Paris - The Al Fozan Foundation, in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and with the support of the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to UNESCO, launched a global award aimed at nurturing and encouraging young talents in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), the first global award at UNESCO. The Kingdom is presenting it to celebrate the outstanding achievements of young researchers in the five UNESCO regions around the world, who have contributed to making outstanding fingerprints in their countries.

This came during the 212th session of the Executive Council of UNESCO, which started its work since October 6, 2021 and will continue until October 20, 2021.

The launch of the award confirms and achieves the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to develop and support science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, especially for young people, and to promote the principle of learning for work by providing young people with the necessary skills for future professions.

The award also came in line with UNESCO's efforts to promote specializations and competencies in the award's fields, and an affirmation of the Al Fozan Foundation's commitment to promoting scientific achievements for the development of societies around the world. The award also aims to promote scientific cooperation, progress and dissemination of science and technology, and encourage global cooperation in the targeted fields, in addition to its role in providing young scientists with world-class research opportunities.

The UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize is of particular importance because the areas covered by the award represent the main driver of human development, which emphasized the importance of supporting and developing the award’s fields in both developed and developing countries.

Among the objectives of the award is to enhance public awareness and explore superior areas in developing countries, to contribute to building a group of scientists, researchers and engineers for their effective participation in promoting the global economy and achieving sustainable development in the longer term.

The award aspires to promote gender equality in STEM disciplines, as adopted in the UNESCO Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Programme, which was launched in 2015. The award also seeks to develop a new generation of researchers with expertise in multiple and eligible scientific fields; To address global challenges addressed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

A jury of five world-renowned experts in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, oversees the award, which is announced every two years, with a total prize of $250,000, awarded to five young scientists representing the five UNESCO regions.