Third The Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), founded in 1983 by Pakistani physicist and Nobel Laureate in Physics, Professor Abdus Salam, is dedicated to supporting scientific research activities in developing countries, promoting exchanges and cooperation among researchers and research institutions in developing countries; encouraging research on problems in the Third World To promote the development of basic and applied science in the third world.

TWAS is a non-governmental, non-political, non-profit international scientific It has its headquarters (secretariat) at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy. It is composed of Founding Fellows, Prospective Founding Fellows, Fellows, Prospective Fellows, Corresponding Fellows, and Prospective Corresponding Fellows. The Fellows are elected from leading scientists in Third World countries and regions.

The General Assembly of Academicians of the Third World Academy of Sciences is usually held every two years, and the 1987 General Assembly was held in Beijing; as of 2003, a total of 626 Academicians from 77 countries and regions participated. The first Science Award was established in 1985 to honor scientists from third world countries who have made outstanding contributions to the field of science.