It is with great pleasure that UNESCO joins the laureates, participants and organisers of the 31st Khwarizmi International Award, which recognizes the invaluable contributions to science, technology and innovation made by researchers, innovators and inventors from across the globe.
I send my heartfelt congratulations to the laureates and sincerely thank them for their work. They follow the legacy of the great Muhammad Ibn Mousa Al-Khwarizmi, whose influence has shaped mathematics and astronomy to this day.
Born 12 centuries ago, Al-Khwarizmi drew knowledge from different cultures across time, building his treasured innovations on Hindu numerals and ancient Greek and Egyptian manuscripts connecting knowledge from different cultures, places and times.
Al-Khwarizmi’s life and work epitomise the international intellectual cooperation so central to UNESCO’s vision, as it exemplifies the values of tolerance, openness and humanity: commitment to bring individuals and cultures together for the sake of scientific progress for all.
The fields of science and technology are crucial for achieving sustainable development, to share scientific knowledge in pursuit of tackling climate change and poverty eradication.
By bringing together pioneering researchers, innovators and inventors from all over the world, the Khwarizmi International Award lays the foundation for the inclusive and fruitful pooling of ideas that can ensure a brighter and better future for all.
I wish to commend today’s Laureates once more, and extend my thanks to the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO and the Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology for hosting this important event.
Audrey Azoulay
