The Khwarizmi International Award (KIA) is a significant event held annually to commemorate the world-renowned Iranian mathematician and astronomer Mohammad Ibn Khwarizmi. KIA rewards the efforts made by researchers, innovators and inventors, both in Iran and abroad and appreciates their invaluable achievements and contributions to various fields of science and technology.

Iranian President Seyyed Mohammad Khatami addressed those partaking in the ceremony and said: throughout the ages those with something to say have been less heard and those who speak are often not worth hearing. Until intellectuals and academics must listen to us politicians, society and the world at large will not be doing well. He continued to say that: in today’s integrated world, in which transformations occur with extraordinary speed, there exists an advantage and a disadvantage.

The advantage is that if we engage in art, education and thinking we can easily and speedily benefit from any progress made anywhere in the world. However, the disadvantage is that if we stall and neglect the need for knowledge the speed of transformation will leave us behind, further distancing us from the world. To benefit from the advantages and withstand the dangers we must value knowledge, science, scholars and intellectuals. We must allow our scientists to remain up-to-date with constant advances in their fields. We must integrate our scholars and intellectuals in our decision-making systems.

"Two of the most significant researchers being awarded were M. Karimian and M. Bahmanpour, who were jointly awarded second place in the field of Applicable Research"

President Khatami went on to praise the intelligence of Iran’s youth. 70% of Iranians are under 35 years of age, which makes them a sensitive and significant section of society. The thriving presence of youth in cultural, scientific, artistic and sporting activities, and their achievements in these fields, is a testimony to the capabilities of this young generation. We must understand the characteristics of our youth and while they maintain their identity, they should be guided towards fulfilling their desires and interacting with the world, for this will promise them a brighter future. This guidance can come from the continuous contact of our youth with our scholars and intellectuals, which will be to the benefit of all. Our scholars will benefit from the vigor and enthusiasm of our youth, and our youth will gain invaluable experiences from our scholars.