What Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS) does

The Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS) is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1986 in Amman, Jordan, that operates as the official science advisory body of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It functions simultaneously as a learned society, an honors institution, a science policy advisor, and a knowledge disseminator for scientists and policymakers across the 57+ OIC member states. The Academy is headed by an elected Council and a small Executive Staff, operating under the patronage of H.R.H. Prince El-Hassan bin Talal as Founding Patron.

IAS delivers its mission primarily through biennial international scientific conferences (25 numbered conferences through 2024 and the 26th Amman Conference in 2025), rotating across OIC member countries in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Southeast Asia, and typically attracting 100-200+ participants from 20-40+ countries. It also administers the Young Scientists' Fellowship Program (YSFP), which awards short-term fellowships in biotechnology, health, and ICT to researchers under 40 from Islamic countries. Knowledge is disseminated through a portfolio of publications including the peer-reviewed Medical Journal of the Islamic World Academy of Sciences (ISSN 1016-3360, launched 1988), conference proceedings, newsletters (77 issued through 2025), and a digital library.

The organization is funded through institutional grants and support from a roster of OIC-aligned bodies and regional sponsors, including the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), COMSTECH, the OPEC Fund for International Development, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, ARAMCO, TUBITAK, and corporate and academic contributors who have funded named facilities at its permanent Amman headquarters. As a non-profit, IAS does not operate a commercial pricing model; its reach derives from convening power, OIC affiliation, and 39 years of accumulated institutional credibility rather than from a productized technology platform.

Name

Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS)

Legal name

Islamic World Academy of Sciences

Website

https://iasworld.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS) is an Amman-based international non-governmental organization founded in 1986 that serves as the science advisory body of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, convening biennial scientific conferences, electing Fellows, running fellowships for young researchers, and publishing scientific journals and proceedings for OIC member states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Advisory and Learned Society Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Academic & Scientific Conferences (MPAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK)

Keywords

• Scientific research collaboration
• Science policy advisory
• Learned society services
• Academic publishing
• Research fellowship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Amman

HQ country

Jordan

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Conference and Event Activities: IAS organizes international scientific conferences and symposia that serve as the primary platform for knowledge exchange and network building among scientists from OIC countries. These events generate participation fees and attract sponsorship from supporting organizations.
2. Publication Activities: IAS publishes the Medical Journal of the Islamic World Academy of Sciences (ISSN 1016-3360), conference proceedings, newsletters, and other scientific publications. The medical journal was launched with support from Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) and has received grants from the Academy Secretariat and COMSTECH.
3. Organizational Support and Grants: IAS receives financial and operational support from various organizations including COMSTECH, Islamic Development Bank, OPEC Fund for International Development, Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, and other institutional supporters listed in its supporting organizations section.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Islamic World Academy of Sciences operates as an international learned society and the science advisory body of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It promotes modern science values, honors high achievement, disseminates scientific breakthroughs through international conferences and publications, and advises OIC member countries on science and technology policy. Core deliverables include biennial international scientific conferences, the peer-reviewed Medical Journal, conference proceedings, newsletters, and the Young Scientists' Fellowship Program.

Product overview

IAS operates as a learned society and science advisory body of the OIC, offering a portfolio of publications including conference proceedings, newsletters, medical journal, overviews, and digital library resources. The organization also administers the Young Scientists' Fellowship Program (YSFP) providing short-term fellowships in biotechnology, health, and ICT. The core offering consists of convening international scientific conferences and disseminating scientific knowledge through various publication channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Medical Journal of the Islamic World Academy of Sciences: A scientific journal first published in August 1988 (ISSN 1016-3360), providing a forum for scientists and researchers in developing countries to publish research. Published in Turkey and distributed internationally with support from Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) and COMSTECH.

