative talent, operating according to a comprehensive national strategy aimed at developing talent in priority scientific fields. These efforts are closely aligned with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which places investment in human capital and innovation at the forefront of its priorities. Meanwhile, the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), first held in 1950, is the world's largest pre-college science competition, bringing together thousands of young minds from around the globe annually to compete and present innovative solutions to global challenges.
Details of the seminar and strategies for excellence
The symposium, held after the scientific judging day at the exhibition, addressed pathways for building high-performing science fairs, student preparation strategies, and methods for attracting and training educational and supervisory staff. It also discussed mechanisms for expanding programs while maintaining the highest standards of quality and sustainability. The symposium featured a distinguished panel of experts, including the head of the delegation and Director of Programs at the Foundation, Anas Al-Hunaihin; the head of the judging panel, Daniel Al-Ghazawi; the secretary of the scientific committee, Abdulkarim Al-Qunaisi; and expert Mark Olske. This participation was part of the Saudi Science and Engineering Fair delegation, which included more than 1,700 students representing approximately 70 countries.
Saudi achievements and a sustainable impact locally and internationally
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by Mawhiba and the Ministry of Education, has participated annually in the ISEF exhibition since 2007. Throughout this distinguished history, the Kingdom has achieved remarkable success, winning 185 awards, comprising 124 major awards and 61 special awards. Perhaps the most notable achievement was in the previous edition when the Kingdom ranked second globally, after the United States, reflecting the high quality of its educational and training programs.
The strategic importance of this event extends far beyond simply winning awards. Locally, these achievements inspire thousands of Saudi students to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. Regionally, the Kingdom has solidified its position as a leading example in the Arab world for nurturing talent. Internationally, Mawhiba's participation in ISEF 2026 underscores that Saudi Arabia is no longer merely a participant in scientific forums, but a key decision-maker and partner in shaping the future of global innovation, thus supporting the development of a robust knowledge-based society and contributing to national and global development.
