TEHRAN –Since the beginning of the current Iranian year (March 20), the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology has allocated some 39 billion rials (65,000 dollars) to support professors and students active in the field of nanotechnology.

The fund has been allotted to almost 1,400 researchers from 123 universities and scientific centers with the aim of enhancing scientific quality and fostering the development of efficient human resources, IRNA reported.

Iran a global leader in nano-tech

Iran's achievements in nanotechnology are noteworthy. The increase in scientific publications and sales of nano products proves Iran's rise as a global leader in this field.

One of the industries that have experienced good growth in Iran in recent years is the nanotechnology industry, a subject area that has brought Iran to the impressive fourth place worldwide.

According to StatNano, a leading nanotechnology website, Iran has made great strides in the field of nanotechnology being ranked fourth in terms of nanotechnology publication.

This ranking proves the country’s remarkable scientific development.

The site considers the number of scientific articles for comparing scientific progress in nanoscience, technology, and industry.

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter on a near-atomic scale to produce new structures, materials, and devices. The technology promises scientific advancement in many sectors such as medicine, consumer products, energy, materials, and manufacturing. Nanotechnology refers to engineered structures, devices, and systems.

According to the latest statistics, Iran's nano-tech products are exported to 48 countries worldwide.

The first five export destinations are Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, Turkey, and Georgia, accounting for some 80 percent of exports, Mehr quoted Emad Ahmadvand, an official with the vice presidency for science and technology, as saying.

Around 1808 nano-tech products were produced and marketed in 15 different industrial fields based on domestic technologies in the past Iranian calendar year that ended on March 19.

Based on the survey, the total sale of nano-tech products made in Iran is calculated to be more than 300 trillion rials (around $500m), Ahmadvand pointed out.

The market’s total value equals 1.125 billion dollars, with exports of nano-tech products accounting for 69 million dollars representing six percent of the entire market value.

Last year, the best-selling products were sanitary faucets, oil and gas nano-catalysts, automotive nano-catalysts, construction and decorative tiles, and optoelectronic products, respectively. The industrial fields of construction; automobile and transportation; oil, gas, and petrochemical had the largest share of the market, respectively.

MT/MG