Intel ISEF is considered the world’s largest pre-college science and engineering competition.

The event typically brings together 1,500 young scientists and engineers from up to 50 countries annually. The participants showcase their cutting-edge science and engineering projects and compete for nearly $4 million in awards and scholarships.

The Society for Science & the Public (SSP), a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., has owned and administered the fair since its inception in 1950.

The 30 Saudi students participating in the competition belong to King Abdul Aziz and His Companions Foundation for the Gifted, an organization established by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to develop the capabilities of talented young men and women in the country.

“The participation of our students in Intel ISEF is part of our strategy to encourage them to make inventions,” said Mahmoud Naqadi, deputy secretary-general of the organization.

“This participation supports the Kingdom’s efforts to become a knowledge society.”

He added that the participation would also contribute toward the creation of an innovation culture in the country.

Ahmed Al-Balouchi, head of the Saudi delegation attending the exhibition, said more than a million students around the world compete with one another to take part in the fair every year.

Each student participant (finalist) in Intel ISEF has a project, which is assigned to one of 17 technical categories. These categories range from microbiology and plant sciences to mathematical sciences and behavioral and social sciences.

Finalists are selected from over 500 Intel ISEF-affiliated fairs held worldwide. Each affiliated fair is permitted to send two individual project finalists and one team entry to Intel ISEF. The top three winners of Intel ISEF receive a $50,000 scholarship.

Meanwhile, the Center of Innovations at King Saud University in Riyadh will present 27 inventions from the fields of medicine, energy, water and information technology at the “Ibtikar 2010” competition for researchers and academics organized by the Foundation for the Gifted in Jeddah soon.