RIYADH: A Saudi science and engineering team left the Kingdom today, heading to Columbus, Ohio to compete at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair 2025, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The event, the world’s largest scientific platform for research and innovative projects for pre-university students, will take place May 10–16, with the participation of more than 1,700 students representing 70 countries.

According to SPA, the Kingdom, represented by Mawhiba and the Ministry of Education, has participated annually in this fair since 2007, winning 160 awards in total — 110 grand prizes and 50 special prizes.

The Saudi team includes 40 students participating in distinguished projects in promising scientific fields, selected from among the top winners of the grand prizes in the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity, or Ibdaa 2025. These finalists were chosen from a competitive pool of 200 students whose projects qualified for the last round of the Olympiad, which is one of 20 programs that Mawhiba offers annually for gifted students.

In late 2024, the organizing body of ISEF announced an increase in the number of Saudi projects participating in the 2025 fair to 40, up from 35 in previous editions.

Engineer Anas Al-Hunaihan, director of research programs and innovation development at Mawhiba, explained that three key factors contributed to this expanded participation were: “The demonstrated excellence of Saudi projects at past international competitions, significant growth in the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity registration numbers, and broader student engagement in both regional and central educational exhibitions throughout the Kingdom.”

According to SPA, more than 291,000 students registered for Ibdaa 2025, submitting 23,000 projects across 22 scientific categories. These projects underwent competition and selection through various stages to advance to the Ibdaa Science and Engineering Fair, which was hosted by Imam Mohammed bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh last February.

Prior to their departure, the team members completed comprehensive training regimens spanning an entire year implemented by Mawhiba, aimed at developing their scientific and research skills and preparing them to represent the Kingdom in global forums.