A Year of Impact at ICTP

The year 2025 has been a remarkable one in ICTP’s story of advancing science, fostering global collaboration, and empowering future generations. Across the year, the outcomes of our initiatives and partnerships have become increasingly tangible, thanks to the generosity and vision of our supporters worldwide.

Generous contributions from distinguished scientists — including Nobel Laureates, Fields Medallists, and Dirac Medallists — continue to help ICTP advance its mission of excellence, inclusion, and international cooperation. From supporting student fellowships and workshops to funding global outreach and initiatives for scientists at risk, these acts of philanthropy foster world-class research, bridge knowledge gaps, and empower future generations. Each donation tells a unique story, reflecting a shared commitment to science and its transformative impact worldwide.

In February, we highlighted the long-standing commitment of Dr. Adnan Shihab-Eldin, whose support reflects a belief in nurturing scientists from developing countries. In 2023, he established the Ahmed Shihab-Eldin Annual Visiting Fellowship, honoring his father and enabling researchers like Wafaa Khater and Rami Amro to pursue impactful research, build collaborations, and strengthen scientific capacity in their home institutions.

Also notable this year is Physics Without Frontiers (PWF), ICTP’s decade-old programme using private donor support to bridge gaps in scientific education. Starting with a single workshop in Palestine, PWF now reaches over 10,000 students across more than 50 countries. Beneficiaries such as Maha Hsouna and Jean Paul Latyr Faye have gone on to organize PWF events in their home countries, exemplifying the program’s lasting impact and “pay it forward” spirit. Here are their stories.

In May, ICTP continued celebrating its 60th anniversary, which took place in 2024, with events across the U.S., including a high-level gathering at the United Nations in New York. These celebrations brought together friends, alumni, and supporters, reaffirming our commitment to scientific excellence, global inclusion, and the support of scientists from developing regions. Click here to see some photos.

Significant library and archive initiatives have also advanced this year. Private donors, including Ashvin and Daniela Bonafede-Chhabra, supported the redesign of the ICTP Library’s interior, while an anonymous donor enabled large-scale digitization of books and journals. Here is the full article. Complementing these efforts, the Abdus Salam Archive is being digitized thanks to his family, ensuring global access to invaluable scientific and historical materials, including Salam’s Nobel Prize papers. Read here to know more. Together, these initiatives expand access to knowledge while safeguarding ICTP’s scientific heritage for future generations.

ICTP’s international partnerships also saw remarkable progress. The Arab Fund delegation visited ICTP a year after launching the ICTP–Arab Fund Programme, witnessing the programme’s impact first hand. Fellowships, training, and international collaborations are helping Arab students and early-career researchers thrive, counter brain drain, and strengthen scientific communities back home. Students shared inspiring stories of career growth and new collaborations, while discussions with funders explored ways to expand future research opportunities and regional centres of excellence. More details are here.

Similarly, ICTP’s collaboration with the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), ongoing since 1981, continues to nurture Arab scientific talent. Renewed through a five-year programme, it offers fellowships, postdoctoral support, diploma programmes, and visiting scientist schemes, providing advanced training, international research opportunities, and access to a global network. This partnership empowers Arab scientists while strengthening regional scientific excellence for years to come. Here is the article.

Towards the end of the year, ICTP launched its first Annual Giving Campaign. Meteorologist and longtime ICTP collaborator Prof. Jagadish Shukla issued a $25,000 fundraising challenge to support the International Science Complex at the Adriatico Guesthouse (to know more about him, click here).  Matched by the Simons Foundation, contributions to Shukla’s challenge can be quadrupled, exemplifying the “Butterfly Effect” in philanthropy and encouraging the global community to create a ripple effect of scientific support.

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Select the option “ICTP 2.0” to quadruple your gift

If, depending on your geographic location, the above link doesn't function, or if you are giving from the U.S., you may also click here.

The International Science Complex is part of the ICTP 2.0 Campaign, formally launched on 21 October in New York City by ICTP and Simons Foundation International. The €60M campaign brings together global partners, including Fondazione Compagna di San Paolo, to transform the Adriatico Guesthouse into a state-of-the-art hub for scientific collaboration. Here is the article.

As 2025 draws to a close, ICTP celebrates a year defined by generosity, collaboration, and impact — a year where partnerships, philanthropy, and strategic vision came together to advance science for the benefit of the global community.

If you are interested in learning more about supporting ICTP, please contact us at advancement@ictp.it.

To support ICTP, click here. To learn about tax-deductible giving in the United States, please click here to request more information.