Tehran Aims to Forge Connections with Regional Science and Technology Parks

Iran is actively seeking to bolster cooperation with neighboring countries by establishing partnerships with science and technology parks. This initiative is particularly aimed at enhancing ties with regional nations, including Iraq, that are eager to leverage Iran’s extensive experience and expertise in the field of science and technology.

According to Hossein Simaei-Sarraf, the Minister of Science, Research, and Technology, “Regional countries, particularly Iraq, are interested in establishing science technology parks; they seek to utilize Iran’s experiences and expertise in the field.” He emphasized that Iran has laid the groundwork to provide scientific consultancy services not only to Iraq but also to any interested nations in the region.

The recent second Iran-Iraq Science Week, held in Karbala, Iraq, from January 18 to 20, served as a significant platform for fostering scientific collaboration. During this event, the two nations agreed to grant 200 scholarships to students wishing to study in each other’s countries, thereby promoting educational exchange and cooperation.

During the Science Week, officials from Iran and Iraq revisited 176 signed agreements from the inaugural Iran-Iraq Science Week, which took place in Mashhad, Iran, from October 9 to 12. This ongoing dialogue aims to strengthen scientific, academic, and technological relations between the two countries.

The second Iran-Iraq Science Week was attended by representatives from over 60 top universities from both nations. It provided an opportunity to share expertise, showcase modern scientific and technological achievements, and explore new partnerships across various technical fields.

Tehran and Baghdad Sign Action Plan

In a significant development, Iran and Iraq have formalized an action plan aimed at enhancing their scientific collaborations. This agreement was signed by Omid Rezaei-Far, an official with the Ministry of Science, and Haider Abd Dahed, Iraq’s Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, on the first day of the Science Week.

• The joint scientific programs focus on various aspects, including:
• Boosting scholarship cooperation for graduate and postgraduate education.
• Organizing training courses for professors and students.
• Promoting joint scientific supervision.
• Facilitating professor exchanges for scientific research.
• Collaboratively establishing science and technology parks in Iraq.

Iraq’s Call for Joint Educational Programs

On January 18, Naeem Al-Aboudi, the Iraqi Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, highlighted the importance of exchanging professors and students. He emphasized the need for joint educational programs with Iran to fulfill Iraq’s scientific and research requirements.

Al-Aboudi remarked, “Iran serves as a role model in the region in terms of scientific progress in modern technologies, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and medical science.” He added that Iraq is keen to benefit from Iran’s rich experiences to bolster its technological and scientific infrastructure, with a priority on establishing and expanding science and technology parks.

During a meeting with Simaei-Sarraf, Al-Aboudi underscored the necessity of enhancing scientific interactions and developing a comprehensive roadmap for future collaborations. Simaei-Sarraf echoed this sentiment, stating that scientific and academic exchanges are vital for promoting sustainable development in both nations.

He also pointed out the pivotal role of universities in transferring knowledge and technology, advocating for joint research and educational courses to facilitate this process. “Iran is prepared to share its expertise with Iraq across various fields, including the expansion of science and technology parks, development of research infrastructure, and the exchange of professors and students,” Simaei-Sarraf concluded.

This renewed commitment to scientific collaboration between Iran and Iraq not only aims to enhance educational opportunities but also seeks to create a robust framework for ongoing technological advancement in the region.