The final stage of the international “Rayan” Artificial Intelligence and Programming Competition concluded with outstanding performances by Sharif University students. In this contest, Ali Safari, a student at Sharif University of Technology, claimed the championship title, while another Sharif student, Amirali Asgari, secured fifth place, earning a spot on the podium.
According to the Public Relations Office of Sharif University of Technology, the closing ceremony of the first edition of the Rayan International Programming Competition was held on Friday afternoon, 7 Azar 1404 (November 28, 2025), in the Professor Rabiee Hall at Sharif University of Technology. The event was hosted by Sharif University of Technology with the support of the Digital Knowledge-Based Economy Headquarters under the Vice-Presidency for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy of the President’s Office.
In this competition, 70 participants from 25 countries—including top programmers from the United States, Argentina, Chile, and other nations—competed vigorously. Ultimately, Iran emerged victorious, securing the first place and the gold medal.
The final stage of the “Rayan” International Artificial Intelligence and Programming Competition concluded with a brilliant showing by the Iranian team. Ali Safari, a student at the Department of Computer Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, was crowned champion of the competition. In this edition, China, Singapore, and Russia took second through fourth places, respectively. Amirali Asgari, also a Computer Engineering student at Sharif, secured fifth place and stood on the podium.
At the closing ceremony, Dr. Masoud Tajrishy, 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 that nurtured great thinkers such as Avicenna (Ibn Sina), Al-Khwarizmi, and Omar Khayyam, and that centuries ago inscribed in its history the traditions of hospitality and scientific exchange. He added that Sharif University of Technology, as a symbol of modern Iran, proudly continues this legacy today and serves as a host for the scientific flourishing of a new generation.
The University President stressed that the participants were not merely solvers of algorithmic problems; rather, through their creative solutions, they displayed the analytical thinking and problem-solving capabilities of the next generation, demonstrating that the frontiers of knowledge expand through intellectual courage and international collaboration.
Referring to the pivotal role of artificial intelligence and computer science in today’s world, Dr. Tajrishy stated: “These fields are no longer just academic disciplines; they have become the driving engines behind sweeping transformations in science, industry, the economy, and society—transformations that encompass everything from medicine and agriculture to art and the environment.” He described competitions like “Rayan” as practical workshops for nurturing the pioneers of this great transformation.
He further noted that Sharif University of Technology has always considered itself committed to creating an enabling environment for nurturing talent and fostering scientific excellence, and that hosting this event marked a significant step toward strengthening scientific dialogue between Iranian and global students.
Addressing the young elites, the University President emphasized that scientific power carries great responsibility, and that ethics and social accountability must guide their path—so that future technologies serve human advancement, justice, and global peace, rather than widening digital and social divides.
Dr. Tajrishy expressed hope that the friendships and scientific connections formed during this competition will endure in the years ahead and evolve into valuable international collaborations.
Later in the ceremony, Dr. Hamid Zarrabi-Zadeh, Head of the Department of Computer Engineering at Sharif University of Technology and Secretary-General of the Rayan Competition, stated: “This ceremony marks the conclusion of the first edition of a competition that has realized the dream of creating a platform to gather the world’s brightest talents in Iran—a dream that once existed merely as an idea for building shared cultures and universities, and today has become reality.”
He explained that this year, participants from 137 countries took part in various preliminary stages of the competition, and in the final round, 100 contestants from 25 countries gathered at Sharif University of Technology.
Dr. Zarrabi-Zadeh described this widespread participation as a sign of the free flow of talent, collaboration, and innovation. He added that the event succeeded in creating a new space for interaction among creative youth worldwide. He also noted that, unlike the previous day, his remarks at this ceremony were delivered in Persian, with simultaneous translation provided for non-Iranian guests.
The Competition Secretary went on to acknowledge the efforts of all participants throughout the contest, stating that such competitions remind us of an important truth: the future belongs to those who dream, experiment, and even face failure.
He addressed all participants, saying: “Whether you are competition winners or other participants, you all embody the courage and creativity that today’s tech world needs more than ever.”
He emphasized: “The true value of this event lies not only in competition results, but in the journey that all participants have begun—a journey that can become the starting point for friendships, collaborations, and joint projects, leading to a brighter future for the world.” He expressed hope that in the coming years, the competition will be held on an even larger scale with broader global participation.
At the end of his speech, Dr. Zarrabi-Zadeh thanked all participants and their companions, underscoring that this experience has been both valuable and inspiring for Sharif University of Technology and Iran’s tech community.
Following this, Dr. Hossein Afshin, Vice-President for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy of the President’s Office, delivered remarks, stating: “In today’s world, competition is no longer about muscles—it’s about minds and those who see further, faster.”
Dr. Afshin noted that this competition began about a year ago with participation from 137 countries. He added: “This event was designed in two domains—Artificial Intelligence and Programming—and after preliminary rounds, we are now witnessing its final stage with 25 countries present. Thirty thousand minds—from Europe and Asia, Africa and the Americas to Oceania—have competed on a single field. This is a field that recognizes no borders or sidelines; it has only one rule: problem-solving.”
He continued: “‘Rayan’ is more than a competition—it is a message from Iran declaring: ‘We are not mere spectators of this global race; we are its hosts.’”
The Vice-President for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy added: “This competition was born from a simple goal and has continued with a grand vision: to raise a generation capable of lifting Iran upward at the very moment the world ascends.”
Dr. Afshin explained: “In Rayan, we do not merely teach programming; we teach algorithmic thinking, build problem-solving skills, foster teamwork, create job opportunities, and open pathways so that Iranian youth choose not to leave their country, but to build it.”
He added: “In a world where industries, daily life, security, the economy, and progress all revolve around artificial intelligence, a competition like Rayan is not just a contest—it is a laboratory for the future. A future whose problems are real: challenges from industry, transportation, medicine, agriculture, energy, and the complex world in which modern humanity lives.”
He emphasized: “The Rayan competition has shown us that if we provide the right arena, talents from around the world will find their way to Iran. And if we present real-world problems, Iranian youth will shine side by side with—or even beyond—their global peers.”
Dr. Afshin stated: “Rayan matters because it transforms us from mere consumers of global knowledge into producers of global skill.”
The Vice-President continued: “Today, countries from five continents participated in a competition that began in Tehran. This is precisely the moment when a nation can stand tall, look forward, and declare: ‘We have entered the game’—and not only have we entered, we have become hosts. This means Iran is progressively moving closer to achieving global scientific leadership.”
He added: “Artificial intelligence is not just a technology—it is a new, shared language. It is the language in which the future of economics, politics, industry, and even human life will be written. If we wish to play a role in the world’s future, we must become experts, innovators, and leaders in this language.”
Dr. Afshin concluded: “Today, Rayan is not merely a competition; it is a national investment—aimed at retaining talent within the country and discovering stars who might have otherwise left. Today, through a world-class competition, they realized that one can stay in Iran, compete, learn, and build.”
The first edition of the International Artificial Intelligence and Programming Competition concluded at Sharif University of Technology, with officials emphasizing their commitment to sustaining this event and reinforcing Iran’s role in the global technology ecosystem.
