Payvand.com - According to science correspondent of Iranian Students News Agency, ISNA, in a ceremony held on Februrary 5 in the Islamic Conference Hall, Dr. Salar Amoli, the secretary of the festival, said: The 21^st International Khwarizmi Festival was initiated 11 month ago by an appeal in all universities, research and technology associations inside and outside of Iran, and as a result 968 projects were finally collected.

The Festival was attended by the Science Minister, President's Advisor and the Research Deputy for National Elites Association.

Dr. Amoli, pointing to the increasing amount of projects received, added:  This year with a considerable rise, we received 192 projects from 54 countries. The number of foreign participants has hit a record in the history of Khwarizmi Festival, despite negative advertisements against Iran around the world.

He emphasised: With their participation in this festival, the scientists of the world, announced the message that propaganda and national boundaries has no place in this field and that science and innovation belongs to everyone.

Regarding judgment of projects, Dr. Amoli said: The projects have been evaluated in three phases and finally, 25 Iranian and 11 foreign projects from Egypt, Swiss, US, Belgium, Italy, France, China and Taiwan were selected as the top projects.

He added: Also in this festival, prominent projects like Amorphous magnetic alloys technology, Gamma engines technology and Carbon fibres has been appreciated which shows the scientific dynamism of our country.

He also declared that: The most appreciated Science and Technology Associations from all around the world had supported us with granting awards; some of them are: UNESCO, granting the Einstein medal, two awards from Third World Association of Science, TWAS, three monetary award from COMSTECH , an award for a top innovation and an award for important innovation for economic resources from COMSATS, a gold medal for the top inventor and also a gold medal for the selected young inventor and monetary awards from WIPO, three monetary awards and appreciations from ISESCO, granting innovation medal to two inventors from IFIA, and three licenses for top selected projects from ECO.

In the end Salar Amoli said: I hope, with full support of officials, the International Khwarizmi Festival, as the mother of Iranian Science Festivals, such as Javan [youth], Elm and Din [science and religion], and Razi and Farabi, will continue its way of evolution.

Reference: Wikipedia's page on Khwarizmi

Note: Original article published in Persian by ISNA.
Translated for Payvand.com by BMarz translators: http://www.BMarz.com

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