Iran launches new initiatives to engage non-resident experts in national tech ecosystem

Seyyed Ali Hosseini, Deputy of the Office for Scientific Relations and Human Capital Development at Iran’s Organization for International Scientific Cooperation, emphasized the need to harness the expertise of non-resident Iranian professionals to advance the country’s science and technology sectors.

Hosseini underscored the mission of the organization’s “Connect” platform, which facilitates structured, remote collaborations between Iranian experts abroad and domestic institutions.

“Rather than viewing emigration as a threat, we’ve reframed it as an opportunity to benefit from their knowledge and experience,” he said.

The Connect platform, established in 2016, provides mechanisms for experts overseas to engage in research, academic, and industrial projects in Iran without needing to physically relocate.
It supports various engagement formats such as delivering specialized lectures during short visits, leading workshops, participating in joint research, and contributing to industrial projects.

Hosseini highlighted five priority areas: biotechnology, artificial intelligence and computing, medical equipment, basic sciences, and cognitive sciences. Iranian institutions post detailed research needs in these domains, enabling targeted collaboration with global experts.

He further noted that the platform facilitates dual-track cooperation—while experts may gain experience in reputable foreign firms, they also retain opportunities to contribute to industrial or technological projects within Iran.
“Connect is now a bridge linking global Iranian talent to domestic innovation,” he said.