TEHRAN – The first national congress on artificial intelligence (AI) in natural resources aims to focus on challenges in education, research, and its applications in agriculture, natural resources, and the environment.

The two-day event will be held from September 4–5 at Shiraz University, Fars Province, with the theme ‘intelligent technology, green land, and sustainable future.

It highlights the integration of emerging technologies, such as AI, in research and technological projects.

Over 30 lecturers will share their scientific and research achievements through presentations divided into six panels and two specialized meetings, ISNA reported.

Two specialized sessions titled ‘Artificial Intelligence: Governance in Education and Research’ and ‘Precision Agriculture: Adoption, Education, Infrastructure’ will focus on AI challenges in education,  research, and its application in agriculture.

The congress will be centered around productivity and promotion of natural and agricultural industries, smart management of water resources and climate, meteorology, climate change and ecosystem, sustainable agriculture, smart agriculture, big data and agricultural development, biodiversity and pests, remote sensing of natural resources, nature management, improvement of food quality and security, smart robotics, technological education, as well as ethical research in agriculture.

Some $100 million allocated to develop AI

In April, the Vice Presidency for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy and the National Development Fund (NDF) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to create a 100-million-dollar fund for the development of the artificial intelligence (AI) sector in the country.

Signed by Hossein Afshin, an official with the vice-presidency of science and technology, and Mehdi Ghazanfari, the head of the NDF, the MOU aims to establish a framework for the development and implementation of AI in line with the seventh national development plan (2023-2027) and the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s emphasis on investing in emerging fields, ISNA reported.

Accordingly, the projects introduced by the vice-presidency for science and technology will be funded through loans, partnerships, and other ways of financing. To further boost cooperation between universities and the private sector, the NDF will grant specific loans to those companies that financially support AI-based projects in universities and scientific centers.

In return, the vice-presidency for science and technology will use financing tools for emerging technologies.

MT/MG