SPbPU: Polytechnic University expands cooperation with Iran
At the end of April, representatives of the Office of the Vice President for Science and Technology of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the main state authority of Iran in the field of development of technological and innovation potential of the country, came to the Polytechnic University. This was the first official visit within the framework of the activities of the International Science and Education Center «Russian-Iranian Center for Innovative Business,» which will open in SPbPU in the nearest future.
From the Iranian side, the business meeting was attended by Dr. Amir Ali Hamidieh, Deputy Vice-President for Science and Technology and Secretary of the Stem Cell Science and Technology Development Headquarters, as well as key specialists in the field of international cooperation and biomedical technologies.
From the side of the Polytechnic University, Rector of the University, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrei Rudskoi addressed the honored guests with a video welcome speech. Personal talks with the Iranian side were conducted by Dmitry Arseniev, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, Andrey Vasin, Director of the Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnologies, Alexey Efimov, coordinator of the project to create the IS&EC «Russian-Iranian Center for Innovative Business», Associate Professor at the Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, as well as other representatives of institutes and international office of the university.
«I am pleased to emphasize that collaboration between Polytechnic University and Iranian colleagues is progressing in different spheres, — said Rector Andrei Rudskoi. — Polytechnic’s long-standing partnership with Iranian organizations has become the basis for building closer business relations. In this regard, Mr. Mahdi Ghaleh Novi (Head of the Center for International Scientific and Technological Cooperation in the Office of the Vice President for Science and Technology — Ed. comment) and I have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create a Russian-Iranian scientific and educational center. And I hope that in the nearest future I will have the opportunity to sign an agreement on the creation of the center».
Vice-Rector for International Affairs of SPbPU Dmitry Arseniev and Deputy Vice-President for Science and Technology and Secretary of the Stem Cell Science Dr. Amir Ali Hamidieh
The head of the Iranian delegation, Dr. Amir Ali Hamidieh, also confirmed the prospects for expanding cooperation between Russia and Iran. In his opinion, our countries have significant scientific and research potential, which should be used to launch new joint projects in education, science and the development of innovations. Since Dr. Hamidieh is considered to be a renowned expert in the field of stem cells, he suggested cooperation in regenerative medicine, as the global market of this area is growing very fast. There are more than 190 commercial companies involved in this field in the Iranian market. Iran has a large-scale research infrastructure represented by stem cell science and technology development councils in 25 provinces of the country and a dozen advanced scientific centers for regenerative medicine. Combining such resources with the research capabilities of Russian medical and scientific centers and the involvement of leaders in the biomedical industry can create a platform for the joint development of breakthrough technologies and products.
As a first step for cooperation, Dr. Hamidieh and the Director of the Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnologies Andrey Vasin agreed to hold a scientific and educational conference on regenerative medicine in Polytechnic University with participation of Iranian and Russian scientists, doctors, representatives of commercial companies and specialized students. They tentatively agreed to hold the conference in June 2022. They also discussed issues of attracting Iranian students to Polytechnic University’s international programs, academic exchanges and joint research.
Representatives of the Office of the Vice President for Science and Technology of the Islamic Republic of Iran Polytechnic University visited Polytechnic University
In the prospect the activity of ISEC «Russian-Iranian Center for Innovative Business» will be aimed at strengthening cooperation in a wide range of areas: joint academic programs for training of entrepreneurs; promotion of high-tech companies and startups in the markets of Iran and Russia; organization of joint conferences, symposiums, negotiations, mutual consultations on scientific and technical, marketing issues and support of export and import operations of high technology products and, of course, support of joint scientific research. Thus, Iranian partners pay much attention on such research areas as nanotechnology, cognitive science, information technology, aerospace and aviation technology, traditional energy (oil and gas sector), shipbuilding technology and environmental technology (water, drought, erosion).
The activities of the center being created are certainly in demand among Iranian and Russian innovative enterprises. Already now more than 25 Iranian companies have addressed SPbPU with requests to organize joint projects with Russian enterprises, including the largest Iranian enterprises in the turbine industry and oil and gas industry, — commented Associate Professor of IAMT Aleksei Efimov.
Thus, the goal of the center will be not only to build cooperation between the Polytechnic University and Iranian colleagues, but also to attract a wide partner network of SPbPU across Russia to implement large-scale joint projects.