Saudi Arabia's talent experience inspires the world at ISEF 2026
In a move reflecting the prestigious scientific standing achieved by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) organized a specialized symposium as part of 2026 exhibition 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.
A long history of scientific innovation
To understand the magnitude of this achievement, one must consider the historical context of this global event. The International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), founded in 1950 by the American Science Association, is the world’s largest pre-college science competition. Over the decades, the fair has evolved into the premier destination for creative young minds from around the globe. Saudi Arabia recognized the importance of participating in this international forum early on, officially beginning its participation in 2007. Through the Mawhiba Foundation and the Ministry of Education, the Kingdom has worked diligently to transform its participation from a mere honorary presence into a fierce competition for top honors, reflecting a remarkable historical development in the Kingdom’s education and scientific research sector.
Details of the Talent Symposium at ISEF 2026
The symposium, held after the Science Judging Day at ISEF 2026, addressed pathways for building high-performing science fairs and strategies for nurturing gifted students. It also covered mechanisms for attracting and training educational staff and methods 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 Olska. This participation was part of the Saudi Science and Engineering Fair's participation in the exhibition, which included more than 1,700 students representing approximately 70 countries worldwide.
Strategic impact and a bright future
The significance of this participation extends far beyond simply winning awards, representing a profound strategic impact at the local, regional, and international levels. Locally, this achievement aligns directly with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to transform the Kingdom into a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy and cultivate a generation capable of leading the future. Regionally, it solidifies the Kingdom's position as a leading nation in the Arab world and the Middle East in nurturing talent, making its experience a model for neighboring countries. Internationally, sharing the "Mawhiba" experience with the world demonstrates that Saudi Arabia is no longer merely a consumer of technology, but an active partner in producing knowledge and developing scientific solutions to global challenges.
Harvesting achievements and discovering talented individuals
The exhibition is the world's largest platform for research and innovation projects, where projects are evaluated by a select group of international scientists and experts. The Kingdom has proven its excellence in this field, having won 185 awards in previous participations, including 124 major awards and 61 special awards. Perhaps the most notable achievement was in the last edition of the exhibition, where the Kingdom ranked second globally after the United States, confirming the success of its national strategy.
As a leading national institution globally dedicated to discovering, nurturing, and empowering talented individuals, Mawhiba continues to operate according to a comprehensive national strategy for talent development in priority scientific fields. This ongoing effort not only supports the building of an advanced knowledge society but also fosters a culture of innovation and contributes effectively to comprehensive and sustainable national development.
