Iran and Japan Discuss Expansion of Scientific and Technical Cooperation

Universities in Iran and Russia held discussions on directions to enhance scientific interaction and expand joint research projects. During the online meeting, both educational institutions presented their capabilities, examined potential areas of cooperation, and agreed to consider mobility programs involving industry representatives from both countries.

The Persian Gulf University's initiatives are focused on three key areas: energy, petroleum products, gas and petrochemicals; marine research; as well as international business and trade. By prioritizing these spheres of scientific knowledge and academic activity, the university aims to strengthen its significant role in maintaining peaceful coexistence and sustainable development, as well as improving the welfare and prosperity of people in the Persian Gulf region.

The university's internationalization project began in recent years, leading to a significant increase in international indicators, including the number of foreign academic staff, students, and international events held. The university's mission is to become a third-generation international university with excellence in science, technology, and entrepreneurship to meet societal needs and create value for it, by educating competent citizens and fulfilling social functions.

The Persian Gulf University has a high reputation due to the quality of teaching, academic research, and graduate employment. Admission is limited to students who have successfully passed the annual national entrance exam conducted by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology of Iran.

Novosibirsk Oblast is home to one of Russia's most renowned universities—a symbol of the model of a science-oriented university in Siberia, located in the center of the scientific city Akademgorodok. This university holds a prominent position in the country's science and technology system, relying on high-quality education, fundamental research, and close cooperation with institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The combination of a dynamic academic environment, an international scientific community, and an emphasis on basic sciences and advanced technologies has made it a key center for nurturing a new generation of scientists and innovators in Russia and around the world.

Iran and Russia are preparing to establish a joint commission on science and technology, and a document on international scientific cooperation between the two states is planned to be signed at the meeting of this commission.

In September, Ehsan Kabul, head of the Center for International Scientific Cooperation of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, stated Iran's firm commitment to expanding ties with Russia. He outlined further steps for Tehran and Moscow to strengthen bilateral cooperation, including the creation of a joint commission on science and technology. Kabul added that the Minister of Science, Research and Technology plans to visit Moscow within the next three months to finalize the document on international scientific cooperation between Iran and Russia.

He also announced plans to implement 500 cooperation programs with Russian universities and scientific institutions. These programs include conducting 100 joint educational courses with the participation of Russian professors, the opportunity for 100 doctoral and master's students to choose a second supervisor among faculty members of Russian universities, and organizing 100 technological events aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation from the field of science and education into the technological sector. Furthermore, 100 joint cultural events with Russian universities and academic and educational institutions are planned, as well as 100 scholarships for Russian students, who will be given priority in studying Persian language and literature.

The official emphasized Iran's support for Persian language programs in Russian universities, noting that Iranian professors are ready to teach Persian to Russian-speaking students both in person and online.

In June, the Iranian Minister of Science, Research and Technology, Hossein Simai-Sarraf, and the Russian Minister of Science and Higher Education, Valery Falkov, reviewed strategies for developing scientific, educational, and academic cooperation between the two countries. Special attention was paid to expanding student-professor exchanges, strengthening research partnerships, and promoting academic interaction. Simai-Sarraf considered establishing Russian language departments in Iranian universities and Persian language departments in Russian universities as a sign of deepening scientific and cultural ties between the two states. Falkov, for his part, noted the start of a new admission period at Russian universities and welcomed Iranian students, wishing to emphasize the importance of providing them with employment opportunities and utilizing their academic potential upon returning to Iran.

Iran and Indonesia have explored opportunities to expand scientific and technological interaction, with a particular focus on establishing science and technology parks, as well as strengthening academic and research ties.

A meeting took place in Jakarta on October 23 between Esfandiar Ekhtiarari, Deputy Minister of Science, Research, and Technology of Iran, and Brian Yuliarto, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of Indonesia. The goal of the negotiations was to discuss cooperation through the exchange of teachers and students, as well as the more active utilization of the scientific and research potential of both countries, according to Mehr News Agency.

