Iran is seeking to enhance cooperation with regional countries by leveraging its expertise in science and technology parks, particularly with neighboring Iraq. This move comes as part of a broader effort to promote scientific collaboration and technology exchange within the region.
Hossein Simaei-Sarraf, Iran’s Minister of Science, Research, and Technology, highlighted that Iraq and other regional nations are keen to establish their own science and technology parks and utilize Iran’s experiences in this field. Iran plans to offer scientific consultancy services to these countries, with a focus on advancing regional technological development.
The second Iran-Iraq Science Week, held in Karbala from January 18 to 20, played a key role in cementing these ties. The event facilitated the continuation of agreements from the first Science Week held in Mashhad in 2023 and led to the signing of a new action plan. This plan outlines various collaborative initiatives, including the establishment of science and technology parks in Iraq and the promotion of joint educational and research programs.
The plan also includes granting scholarships to students from both countries, facilitating the exchange of professors, and conducting joint research projects. Iraq’s Minister of Higher Education, Naeem Al-Aboudi, emphasized the importance of such collaborations, citing Iran’s leadership in fields like nanotechnology, biotechnology, and medical sciences as a model for Iraq’s future development.
The two countries aim to further enhance their scientific infrastructure through continued collaboration, focusing on the expansion of science and technology parks, joint training courses, and mutual support in academic research.
