Iran planning to broaden scientific ties with world states

An Iranian deputy Foreign Minister said Tehran plans to widen and deepen higher education cooperation with different world states. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular, Parliamentary and Iranian Expatriates' Affairs Hassan Qashqavi said on Monday that Tehran is ready to sign agreements on consolidating the scientific and cultural cooperation with all countries which have diplomatic relations with Iran. In mid-January, First Vice-Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Hassan Aboutorabi Fard said forecasts indicate that Iran will be the world’s fourth scientific power by 2018. “According to forecasts by some credible research organizations, in 2018, only the three countries of China, the US and the UK will rank ahead of Iran in terms of science production,” Aboutorabi Fard said in a message to a conference on research and technology in Iran’s 20-Year Outlook Plan held in New Delhi. Iran’s 20-Year Outlook Plan document envisages the country’s cultural, scientific, economic and political situation as the first Middle-East power by 2025 through four development plans. Based on the document, Iran’s scientific and technological status must rank second in the region by early 2015, Aboutorabi Fard pointed out. The Iranian lawmaker added that Iran has currently formed nine scientific committees to organize and coordinate the country’s achievements in new scientific areas, including nanotechnology, biotechnology, herbal medicines, aerospace, information technology, renewable energies, water and drought and environment. According to recent statistics by Thomson Reuters, Iran’s share of global science production in 2013 was 1.57 percent, putting the country in 20th position in the world. Iran’s 2009 growth rate in science and technology was highest globally, being 11 times faster than the world’s average rate.