Ekhtiarari presented Iran's achievements in science, describing the country's infrastructure, including the Artificial Intelligence Center at Sharif University of Technology, the Institute of Laser and Plasma Research at Shahid Beheshti University, the satellite monitoring center at the Iranian University of Science and Technology, the quantum laboratory at Isfahan University of Technology, IT centers in other universities, and the Pasteur Institute of Iran.

He noted that these facilities were subjected to attacks during what he termed the US war against Iran, condemning these attacks and asserting that they were aimed at undermining the country's scientific and technological progress. Furthermore, the official representative announced Iran's readiness to provide and transfer expertise for the creation of science and technology parks that would support the development of Indonesia's innovation ecosystem.

For his part, Yuliarto condemned the attacks on scientific institutions, emphasizing that Indonesia rejects any form of aggression and colonialism. He stated that the partnership between the two sides is aimed at strengthening national technological potential and inter-academic research ecosystems.

According to Yuliarto, 'we are very pleased to have the opportunity to invite leading professors from Iran to work as visiting professors in Indonesian universities. This step is expected to significantly accelerate and improve the quality of scientific and technological cooperation between Indonesia and Iran,' quotes topik.id Yuliarto.

Addressing Iran's capabilities in science and technology sectors, the official stressed the importance of exchanging technological experience and expanding scientific contacts. The partnership also includes the commercialization and further development of research results. The sides also discussed the creation and development of high-tech startups in the fields of renewable energy and aerospace.

Both countries agreed to move the outcomes of the initial dialogue to technical discussions. The next step will be the development and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the ministries responsible for higher education in both countries. This document is intended to serve as the legal basis and operational framework for faculty and student exchanges, student mobility, and joint research funding, involving leading universities in Indonesia and Iran.

Expansion of Scientific Cooperation

In August, Sharif University of Technology and Bandung Institute of Technology (Indonesia) signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen scientific, research, and educational cooperation, exchange of faculty, researchers, and students, and implementation of joint research projects. This memorandum aims to strengthen scientific and academic interaction between the two universities, explore the potential for technological cooperation and technology commercialization, as reported by IRNA. Accordingly, the faculties and faculty members of both universities can identify areas of common research interest and cooperate in implementing specific projects.

The agreement focuses on the exchange of scientific resources and information, conducting joint conferences, educational seminars, and symposiums, carrying out short-term scientific visits, as well as developing joint educational programs and curricula. Additionally, the agreement provides postgraduate students with the opportunity to study abroad, use library resources of partner universities, and conduct field research.

On the sidelines of the 13th BRICS Ministers of Education meeting, held from August 5 to 7 in Odisha, India, Masoud Shams-Bakhsh, Acting Minister of Science, Research, and Technology of Iran, and Yuliarto held a meeting to explore ways to develop scientific and technological cooperation. Both sides discussed ways to develop scientific collaborations, especially in the field of new technologies.

During this meeting, Yuliarto detailed Indonesia's scientific capabilities, particularly in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, expressing Jakarta's readiness to implement joint research projects, exchange faculty and postgraduate students, provide unpaid leave, and organize short-term courses in cooperation with Tehran. The Indonesian official invited Minister of Science, Research, and Technology Hossein Simai-Sarraf and Shams-Bakhsh to visit Indonesia.

In turn, Shams-Bakhsh emphasized that the long-standing cultural, historical, and religious ties between the two countries have laid a natural, deep, and strong foundation for expanding educational and research cooperation. Key areas of discussion included increasing the number of scholarships, expanding scholarship exchanges, developing joint educational courses, conducting research on climate change, food security, renewable energy, and agriculture.

The sides also discussed including more Iranian universities in the BRICS University Network, based on Indonesia's experience. They noted the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the prompt implementation of the agreements reached.