Products and services

• Conference Proceedings Published volumes documenting scientific conferences organized by IAS, covering themes such as AI and nanotechnology, water-energy-food ecosystems, biotechnology, and science & technology policy for researchers and policy makers in OIC countries.
• IAS Newsletter Regular newsletter publication providing updates on IAS activities, conferences, and news from the Islamic scientific community, distributed to Fellows, supporters, and the broader scientific audience.
• Medical Journal of the Islamic World Academy of Sciences Peer-reviewed medical journal with ISSN 1016-3360, first published in August 1988, providing a forum for scientists and researchers from developing countries to publish research work, with launch funding from Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences.
• IAS Overview Publications

Quantifiable outcome

• 9 new Fellows elected in 2025 Fellowship Elections
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Co-operation (COMSTECH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOMSTECH is the OIC's ministerial standing committee on scientific and technological cooperation. IAS works closely with COMSTECH on joint programs, including the co-organization of international conferences (e.g., 24th IAS Conference in Karachi with ICCBS). COMSTECH is listed as a supporting organization and provides grants to IAS publications including the Medical Journal.
• Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAS serves as a science advisory body of the OIC, providing expertise and guidance on science and technology matters affecting the 57+ member countries of the organization.
• United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNESCO collaborates with IAS on joint symposium activities. Notably, alongside the 16th IAS Conference in Kazan (2008), IAS and UNESCO organized a special symposium at Kazan State University on 'History of Islamic Science, Technology and Innovation.'
• University of Petra, JordanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Petra contributed the Petra Conference Hall to IAS headquarters, which has a capacity of over 220 people and serves as the primary venue for large IAS events.
• The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTWAS (formerly Third World Academy of Sciences) is a key international partner of IAS, with representatives of both organizations participating in conferences and joint activities. TWAS is one of the approximately 15 academies of sciences regularly participating in IAS conferences.
• International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), PakistanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICCBS collaborated with IAS to convene the 24th IAS Conference in Karachi, Pakistan (March 2023). The conference was held at ICCBS facilities including the H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry and Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research.
• Hassan II Academy for Science and Technology, MoroccomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with IAS to convene the 23rd IAS Conference in Rabat, Morocco (October 2022), held at the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco under the high patronage of King Mohammed VI.
• The Royal Scientific Society (RSS), JordanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRSS is a supporting organization of IAS. Her Highness Princess Sumaya bint El-Hassan, President of RSS, participated in the 22nd IAS Conference (2020), indicating ongoing collaboration.
• Islamic Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a supporting organization with collaborative relationship with IAS.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• ISESCO (Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization): ISESCO is an OIC-affiliated body operating across education, science, and culture with broader scope than IAS; comparable as a pan-Islamic organization running conferences, fellowships, and publications in the sciences.
• UNESCO Natural Sciences Sector: UNESCO convenes major international science programs (e.g., IYBSSD, Man and the Biosphere) and has co-organized symposia with IAS; comparable as a global convening body in science policy, capacity building, and STI for development.

Regional players

• Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA): TÜBA is a national academy of sciences that participates in IAS conferences and runs its own fellowship and award programs; comparable as an OIC-country academy providing science advisory functions domestically.
• Pakistan Academy of Sciences: Pakistan's national science academy and an active IAS conference partner; comparable as a learned society electing Fellows, publishing journals, and advising government on science policy in an OIC member state.
• Hassan II Academy of Science and Technology (Morocco): A national academy that co-hosted IAS's 23rd conference in Rabat (2022); comparable as a national-level learned society in an OIC member state that awards Fellowships and advises government on STI policy.
• Royal Scientific Society of Jordan (RSS): Jordan's applied research institution that supports IAS and participates in its conferences; comparable as an OIC-region science organization engaged in applied R&D, advisory services, and fellowship programs.

Emerging players

• Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS): KFAS is a major IAS funder that also independently promotes scientific research, publishes outputs, and runs fellowship programs in Kuwait and the broader Arab world; comparable as a national foundation funding and convening science.
• Islamic Development Bank (IsDB): IsDB funds scientific capacity-building across OIC member states, including IAS programs; comparable as an OIC-aligned institution funding science development in Muslim-majority countries.

Direct peers

• The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS): TWAS is a UNESCO-backed academy focused on advancing science in developing countries; directly comparable to IAS as a learned society that promotes science excellence, elects Fellows, and runs fellowship/research programs in the Global South.
• COMSTECH (OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation): COMSTECH is the OIC's ministerial body for STI cooperation and a key IAS partner/co-convener of conferences; comparable as a pan-Islamic science coordination body operating under the same OIC umbrella.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheIASworld/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/iasworld
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/islamic-world-academy-of-sciences-ias

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS)