Alireza Hakikian, the Iranian envoy to Tajikistan, and Rahim Saidzod, the Minister of Education and Science of Tajikistan, examined opportunities to strengthen scientific and educational ties between the two countries, with a particular focus on increasing the number of scholarships for university students.
According to an IRNA report, Iran and Tajikistan currently provide 50 scholarships each, primarily to medical students from the other country. Other topics discussed included implementing joint research projects, developing textbooks and academic books, and expanding interaction between the universities of the two states, as well as increasing the teaching of Persian language and literature.
Both sides emphasized that educational scholarships are a key element in developing academic and scientific exchange. Previously, during a meeting in 2024 between the Chairman of the National Assembly of Tajikistan, Rustam Emomali, and the Speaker of Parliament, Mohammad Baker Kalibaf, the issue of increasing scholarship quotas was raised.
In November 2025, Tajikistan's ambassador to Iran, Nizamuddin Zahedi, highlighted the need to establish a joint scientific committee between the two states. Zahedi noted that cooperation in the field of education could be expanded by resuming scholarship programs to attract more Tajik students and creating a joint scientific body for regular meetings and finding solutions beneficial to both countries.
This Tajik official made these statements during a meeting with Said Habibi, the head of the Student Affairs Department. He also proposed a student exchange program to improve the quality of education and facilitate the study of Persian for Tajiks.
Highlighting Iran's high educational potential, Zahedi expressed Tajikistan's interest in developing scientific ties with Iran and attracting Iranian students to various fields. For his part, Habibi pointed to the cultural, linguistic, and historical commonalities between Iran and Tajikistan, stating that scientific diplomacy is the most effective way to promote scientific cooperation with Tajikistan.
He also highlighted the country's achievements in science and technology, particularly nanotechnology and biotechnology, noting that Tajik universities can directly cooperate with leading Iranian universities in various fields. Habibi added that Iran plans to host 320,000 international students and provide scholarships to Tajik students.
In June, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghi, upon meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon at the Palace of Nations in Dushanbe, stressed Tehran's commitment to expanding relations with Dushanbe, stating that Iran views cooperation with Tajikistan as a strategic priority. He pointed to the shared linguistic, cultural, and historical ties between the two nations as a solid foundation for deepening partnership in key areas such as trade, diplomacy, education, and cultural exchange.
In turn, President Rahmon characterized Iran-Tajikistan relations as based on centuries-old friendship and mutual respect, calling for further efforts to activate cooperation in light of current regional challenges. The sides discussed the current state of bilateral relations, exchanged views on expanding interaction, and considered regional events, including the changing situation in the Caucasus, Central Asia, Afghanistan, and West Asia, sharing views on issues of mutual security.
Officials from Iran and India emphasized the necessity of developing scientific ties between the two countries, with a particular focus on the sectors of education, research, technology, and innovation.
On Friday, during the 13th BRICS Education Ministers' Meeting, held from August 5 to 7 in Odisha, India, the current Iranian Minister of Science, Research and Technology, Masoud Shams-Bakhsh, and the Indian Minister of Education, Shri Pranab Joshi, met.
According to an IRNA report, the main focus of the meeting was on expanding academic interaction between Iranian and Indian universities, stimulating cooperation between scientific institutions, improving educational opportunities for students and researchers, and utilizing existing capacities and digital education to support the new generation and promote innovation.
Furthermore, Shams-Bakhsh, along with Mohammad-Nabi Shahiki Tash, Deputy Minister of Technology and Innovation of the Islamic Republic of Iran Government, and their delegation visited the International Centre for Genetic Engineering (ICGEB) in India. According to ICGEB.org, the delegation was received by the Director of ICGEB New Delhi, who, together with the heads of the Centre's groups, held productive discussions on developing scientific cooperation, promoting research partnerships, and exploring future interaction prospects in areas of mutual interest. The exchange of views underscored a common commitment to advancing excellence in biotechnology, innovation, and capacity building through international scientific collaboration.
