TEHRAN – Iran’s National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB) signed memorandums of understanding with six Iraqi universities to strengthen scientific and research relations.

A delegation from the NIGEB visited Basra, Al-Zahra, Babel, Al-Mustaqbal, Wasit, and Qasim Al-Khadra universities in Iraq on Sunday and held meetings with chancellors and officials of the universities and scientific centers on how to expand cooperation, IRIB reported.

Previously, some officials and faculty members of Basra University had visited NIGEB with the aim of promoting scientific interactions with the neighboring country.

In this regard, six memorandums of understanding were signed by the two sides.

The memorandums included starting joint research projects for post-graduate students, sharing efforts to start approved joint credit courses in biotechnology, holding professional workshops in Iraqi research institutes and universities to update the knowledge and expertise of the faculty members, following legal procedures to establish a branch of the research center in Iraqi universities and to pave the way for opening a genetic engineering and biotechnology research center in mentioned universities.

The two sides also agreed to collaborate on advertising, encouraging and sharing potential in holding congresses relating to biotechnology, start-ups, and innovation exhibitions in Iraqi research institutes and universities.

Moreover, the officials agreed on launching an international journal of biotechnology in Iraqi universities, exchanging professors and students, promoting marketing biotechnology start-ups of both sides, creating permanent centers for joint cooperation at NIGEB and Iraqi universities, as well as holding regular annual meetings to review and promote the progress of joint programs.

On the sidelines of the signing ceremonies, Javad Mohammadi, head of the NIGEB, referred to the achievements of the meetings, saying that according to the policies of the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology on the expansion of scientific diplomacy and the capacities of the two countries, “We hope to be able to implement the joint programs, and research, educational and technological projects in the near future.”

Calling these agreements positive, he went on to say that joint working groups will be formed to follow up on the projects.

Boosting educational co-op

In May, Iraqi Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Naeem Al-Aboudi, said many Iraqi youths are interested in continuing their higher education in Iran.

Now the demand for studying in Iran is very high and a large number of Iraqi students are interested in continuing their higher education in Iran as a friendly and neighboring country, he added.

The Iraqi official made the remarks in a meeting in Tehran with Iran's Minister of Science, Research, and Technology, Mohammad-Ali Zolfigol, IRNA reported.

He pointed out that some 75,000 Iraqi nationals are currently studying in Iranian universities.

“The scientific abilities and capacities of the two countries require that we boost cooperation in the field of science and research, and in this field, we need detailed planning and the formation of special working groups,” Al-Aboudi highlighted.

Zolfigol, for his part, while emphasizing the need to increase joint scientific exchanges between Iran and Iraq and holding joint seminars, said holding a joint meeting between heads of universities and research and technology centers of the two countries can help increase cooperation.

In July 2022, the Iranian deputy science minister Vahid Haddadi-Asl said from among Islamic and neighboring countries, Iran puts priority on increasing academic cooperation with Iraq.

In a meeting with Iraqi Ambassador to Tehran Naseer Abdul Mohsen Abdullah, he said Iraq has the largest number of foreign nationals studying in Iran, so removing their problems is one of the most important missions of the science ministry, IRNA reported.

MT/MG