TRHRAN –Thanks to Iranian experts’ achievements and findings, the country is recognized as one of the top nations in nanotechnology in the world and exports nano-tech products to 50 countries worldwide.

The development of nanotechnology in Iran dates back to the Iranian year 1379 (2000-2001) country. Three years later, the national headquarters for the development of nanotechnology was established.

In addition, the long-term document for the development of nanotechnology was approved in 1384 (2005-2006).

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 report by the national nanotechnology  headquarters, the country published only 22 international articles in the field of nano-technology in 2001. However, in 2019, the number of internationally published articles increased to 12,000, promoting Iran’s ranking from 57th to the 4th globally. 

Moreover, the number of registered patents improved from 2 in 2001 to 260 in 2019, accounting for 24 percent of the whole registered patents worldwide. 

With the support of talented academicians and knowledge-based companies, the nanotechnology sector has indigenized many technologies to solve the main challenges of the country in various areas, including industry.

The latest ranking has placed Iran among the top seven countries in the world.

Nanotech products

Some 358 companies are operating in the field of nanotechnology in the country and 1608 products and equipment have received nanotechnology certificates.

Some 42 percent of the products in this field are related to construction, more than 17 percent to the fields of oil, gas, and petrochemicals, 13 percent to automobiles, and over 10 percent to optoelectronics.

The expansion of nanotechnology export programs in recent years and the establishment of bases for exporting nanotechnology products to China, India, Indonesia, Syria, Turkey, and Iraq have provided the opportunity for the entry of Iranian nanotechnology goods, equipment, and services into global markets.

A total of 1808 nano-tech products have so far been produced and marketed in 15 different industrial fields based on domestic technologies in the past Iranian calendar year that ends on March 19, 2014.

The total sale of nano-tech products made in Iran is calculated to be more than 300 trillion rials (around $600m), Mehr news agency quoted Emad Ahmadvand, an official with the vice presidency for science and technology, as saying. 

The market’s total value is equal to 1.125 billion dollars, with nano-tech products exports 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 in the market, respectively.

MT/MG