TEHRAN – Iran has reached agreements with Syria and Cuba to expand cooperation in the fields of science and technology.

Mohammad-Reza Mohammadzadeh Attar, the Iranian Deputy Science, Research, and Technology Minister; and Mohamad Amer Tlas, the Syrian Vice-President for the National Union of Students, in a meeting in Tehran on Monday, discussed ways to enhance scientific and technological cooperation.

The necessity of establishing a joint science and technology park in Syria was highlighted.

The officials also agreed to hold an exhibition of Iran’s scientific achievements in Syria to make Syrian students acquainted more with the technologies and innovations of Iran and Iranian universities.

Syrian students who are interested in studying in Iran will be granted scholarships for master's and Ph.D. degrees.

It was also decided to strengthen Persian language courses in Syria by dispatching professors from Iran.

Iran, Cuba boost tech ties

Meanwhile, On the sidelines of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel’s visit to Tehran on Monday, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Iranian Vice Presidency for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment of the Republic of Cuba.

The main objective of this agreement is to promote and expand scientific and technological cooperation based on the principles of equality and mutual benefit, in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations, through the development of joint cooperation projects in the fields of science and nanotechnology, biotechnology, climate change, and other areas agreed by the parties.

The agreement also includes the exchange or designation of scientists and researchers to carry out joint projects and share experiences, transfer, or exchange technology in the fields of science, technology, and innovation.

Moreover, it involves organizing or providing support to hold symposia, conferences, forums, seminars, workshops, and training courses in areas of mutual interest.

Establishing a joint working committee and a joint science and technology center are other goals of the agreement.

Science diplomacy

In July 2022, Deputy Science Minister Peyman Salehi said despite U.S. sanctions, the international activities of Iranian scientists have increased year by year so that more than 35 percent of Iranian articles in Scopus have been multi-national projects.

Science diplomacy is the use of scientific collaborations among nations to address common problems and build constructive international partnerships.

It is a form of new diplomacy and has become an umbrella term to describe a number of formal or informal technical, research-based, academic, or engineering exchanges, within the general field of international relations.

The national budget bill for the current Iranian calendar year 1402, which started on March 21, has earmarked about 37 trillion rials ($75 million) for science and technology.

The bill increased the budget by 35 percent compared to the past year’s budget, ISNA reported.

The Vice Presidency for Science and Technology was formed in 2006 with the aim of creating an environment for supporting knowledge-based companies and providing the ground for the development of technological industries.

A total of 8,034 knowledge-based companies have so far been established across the country.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei designated the current Iranian calendar year as the year of “Production: Knowledge-Based and Job-Creating.”

Over the past couple of years, the concept of a ‘knowledge-based company’ has changed to a ‘knowledge-based society’, meaning that supporting knowledge-based companies will lead to many social and economic advantages for the public.

The Leader reemphasized the importance of boosting domestic production, as he had done in past years, saying the reason he placed so much emphasis on production was “because it boosts economic growth, it creates employment, it reduces inflation, it increases per capita income and it improves public welfare.”

To this end, the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology has executed and supported several projects toward the goal of boosting knowledge-based production.

Moreover, the development of an innovation ecosystem is on the agenda, according to which 65 houses of innovation have been set up across the country.

The Innovation and Prosperity Fund has paid a total of 240 trillion rials (nearly $500 million) to support knowledge-based companies over the [Iranian calendar] year 1400 (March 2021-March 2022).

MT/MG

Photo: The Iranian deputy science minister Mohammad-Reza Mohammadzadeh Attar (R), and the Syrian vice president Mohamad Amer Tlas met in Tehran on Monday.