Discussions focused on strengthening scientific cooperation, reinforcing research partnerships, providing training for Iranian researchers, and identifying future opportunities in biotechnology and innovation. During the visit, the delegation toured the ICGEB Biofactory and several modern research facilities at the Centre. This visit provided insight into ICGEB New Delhi's advanced research programs, its high-tech platforms, and its innovation ecosystem, demonstrating the Centre's contribution to biotechnology research in human health, agriculture, industrial biotechnology, and sustainable development.
The visit confirmed the importance of international partnerships in solving global scientific problems and strengthening cooperation in science, research, and technology.
The 13th BRICS Education Ministers' Meeting gathered education ministers, senior officials, and delegates from all 10 BRICS member countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates—to deepen cooperation within the BRICS education track. The meeting concluded with the adoption of the BRICS Education Ministers' Declaration, which affirmed education as a key pillar of BRICS cooperation and outlined a general action plan across five priority areas under India's BRICS presidency in 2026. The Declaration identified five key areas for strengthening cooperation among BRICS countries: Strengthening Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN); Enhancing Cooperation in Skills Development and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET); Improving Research, Innovation, and Startup Ecosystems; Advancing Mutual Recognition of Qualifications (MRQ); and Building Capacity for Academic Leadership and Institutional Development.
Mohammad-Reza Khalili, Vice President for Research and Technology at the University of Applied Sciences and Technology, presented his proposals at the Symposium on Cooperation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training and the joint session of the BRICS Steering Committee (TCA JMC), which took place on August 3 and 4 at Kaushal Bhavan, New Delhi. The event, organized by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship of the Government of India, was held under the theme 'Sustainable and Digitalized TVET: The BRICS Perspective'. The two-day meeting brought together representatives from BRICS countries, international organizations, academia, industry, and educational institutions. Speaking on the transformation of technical and vocational education in Iran, Khalili detailed green skills, digital skills, and practical experience, which was well received by participants.
During the meeting, Iran's proposals regarding green skills, digital skills, university practical experience, and frameworks for joint cooperation among BRICS member states were fully discussed and evaluated.
The Iranian Centre for Progress and Development (CPDI) prepared a report in June illustrating Iran's participation in scientific and technological and innovative cooperation within BRICS, as well as strategic opportunities and necessary measures to enhance the country's role in this sector. BRICS, as one of the most important players in the international system in recent years, has invested significant resources in science, technology, and innovation, in addition to economic and political cooperation. This bloc has now transformed into one of the largest networks of scientific cooperation in developing countries, utilizing 14 specialized working groups and dozens of joint scientific and technological programs.
CPDI, acting as the coordination center for Iran's technological and scientific interaction with BRICS, is responsible for guiding the country's representatives, analyzing special documents, providing technical consultation, and establishing links between domestic institutions and specialized BRICS structures. According to the report, 2025 could be considered a starting point for Iran's participation in the BRICS scientific, technological, and innovative structure, which has successfully demonstrated the country's capabilities in science and technology, laying the foundation for active participation in joint projects in the future and strengthening the country's position in scientific and technological cooperation.
The country actively participated in BRICS technical and specialized meetings in various scientific fields in 2025, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), biotechnology, neuroscience, oceanography, geospatial information technology, astronomy, photonics, nanotechnology, materials science, social and humanities sciences, and research infrastructure.
BRICS as a platform for expanding research cooperation. One of the main areas of BRICS' activities in 2025 was the development of joint research projects between member states in fields such as AI, healthcare, clean energy, food security, quantum technologies, data science, and advanced materials. Iran's membership in this network would provide researchers and scientists with an excellent opportunity to participate in international projects.
In 2025, BRICS countries discussed the development of data infrastructure, sharing supercomputing capabilities, creating joint scientific networks, and using new technologies to solve global problems. Iran, possessing capabilities in AI, data processing, and knowledge-based companies, sought to gain a larger share in future BRICS technological projects. The document 'BRICS Action Plan for Innovation 2025–2030' outlines a roadmap for cooperation among member states in the digital economy, technology transfer, support for knowledge-based companies, and the development of an innovation ecosystem. Iran's involvement in this plan could pave the way for the exchange of technical knowledge, improved industrial cooperation, and the entry of Iranian knowledge-based companies into new markets.
