The final stage of the "Rayan" international programming and AI contest ended with the brilliance of the Sharifis; in this contest, Ali Safari, a student of Sharif University of Technology, won the championship title, and Amir Ali Asgari, another Sharif student, also managed to place on the podium by winning fifth place.
According to the Public Relations Department of Sharif University of Technology, the closing ceremony of the first edition of the Ryan International Programming Competition, hosted by Sharif University of Technology and supported by the Digital Knowledge-Based Economy Headquarters of the Presidential Vice-President for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy, was held on Friday evening, December 27, 1404, in the Ostad Rabiei Hall of Sharif University of Technology.
In this competition, which was attended by 70 participants from 25 countries around the world, top programmers from the United States, Argentina, Chile, and ... competed with each other, and ultimately Iran won first place and the gold medal.
The final stage of the Ryan International Artificial Intelligence and Programming Competition ended with the brilliance of the Iranian team, and Ali Safari, a student of the Faculty of Computer Engineering at Sharif University of Technology, won the championship title of this competition. In this competition, China, Singapore, and Russia won second to fourth places, respectively. Also, Amir Ali Askari, a student of Sharif's computer engineering, was again on the podium with fifth place.
In the closing ceremony of the competition, Dr. Masoud Tajrishi, President of Sharif University of Technology, welcomed the participants, especially the international guests, and emphasized that they had entered a land with an ancient and global civilization; a land where thinkers such as Abu Ali Sina, Al-Khwarizmi, and Khayyam were raised and which has recorded a tradition of hospitality and scientific exchange in its history centuries ago. He added that Sharif University of Technology, as a symbol of contemporary Iran, continues this legacy with enthusiasm today and is the host of the scientific flourishing of the new generation.
The President of Sharif University emphasized that the participants were not only algorithmic problem solvers, but also demonstrated the power of analytical thinking and problem-solving skills of the next generation by presenting creative solutions, and showed that the boundaries of knowledge expand with intellectual courage and international cooperation.
Referring to the pivotal role of artificial intelligence and computer science in today's world, Dr. Tajrishi said: These fields are no longer just academic disciplines, but are the driving force behind widespread developments in science, industry, economy, and society; developments that encompass fields from medicine and agriculture to art and the environment. He considered competitions like "Ryan" to be practical workshops for cultivating the driving forces of this great transformation.
He reminded that Sharif University of Technology has always considered itself committed to providing a suitable platform for cultivating talents and scientific flourishing, and considered hosting this event an important step towards strengthening scientific dialogue between Iranian and international students.
Addressing the young elite, the university president emphasized that scientific power comes with great responsibility, and ethics and social responsibility should be their guiding light so that future technologies serve human excellence, justice, and global peace, and do not cause the expansion of digital and social gaps.
Dr. Tajrishi expressed hope that the friendships and scientific connections formed during these competitions will continue in the coming years and turn into valuable global collaborations.
Continuing the program, Dr. Hamid Zarrabizadeh, Dean of the Computer Engineering Faculty at Sharif University of Technology and Secretary of the Competition, emphasized in his speech: This ceremony marks the end of the first competition that has fulfilled the dream of creating a platform for bringing together the world's brightest talents in Iran; a dream that was once only an idea for building joint cultures and universities, and today has become a reality.
He said: This year, participants from 137 countries around the world attended the various preliminary stages of this competition, and in the final stage, 100 participants from 25 countries gathered at Sharif University of Technology.
Dr. Zarrabizadeh considered this wide attendance a sign of the free flow of talent, cooperation, and innovation, and added: This event was able to create a new space for interaction among creative youth from all over the world. He also explained that, referring to the simultaneous translation of the ceremony for non-Iranian guests, his speech at this ceremony will be presented in Persian, unlike the previous day.
The competition secretary continued by referring to the efforts of the participants during the competition and stated that these competitions are a reminder of an important truth: the future belongs to those who dream, experiment and even fail.
Addressing the participants, he said: “Whether the winners of the competition or the other participants, they are all symbols of the courage and creativity that today’s technological world needs more than ever.”
He noted: “The main value of this event is not only in the results of the competition, but also in the journey that all participants have embarked on; a journey that can be the starting point for friendships, collaborations and joint projects and lead to a brighter future for the world. He expressed his hope that in the coming years, these competitions will be held on a larger scale and with a wider presence of participants from all over the world.”
At the end of his speech, Dr. Zarrabizadeh thanked all participants and their companions for their presence and emphasized that this experience has been valuable and inspiring for Sharif University of Technology and the Iranian technological community.
Continuing the closing ceremony of the competition, Dr. Hossein Afshin, Deputy for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy, said in his speech: "In today's world, the competition is no longer between arms; it is between brains and those who see first."
Pointing out that this competition began about a year ago with the participation of 137 countries, Dr. Afshin added: "This event was designed in two areas: artificial intelligence and programming, and after holding the preliminary stages, today we are witnessing the final of the competition with the participation of 25 countries. 30,000 minds from Europe and Asia, from Africa and America to Oceania have competed in a single field. This is a field that knows neither borders nor coastlines; it is a field that has only one rule: problem solving."
He added: "Rayan is more than a competition; it is a message. It is a message from Iran that says: We are not spectators of this global competition, but rather its hosts."
The Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy of the Presidency added: This competition was born with a simple goal and continued with a great ideal: to educate a generation that can elevate Iran at a time when the world is rising.
Dr. Afshin said: At Rayan, we do not just teach programming; we teach algorithmic thinking, we build problem-solving skills, we form team spirit, we create job opportunities, and we open paths for young Iranians to step not towards leaving, but towards building their country.
He added: In a world where industries, daily life, security, economy and progress all revolve around artificial intelligence, a competition like Rayan is not just a competition; it is a laboratory for the future. A future whose problems are real. Problems of industry, of transportation, of medicine, of agriculture, of energy and of the very complex world in which humans live today.
He noted: The Ryan Competition showed us that if we provide a field, talents from all over the world will find their way to Iran. And if we give a real problem, the young Iranian mind will shine as bright as its competitors and sometimes even beyond it.
Dr. Afshin said: The Ryan Competition is important because it transforms us from a consumer of global knowledge to a producer of global skills.
The Vice President for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy said: Today, countries from five continents participated in the competition that started in Tehran, and this is the moment when a nation can stand, look and say that we entered the game and not only entered the game, but also became the host, and this means that Iran has, step by step, become a scientific authority in the world.
He added: Artificial intelligence is not just a technology; it is a new and common language. A language with which the future of the economy, politics, industry and even human life will be written. And if we want to play a role in the future of the world, we must be experts, creative, and forward-thinking in this language.
Dr. Afshin said: Today, Ryan is not a competition; it is a national investment to keep talents in the country, to find stars who were perhaps on the path to emigration. And today, with a global standard competition, they felt that it is possible to stay in Iran and compete, learn, and create.
The first round of the World Artificial Intelligence and Programming Competition ended at Sharif University of Technology while officials emphasized the continuation of this event and strengthening Iran's role in the global technology ecosystem.
Results of the first round of Ryan's Programming and Artificial Intelligence Competition