In a strategic move aimed at enhancing Saudi Arabia's presence on the global scientific stage, the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) , in collaboration with its strategic partner, the Ministry of Education, launched a preparatory program for international participation. This intensive program targets 66 outstanding male and female students who won top prizes at the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity (Ibdaa 2026), preparing them to represent the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in prestigious upcoming international scientific events and competitions.
The program is being held at the Mishkat Interactive Center in the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy in Riyadh, and will continue until February 14. It brings together a select group of promising young minds – 38 female and 28 male – who are participating in a comprehensive training program supervised by specialized mentors and academics. The program focuses on a thorough review of the participating scientific projects, the development of individualized improvement plans for each project to enhance its research quality, specialized workshops in presentation and public speaking skills, an introduction to the judging mechanisms used in international competitions, and ensuring adherence to the ethics of scientific research.
Investing in the future: Saudi Vision 2030 and nurturing talent
This program is the culmination of the Kingdom's long-standing national efforts to nurture gifted individuals, a core objective of Saudi Vision 2030. Since its inception, Mawhiba has worked to build an integrated system for discovering and developing talent in scientific and technological fields, based on the belief that investing in human capital is the cornerstone of a thriving, knowledge-based economy. The partnership with the Ministry of Education is a cornerstone of the success of these initiatives, ensuring access to the largest possible segment of students across the Kingdom and motivating them to participate in creativity and innovation programs.
The importance of the program and its impact on the international stage
The program prepares students to participate in prestigious international competitions, most notably the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF 2026) in the United States, the world's largest pre-college science competition. Students are also preparing for the International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition (ITEX 2026) in Malaysia and the Taiwan International Science Fair (TAISEF 2027). Achieving top rankings in these events not only benefits the students but also enhances the Kingdom's international reputation as a leader in supporting science and innovation, highlighting the quality of its educational system. The Kingdom has previously achieved second place globally in ISEF, placing a responsibility on this new generation to continue this legacy of achievement.
“Ibdaa” platform: The world’s largest competition for innovative solutions
These students are the culmination of a fierce competition at the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity, "Ibdaa 2026 ," which set a new Guinness World Record as the largest competition for innovative solutions in the world. The Olympiad saw the registration of more than 357,000 students who submitted over 34,000 scientific projects, reflecting the broad participation base and the growing culture of research and innovation among the Kingdom's youth.
