TEHRAN – The National Science Foundation will host a scientific seminar titled ‘Iran-Uzbekistan: science, innovation’ on July 16.

The event, which is planned to be conducted virtually, aims to boost research interactions and scientific cooperation between the two countries, IRNA reported.

It will focus on sharing capacities for collaborative research, identifying potential opportunities for joint projects, and paving the way for launching similar plans in the future.

The seminar will bring together researchers, university professors, and representatives of scientific institutions in the two countries to share expertise and develop a road map for sustainable and long-term collaborations in research, technology, and innovation sectors.

Agriculture, biotechnology and veterinary sciences, engineering, irrigation and industrial innovations, medicine and healthcare, environment, forestry and natural resources, culture, language and arts, energy and green technologies, as well as digital transformation and information technology are among the topics that will be covered in the seminar. 

Tashkent seeks to boost sci-tech ties with Tehran

In April, Daliv Shahrukh Khozhakbarovich, Uzbekistan’s First Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, called on Iranian universities and scientific institutions to help develop technology and innovation in Uzbekistan, saying that face-to-face interaction between scientific officials is much more effective than diplomatic communications.

The Uzbek official made the remarks in a meeting with Farhad Yazdandoost, the head of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, IRNA reported.

During the meeting, the two officials discussed the potential for developing scientific and technological collaborations between the two countries.

The official said the cooperation can be centered around sharing expertise, expanding scientific collaborations among universities’ chancellors, and joint funding in technological fields.

For his part, Yazdandoost elaborated on the country’s scientific achievements and significant growth in the number of students after the Islamic Revolution in 1979. 

Over sixty science and technology parks are operating under the supervision of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, he said, “we’re also planning to attract some 300,000 foreign students in a five-year plan.”

The official highlighted that cooperation between the two countries can also include conducting joint research, exchanging students and professors, and holding joint sports activities for students.

Yazdandoost also invited Uzbekistan’s minister of science to participate in the second ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)–15 Dialogue Platform, which is scheduled to be hosted by Tehran.

In November 2024, Uzbekistan expressed interest in enhancing cooperation with Iran in different fields, including health, education, and technology.

The country asked Iran’s health sector to provide online consultation to Uzbek professionals and establish a direct link between medical specialists of the two countries.

During a meeting held in Tehran on November 6, the head of the Organization for the Development of International Cooperation in Science and Technology, Hossein Roozbeh, and the vice president for the development of international cooperation of Uzbekistan, Fazliddin Muminov, discussed ways to expand scientific and collaborative efforts.

Expanding cooperation in the field of science, exchanging students and professors, promoting knowledge-based companies’ collaborations, participating in scientific and technological events, including technology exhibitions, and holding joint seminars, meetings, and symposia were among the most important focuses of the meeting.

Lauding Iran’s high capacities in science and knowledge-based companies, the Uzbek official said, Iran is a powerful and prominent country in the region with high and strategic capabilities in knowledge and technology. By integrating Iran’s capabilities with Uzbekistan’s capacities, the two countries will benefit from remarkable progress.

Roozbeh, for his part, said there is a strong connection between the two countries in terms of history, culture, and shared identity, which lays the ground for fostering education and technological cooperation. 

Boosting interactions between the universities of the two countries will facilitate conducting joint activities.

Iran is willing to share its expertise in science and technology, as well as education, with Uzbekistan. 

MT/MG