TEHRAN- Armando Rodríguez Batista, the Cuban deputy minister of science, technology, and environment, met with Emad Ahmadvand, the secretary of the headquarters for the Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council, proposing to establish an Iranian House of Innovation and Technology (iHiT) in Havana.

During the meeting which was held in Tehran on September 13, the two sides exchanged views and discussed the existing capacities for bilateral cooperation.

Ahmadvand elaborated on Iran's activities, capabilities, and nano-technology achievements, as well as the Iran-Cuba history of cooperation.

He stated: “The opportunities for scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries are significant. The two sides can collaborate in the field of education, including inter-university cooperation. Moreover, joint industrial projects can be developed in the future.”

Since the Cuban side has been satisfied with Iran's laboratory equipment, he also proposed the development of cooperation in this field, i.e. Iran's laboratory network collaboration with Cuban laboratories.

Batista, for his part, suggested cooperation towards developing and producing tangible and objective products and services, constructing an iHiT, and an Iranian-Cuban research center in Havana.

Stating that the Cuban Advanced Studies Center (CEAC) can be the hub of this cooperation, he pointed out that it is necessary to limit the scope of cooperation to be more concentrated.

“We have joint courses with China, Russia, and other countries, and we can have the same courses with Iran, as well. We should also bring the research institutes of both sides closer. The goal should not be only research, economic output should also be considered, as well.”

He went on to say, “Although Cuba's market is not that big, it has access to the Latin American market. Therefore, exports should be considered.”

He proposed signing a memorandum of understanding between the Agriculture Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII) and CEAC in the desired field of cooperation under the supervision of the Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council and Cuba CITMA.

Iran House of Innovation and Technology

Exporting technological products of Iranian knowledge-based companies is one of the important and key programs of the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology, and in this regard over the past years, with the support of the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology, the Iranian houses of innovation have been set up in several countries to develop the global market for knowledge-based products.

This year, on June 18th, an Iran House of Innovation and Technology in the city of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, was inaugurated.

The center aims at introducing knowledge-based, technological, and creative products of Iran to Uzbekistan, and facilitating scientific interactions and cooperation between the two countries, IRNA reported.

These centers have already been set up in countries such as Russia, Turkey, China, Syria, Kenya, Armenia, and Iraq.

By supporting innovative ideas, and holding technological and innovative events, the centers will be a platform for the development and promotion of Iranian knowledge-based companies, startups, and creative industries.

The centers are mainly formed with the investment and support of the private sector to provide the necessary infrastructure for their exports through innovation houses.

In February, President Ebrahim Raisi said science and technology are the cornerstones of national development.

The chain of knowledge, research, innovation, and technology ensures sustainable development in the country, he added.

“Our interaction with all nations and governments in the world should be for the transfer of knowledge and technology, and our interaction with all neighboring countries, in the region and globally, should be based on this criterion,” Raisi highlighted.

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.

MT/MG