On July 15, the Iranian National Science Foundation (INSF) and the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) held a joint webinar titled 'Promoting Scientific Research Cooperation between Iran and Indonesia: Strategic Opportunities Ahead' on Wednesday. The event was organized to explore ways to expand scientific and research interaction between scientists and scientific institutions of the two countries. The webinar began with opening remarks by INSF President Morteza Hormozinejad and Vice Chairman for Research and Innovation Promotion Agus Haryno.

Experts and professors from both countries in the health, water security, and environment sectors also gave lectures. This event served as an excellent opportunity to promote scientific ties, expand research cooperation, and develop joint projects between Iran and Indonesia.

In December 2025, Rolliansya Sumirat, the Indonesian Ambassador to Tehran, stated that the new Indonesian government intends to develop scientific and technological ties with Iran, highlighting Iran's extensive capabilities in science and technology. According to him, 'the administration expects to expand international cooperation, especially in the field of science and technology, which opens up new opportunities for interaction between the two countries. The main focus of the interaction will be on technology and new development exchange, as well as stimulating technological cooperation,' quotes IRNA Sumirat.

The Iraqi Ambassador to Iran, Yasser Abdulzahra Al-Hajjaj, emphasized the need to expand scientific cooperation between the two states. He noted that this interaction should go beyond simply attracting students and include joint research projects, the exchange of professors and scientists, as well as strengthening technological ties.

According to an IRNA report, universities serve not only as educational institutions but also as bridges for experience exchange and dialogue among scientists from different countries, particularly Iran and Iraq.

These statements were made by Al-Hajjaj during a national festival held at the Iranian University of Science and Technology on Tuesday. He highlighted significant progress in bilateral scientific relations, noting that thousands of Iraqi students are studying at over 80 Iranian universities in medical and non-medical fields.

The past two weeks of Iran-Iraq science brought together more than 70 to 80 rectors from both countries' universities, during which more than 250 memorandums of understanding were signed, indicating a successful experience in expanding scientific cooperation.

The ambassador stated that the opening of a branch of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iraq has contributed to stabilizing and advancing academic relations between Iran and Iraq. Furthermore, he expressed hope for the soon opening of branches of Sharif University of Technology and the Iranian University of Science and Technology in Iraq, as well as the opening of a branch of the University of Tehran in Karbala and Najaf.

Al-Hajjaj also mentioned that Iraq is expanding its educational and research infrastructure, and as the number of local universities increases, most Iraqi students will prefer to study at home. However, given that 85 percent of Iraqi students in Iran are employees who will face difficulties studying abroad under new Iraqi legislation, he proposed viewing this situation as an opportunity to revise the model of scientific interaction.

The Iraqi official called for the implementation of joint research projects in areas such as medicine, agriculture, sand and dust, oil, gas, and new technologies, including artificial intelligence. Other issues raised included the development of joint curricula and joint supervision of dissertations.

On October 18, Mohammad-Javad Najafi, Iran's scientific advisor in Iraq, and Haider Abd Dahed, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Iraq, discussed ways to strengthen academic partnership between the universities of the two countries. The main focus was on approaches to solving problems and meeting domestic and regional needs.

The meeting covered key topics such as cooperation in science-oriented research, provision of scholarships, simplification of educational matters for students, and preparation for the 'Third Week of Iran-Iraq Science'. Officials also spoke about conducting joint research, scientific supervision of joint postgraduate dissertations, and publishing joint scientific articles in authoritative international journals.

Another issue raised by both sides was addressing the educational difficulties and problems faced by students in each other's countries. On September 22, Esan Kabul, head of the Center for International Scientific Cooperation of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, and Safa Taki Abd Noor Al-Issavi, President of Mustansiriya University, stressed the need to activate technological cooperation and fulfill previously reached agreements.

In Tehran, representatives agreed to conduct joint research and supervise master's theses on common issues facing Iran and Iraq, including economic, social, cultural, agricultural, and industrial challenges. Both sides agreed to actively participate in the Third Week of Iran-Iraq Science. Kabul noted that the Iraqi university should play an effective role in this week by developing and implementing practical and synergistic programs in cooperation with leading Iranian universities.