The third edition of the Global Conference on Giftedness and Creativity concluded today, organized by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity ("Mawhiba") at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) in Riyadh, running from November 24 to 26, 2024, under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

This year's conference was held under the theme "Creative Minds Without Limits," underscoring the Kingdom's commitment to supporting talent and innovation at home and abroad, with the participation of more than 300 gifted individuals and speakers from 50 countries, making it a global platform for showcasing the potential of gifted individuals and developing comprehensive systems to support them.

Conference Highlights

The conference featured a wide range of activities, including:

  • Six panel discussions focused on the future of innovation and global challenges.
  • Eight specialized workshops examining mechanisms for developing talent and fostering creativity.
  • A Creativity Hackathon across four tracks:
    • Creativity in the family.
    • Creativity in the educational environment.
    • Creativity in the workplace.
    • Creativity in society.
  • An accompanying exhibition and cultural visits to highlight the cultural dimension of talent and creativity.

Honoring Winners and Announcing Winning Projects

At the closing ceremony, 60 winners from the Creativity Hackathon teams were honored for presenting innovative solutions that contribute to improving quality of life across multiple fields. Mawhiba also honored its strategic partners in recognition of their contributions to the foundation's achievements.

Launch of "Mawhiba Strategy 2030"

The conference coincided with the foundation's Silver Jubilee celebration, during which it announced the launch of "Mawhiba Strategy 2030."
The strategy focuses on achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 through:

  • Strengthening talent-discovery programs.
  • Developing strategic partnerships locally and internationally.
  • Supporting creativity and innovation with high quality and efficiency.

16 New Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding

During the conference, Mawhiba signed 16 agreements and memorandums of understanding with local and international entities, aimed at expanding cooperation in supporting gifted individuals and fostering innovation, in line with the goals of the new strategy.

The Conference's Message

The conference underscored the importance of talent and creativity as tools for achieving sustainable development and strengthening integration between local and international entities to devise solutions to current challenges. It also emphasized the Kingdom's pivotal role in supporting gifted individuals, reflecting its standing as a global platform for innovation.