Iran establishes national lab to bolster research, curb brain drain

Iran’s vice president for science, technology, and knowledge-based economy has announced the establishment of a national laboratory to enhance the country’s research infrastructure and address key reasons for the emigration of talented individuals.

According to the Communications and Information Center of the vice president’s office, Hossein Afshin made the remarks during the ninth ceremony honoring the top scientific figures in Iran held on Sunday evening, concurrent with the World Science Day.

Afshin emphasized the significance of science that leads to peace and development. He stressed the importance of emerging fields like quantum sciences, AI, and microelectronics, warning that neglecting these areas could jeopardize the country’s scientific standing.

The Iranian vice president noted that while 100 to 200 professors have been honored annually in the past years since 2015, this year only 57 were recognized, highlighting a potential threat to Iran’s scientific authority.

He announced the budget for the National Science Foundation has been tripled to support researchers and faculty in various scientific fields, including humanities and arts, which will receive 30% of the support.

Meanwhile, he said the Iran Made exhibition, scheduled for next month, will showcase domestically produced laboratory products and technologies, “offering a golden opportunity for university academics and researchers.”