Tehran Ranks 63rd in GII 2025: A Rising Star Among the World's Top 100 Science and Technology Clusters!

Tehran Ranks 63rd in GII 2025: A Rising Star Among the World’s Top 100 Science and Technology Clusters!

In a recent report from the UN’s World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Tehran has been recognized as the world’s 63rd-largest science and technology (S&T) cluster for 2025, according to the Global Innovation Index (GII). This ranking reflects Tehran’s growing significance in the global innovation landscape, showcasing its potential as a hub for scientific research and technological advancement.

The GII ranks the top 100 innovation clusters globally based on a comprehensive data-driven methodology. This approach emphasizes the actual concentration of inventors and scientific authors, rather than administrative or political boundaries. The clusters identified often encompass multiple municipal districts and even span across national borders.

For 2025, the GII utilized three key metrics to evaluate the world’s top innovation clusters:

  • Patent Applications: The location of inventors listed in published patent applications under the WIPO Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
  • Scientific Publications: The authors of published scientific articles.
  • Venture Capital Deal Locations: The locations of venture capital deals, which is a new addition to the evaluation criteria this year.

The majority of the top 100 innovation clusters are located in three main regions: North America, Europe, and Asia. In Asia, Tehran stands out as one of four notable clusters, alongside:

  • Tel Aviv-Jerusalem (19th)
  • Starbucks (58th)
  • Cairo (83rd)

Tehran is the sole representative from Iran within the top 100 innovation clusters for 2025. The city has demonstrated a robust performance with:

  • 49 PCT Applications: Filed over the last five years.
  • 8,269 Scientific Articles: Published per million inhabitants.
  • 12 Venture Capital Deals: Secured in the same timeframe.

This impressive output has positioned Tehran as the 63rd largest innovation cluster and 85th in terms of intensity relative to its population density.

Among the leading publishing organizations in Tehran, the following universities have made significant contributions:

  • University of Tehran: 7,275 articles (12% share)
  • Islamic Azad University: 5,763 articles (10% share)
  • Tehran University of Medical Sciences: 5,158 articles (9% share)

In terms of patent applications, the top PCT applicants from Tehran include:

  • Mohammad Abdolahi: 16 patents (4% share)
  • Ahmad Ghanbari: 5 patents (1% share)
  • Mohammad Durali: 5 patents (1% share)

Collaboration is a vital aspect of Tehran’s innovation ecosystem, with:

  • 4% of PCT Applications: Filed in collaboration with other inventors, primarily with locations such as Los Angeles, Graz, and Vienna.
  • 26% of Scientific Articles: Published collaboratively, with key partners including Seoul, London, and Boston–Cambridge.

In 2025, Tehran’s innovation metrics include:

  • 357 PCT Applications
  • 60,217 Scientific Publications
  • 85 Venture Capital Deals
  • 0.03% Share: Of global PCT applications
  • 0.73% Share: Of global scientific publications
  • 0.04% Share: Of global venture capital deals

The estimated population involved in Tehran’s innovation cluster is approximately 7.2 trillion dollars, with:

  • PCT Application per Capita: 49 million dollars
  • Scientific Publication per Capita: 8.2 billion dollars
  • Venture Capital Pre-Deals per Capita: About 11.67
  • Innovation Intensity Share per Capita: 0.11

Tehran’s ranking has fluctuated in recent years, with the city ranking 35th in 2023 and 38th in 2024. The drop to 63rd in 2025 is attributed to the new emphasis on venture capital deal counts rather than a decline in the city’s academic capabilities.

China continues to dominate the GII with 24 clusters in the top 100, followed closely by the United States with 22 clusters. Other notable rankings include:

  • Germany: 7 clusters
  • United Kingdom: 4 clusters
  • France: 2 clusters
  • India: 4 clusters
  • Japan: 3 clusters
  • Canada: 3 clusters
  • Australia: 2 clusters

This year saw the introduction of 10 new clusters into the top 100, including:

  • Miami (67th)
  • Phoenix (78th)
  • Salt Lake City (92nd)
  • Ningbo (93rd)
  • Ningde (99th)
  • Dublin (71st)
  • Mexico City (79th)
  • Oslo (85th)
  • Hamburg (91st)
  • Manchester (94th)

Tehran’s recognition as a leading science and technology cluster underscores its potential in fostering innovation and contributing to global scientific advancement.

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