A delegation of 40 Saudi students departed for Columbus, Ohio today to participate in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2025, the world’s largest platform for scientific research and innovation among pre-university students. The fair will run from May 10 to 16 and features over 1,700 participants representing 70 countries.
The Saudi team, selected through the prestigious National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity (Ibdaa 2025), is backed by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) in partnership with the Ministry of Education. The students were chosen from a pool of 291,000 registrants who submitted over 23,000 research projects across 22 scientific categories.
Saudi Arabia has competed in ISEF annually since 2007, earning 160 total awards, including 110 grand prizes and 50 special awards. This year marks a record for Saudi participation, with 40 projects selected—an increase from the previous cap of 35.
Engineer Anas Al-Hunaihan, Director of Research Programs and Innovation Development at Mawhiba, noted the increased representation of the growing number of participants in the national Olympiad, the consistent international performance of Saudi students, and heightened engagement in science fairs across the Kingdom.
The finalists, who underwent a full year of intensive scientific and research training under Mawhiba, will present projects in advanced and promising scientific fields, reflecting the Kingdom’s investment in nurturing talent and fostering innovation at the school level.
The Ibdaa Olympiad finals were held earlier this year at Imam Mohammed bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, after several competitive stages of evaluation and mentorship.
The Saudi team’s participation in ISEF 2025 underscores the Kingdom’s continued commitment to advancing science education and empowering its youth to excel on global platforms.