Im​am Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University concluded its participation in the 51st edition of the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions 2026, held from March 11 to 15 in Geneva, Switzerland, achieving a remarkable international accomplishment. The university secured three gold medals, one of them with distinction, along with a silver medal and a special international award, reaffirming its excellence and leadership in innovation and technology development.

The exhibition is considered one of the world's largest specialized events in innovation and inventions, bringing together top innovators, universities, companies, and technical centers from around the globe. The 2026 edition featured more than 1,000 inventions from approximately 40 countries, all evaluated by specialized international judging panels.

These results are the outcome of the efforts of the university's innovators, supported by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which provided guidance and resources through workshops, specialized programs, technical and administrative consultations, and oversight of intellectual property protection and patent registration processes. This support enabled teams to present their innovations at a highly professional and competitive international level.

The university won the gold medal with distinction, the highest award at the exhibition, for an innovation developed by the College of Science team led by Dr. Sherif Hussein, Dr. Mohammed Al-Eissa, Dr. Hassan Redini, Prof. Nayef Al-Otaibi, and Dr. Mohammed Al-Ghanim. Their invention focuses on producing biodegradable membranes from a biological source and is registered as a U.S. patent (US12098285B1).

The College of Medicine team, led by Prof. Salahuddin Khan with the participation of student Abdulrahman Al-Ammar, also received a gold medal for their innovation of infection-resistant medical sutures using silver nanoparticles, registered under patent number SA19789.

In recognition of outstanding young talent, student Abdulrahman Al-Ammar received an excellence award from the Korean Association for Invention Promotion for his contribution to the exhibition.

In another technological achievement, a team from the College of Engineering, consisting of Dr. Mohammed Shalabi and Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Shaabani, won a gold medal for their innovation in water desalination using electro-solar energy, registered as a U.S. patent (US12448302B1).

Additionally, a team from the College of Science led by Dr. Khalid Hassan Ibn Auf, Dr. Hajo Idris Mohammed, Dr. Osama Al-Daghri, and Dr. Amin Othman received a silver medal for their innovation in developing advanced organic laser and photonic materials, registered as a U.S. patent (US12184033B1).

Dr. Yazid bin Masoud Al-Khrijah, Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, emphasized that this achievement reflects the university's high level of excellence in innovation and technology development. He noted that participation in international exhibitions provides an important platform to showcase the university's innovations and strengthen its global presence within the innovation ecosystem.

He added that these distinguished results demonstrate the ability of the university's innovators to transform ideas into practical innovations with scientific and economic value, contributing to the advancement of the innovation ecosystem and reinforcing the role of universities in developing technical solutions to developmental challenges.

He further stated that the center continues its efforts to empower innovators by supporting patent registration and commercialization, as well as fostering an environment that promotes a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship within the university. This aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in building a knowledge-based economy driven by innovation.

Dr. Al-Kharijah also extended his congratulations, on behalf of the center's staff, to the H.E. Prof. Ahmed S. Alaameri, the Vice President for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, Prof. Nayef bin Mohammed Al-Otaibi, and all university members on this international achievement. He emphasized that this success is the result of strong support for the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem within the university.

He expressed pride in the participating researchers and innovators, praising their efforts that contributed to this international recognition and elevated the university's name at one of the world's leading innovation events.

These results reflect Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University's growing presence on the international stage and its rapid progress in innovation and technology development, enhancing its academic standing and contributing to the knowledge economy while reinforcing the role of Saudi universities in shaping the future.

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