First Vice-President: Khwarizmi Awards have Followed an Upward Path of Excellence since the 1980s
On Monday, February 16, 2026, the Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST) held the ceremony to officially announce and honor the laureates of the 39th Khwarizmi International Award and the 27th Khwarizmi Youth Award at the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. At the ceremony, Mohammad Reza Aref, First Vice-President, congratulated the laureates and stated: “Since its first edition in the mid-1980s, the Khwarizmi Awards have followed a reassuring and steadily progressive path.”
Referring to the meticulous work of the award jury, he added: “Selecting the very best from among a large number of distinguished elites, particularly in the field of technological projects, is a difficult task. However, thanks to the judges’ precision and careful evaluation, we have witnessed both quantitative and qualitative growth of the award each year.”
Aref noted that in this edition, 118 applications from various countries were received, emphasizing that this reflects the award’s international standing and the country’s scientific capacity. The First Vice-President stressed: “This ceremony is not merely an award presentation event; it is a stage for honoring the strategic assets of the Iranian nation. A scientist is a spiritual and strategic asset, and no material standard can assign a value to such intellectual capital.” Aref acknowledged certain shortcomings, stating: “We may not always have met the livelihood and professional needs of elites and scientists as they deserve. Nevertheless, we firmly believe that these invaluable intellectual assets, guided by their sense of responsibility and commitment, continue to pursue the country’s path of progress.”
Reliance on Science and Technology to Address National Challenges
Referring to the status of science in the country’s upstream policy documents, Aref stated: “In the Vision Document and the Second Step of the Revolution Statement, emphasis has been placed on relying on science, technology, and education for national development and problem-solving. Fortunately, over the past five decades, through the dedicated efforts of professors and young academics, we have moved from merely benefiting from science to truly relying on science and technology.”
He concluded: “Each year, this award demonstrates that Iranian scientific thought is alive, dynamic, and impactful, and that it will continue its journey toward reaching the highest peaks of science and technology.”