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Nanotechnology in the Islamic Republic of Iran

The initial spark of nanotechnology in Iran was struck in 2000 when the Nanotechnology Policy Studies Committee was formed. In the fall of 2003, Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council (INIC) officially was established, inspired by the national leadership nanotechnology programs in many countries around the world. The strategic plan of nanoscience and technology provides the outline of nationwide activities in this field from 2005 to 2015. This was called “The Future Strategy”, which was approved by the government cabinet in July 2005, and explains the vision of nano-science and technology development of Iran. The vision is the following: “For materialization of the twenty year vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the software movement and the improvement of level, quality and security of people’s life, in a ten year period, the Islamic Republic of Iran will be a developed country in terms of nanotechnology with the following:

• Local advanced infra-structures and enjoying higher share of expert human resources
• Having effective and constructive internal and international interactions
• Generator of economic added value resulting from nanotechnology
• Enjoying competition capability at global level”

Determining national priorities, overcoming the obstacles in the program, providing facilities in nano-areas were the INIC main duties. Main goals, strategies and structure of overall-management of nanotechnology development are clearly stated in this plan. Ten years horizon of the future strategy is divided into four periods: In the first 3 year period, 53 programs have been implemented. Based on their evaluation, the second complementary plan for the next three years was provided and approved. In this plan, the programs are categorized into a series of topics covering all wealth creation steps from proposal to market. The private sector role in development of nanotechnology in Iran is highlighted in this plan. Topics are as follows:

1. Policy Making and Evaluation
2. Publicity and increasing Public Awareness
3. Scientific and Technological Infrastructures
4. Scientific and Technological Initiative
5. Technology Transfer and Development
6. Production and Market

This plan, including 33 programs, considers international interactions in various approaches. The followings are the most important measures taken by INIC to escalate the international interactions:

1. Enhancement of International Scientific and Technological Collaboration: In the Future Strategy plan, the improvement of scientific and technological collaborations with other countries is encouraged.
2. International sharing of laboratorial services: The INIC encourages international collaboration of nanotechnology laboratories. International sharing of laboratorial services, construction of experimental equipment and development of crucial technologies in collaboration with the developed centers worldwide which are supported by the INIC.
3. Enhancement of international investments in nanotechnology INIC intends to attract more foreign investments in nanotechnology considering domestic advantages such as professional human resources, appropriate infrastructures and sustainable support policies by the government.
4. Supporting agencies to expand international interactions INIC supports national nanotechnology agencies by, for instance, finding international partners, facilitating participation in international fairs and markets and opening new international collaborations with other scientific, technological and industrial centers of nanotechnology.

Some of the most important events in the Islamic Republic of Iran

INIC main mission

INIC’s main mission is to achieve a rank among the top ten pioneers of nanoscience and technology by 2015 which seemed hard to fulfill in its early days. In the first six months of 2009, Iran ranked the 15th country for promoting nanosciences around the world (4 years earlier than it’s predicted time). Iran published 813 nano-articles in ISI journals (1.3% of all articles published in 2008 by Iranian scholars) showed 73% growth compared to 2007. This is a very promising start, and it can be predicted that, at the end of the planned period, Iran has the potential to reach at least the 10th place. Publishing scientific articles on nanotechnology was not the main focus of INIC goals and has been regarded as an intermediate goal. This goal was of high concern during the early days of the start-up. In the case of patents, Iran published 4 patents and had applications, ranked 45th in the world.

Promoting companies in nanotechnology

The Iran Nano Business Network (INBN) was established in 2006 to promote active companies in nanotechnology as well as to increase interaction and cooperation between companies in the field. INBN is a collection of Iranian companies that work in the field of Nanotechnology. INBN’s aim is to create cooperation among Iranian nanotechnology companies in order to achieve common goals such as high standard brand, efficient development & innovation, active commercialization and investment. The priorities of INBN are to provide business information & opportunities and facilitate members access to different services worldwide. INBN has initiated an information center for companies, products, equipments and services in the field of Nanotechnology. The center introduces all necessary information about local and international markets, investment opportunities, Nanomarket analysis, related tenders and consulting services. INBN provides all the following facilities for the members to achieve their aims more directionally:

• Cooperating and joint venture investments of Iranian and international companies
• Nanotechnology transfer
• Encouraging international companies dealing with Iran to establish units of research and development of nanotechnology
• Marketing for research and technology capabilities
• Promoting and developing technology
• Laboratory services
• Tax encouraging