The report also notes that human capital and innovation are among BRICS' main priorities; key activities in this sector include the 10th Young Scientists Forum, the 8th BRICS Young Innovator Award, and the first BRICS Startup Forum. Iran's membership in BRICS could bring numerous benefits, such as broader access to international scientific and research networks, cooperation in joint research projects, improved technological and industrial cooperation, leveraging the technology transfer network potential, developing the knowledge-based company market, and attracting investment in technology and innovation sectors. The report highlights AI, biotechnology, nanotechnology, quantum technologies, the digital economy, and space technologies as the most important axes for future cooperation between Iran and BRICS member countries. It also calls for promoting scientific ties between universities, research centers, knowledge-based companies, the private sector, and executive bodies to create a national coordination structure aimed at strengthening cooperation with BRICS countries.
Iraqi officials, during a meeting with the Minister of Science, Research and Technology Hossein Simai-Sarraf, called for expanding scientific, academic, and technological interaction with Iran. This meeting took place in Baghdad on Thursday.
Participants in the negotiations included Haider Abd-Dahd Al-Rubai, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Iraq; Abdul Hussein Al-Musawi, Minister of Health of Iraq; and Abdul Hussein Al-Musawi, Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, as reported by IRNA.
The parties emphasized the need to accelerate the implementation of previously signed memoranda of understanding. The main areas of discussion included sharing Iran's experience in developing higher education to achieve quantitative and qualitative goals, meeting the needs of Iraq's large youth population, attracting talented Iraqi students, and strengthening research partnerships.
Simai-Sarraf also met with Sayed Ammar Al-Hakim, leader of the National Movement of Wisdom in Iraq. Both sides noted the significant scientific and academic potential of Iran and Iraq, exchanging views on strategies for advancing scientific cooperation, expanding joint research, and developing academic ties between the two countries' universities.
In April, Simai-Sarraf and Al-Aboudi highlighted the necessity of activating scientific and technological cooperation between the two states. Furthermore, ways to develop joint work in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) using the capabilities of both nations were discussed.
During the meeting held in Tehran on April 18, Al-Aboudi stated that the issue of establishing a branch of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iraq was included in the agenda. For his part, Simai-Sarraf expressed Iran's readiness to share its scientific, research, and educational achievements with Iraq to improve bilateral relations.
According to the official, Iranian and Iraqi students have already conducted a total of 350 joint research projects, which requires improvement given the available opportunities. Simai-Sarraf mentioned the upcoming Iran-Iraq Science Week, scheduled in the provinces of Isfahan and Fars. He noted that the event was postponed due to the war imposed by the US and Israel but will be held at the earliest opportunity.
As agreed by the two officials, AI and smart education will be topics of discussion at the Iran-Iraq Science Week. This event is expected to serve as a basis for holding a joint AI conference in the near future.
The parties held a meeting in Baghdad in January. During this meeting, the Iraqi minister welcomed Iran's experience in creating science and technology parks. He added: 'During my previous visits to Iran, I visited its science and technology parks and familiarized myself with Iran's impressive capabilities in the technology sector.' He also noted: 'The legal framework for establishing science and technology parks in Iraq has now been developed, and we are ready to utilize Iran's experience in this area.'
Al-Aboudi stressed that strengthening academic cooperation between Iran and Iraq would allow for the synergy of the scientific potentials of both countries to solve common problems. The second Iran-Iraq Science Week took place in Karbala, Iraq, from January 18 to 20, aimed at strengthening bilateral scientific, academic, and technological relations. Both countries signed an action plan to stimulate their scientific cooperation.
This plan was signed by Omid Rezaei-Far, an employee of the Ministry of Science, and Haider Abd Dahd, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Iraq. Joint scientific programs were developed focusing on various aspects, including increasing cooperation in providing postgraduate scholarships, especially under the 'study in Iraq' program. They also provided for conducting training courses for professors and students, facilitating joint scientific supervision, faculty exchange for scientific research, and the joint creation of science and technology parks in Iraq under the management of the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
