The second edition of the “Eye on the Future” forum was launched on Monday, 28 April in Riyadh. The event – held under the auspices of the UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize and the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) – was honored by the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Special Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and held under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, Minister of Education. Also in attendance were Mr. Abdullah Al-Fozan, founder of the UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize, and UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, Lidia Arthur Brito.

The forum was organized by the Abdullah Al-Fozan Foundation for Education in partnership with Mawhiba, with support from the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science. It featured an inspiring opening presentation by Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, followed by three panel sessions addressing the challenges and opportunities in building a scientifically and technologically empowered generation. These panels included an open dialogue with members of the jury of the second edition of the UNESCO-Al Fozan Prize (sharing their experiences to enrich the knowledge exchange), a session led by prominent figures from Mawhiba, and another delivered by a team of STEM experts.

UNESCO’s Lidia Brito praised Mawhiba for its role in nurturing young talent and empowering future scientists. She described the gathering as “a celebration of talent, creativity, and vision,” emphasizing that “the scientists, innovators, and changemakers of tomorrow are here with us today, and it is our duty to ensure they are equipped with all the tools, opportunities, and inspiration they need to address the complex challenges of our world.”

The accompanying exhibition showcased high-quality scientific experiences that engaged visitors through interactive technologies designed to spark curiosity and deepen interest in innovation, artificial intelligence, and STEM fields.

The forum aims to exchange ideas and open new horizons in knowledge cooperation for sustainable development by presenting innovative solutions to build a better future, enhance public awareness, and help realize the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in advancing STEM education.

The UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize was launched in October 2021 and was unanimously approved during the 212th session of UNESCO’s Executive Board in Paris. It is the first Saudi international prize established under UNESCO’s auspices, aiming to recognize and encourage young talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

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