View source for Science and technology in Iran

{{Short description|Overview of scientific and technological developments in Iran/Persia}}
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[[File:Omid 0665.jpg|thumb|[[Omid satellite]]. [[Iran]] is the [[Timeline of first orbital launches by country#List of first orbital launches by country|9th country to put a domestically built satellite into orbit]] using its [[safir (rocket)|own launcher]] and the sixth to send [[animals in space]].]]
[[File:COVIran Barakat.jpg|thumb|[[COVIran Barekat]] first locally developed COVID-19 vaccine to be approved for emergency use in the Middle East<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-14|title=Iran issues license on its coronavirus vaccine|url=https://en.trend.az/iran/society/3439812.html|access-date=2021-09-27|website=Trend.Az}}</ref>]]
[[Iran]] has made considerable advances in science and technology through [[education in Iran|education and training]], despite [[sanctions against Iran|international sanctions]] in almost all aspects of research during the past 30 years. [[Higher education in Iran|Iran's university population]] swelled from 100,000 in 1979 to 4.7 million in 2016.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kazemi |first1=Abbas Varij |last2=Dehnavi |first2=Azadeh Dehqhan |date=2017-02-26 |title=The New Academic Proletariat in Iran |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03017605.2016.1268455 |journal=Critique |volume=45 |issue=1–2 |pages=141–158 |doi=10.1080/03017605.2016.1268455 |issn=0301-7605}}</ref> In recent years, the growth in Iran's scientific output is reported to be the fastest in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20291-iran-is-top-of-the-world-in-science-growth.html |title=Iran is top of the world in science growth |author=Andy Coghlan |work=New Scientist |access-date=2 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427074329/http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20291-iran-is-top-of-the-world-in-science-growth.html |archive-date=27 April 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file27330.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-10-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110714013156/http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file27330.pdf |archive-date= 14 July 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.science-metrix.com/pdf/SM_2005_002_CNS_Collaboration_Canada-Developing_Countries.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=20 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201032057/http://www.science-metrix.com/pdf/SM_2005_002_CNS_Collaboration_Canada-Developing_Countries.pdf |archive-date=1 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Science in ancient and Medieval Iran (Persia)==
{{See also|Islamic science|Inventions in medieval Islam|Timeline of Islamic science and technology|Academy of Gundishapur}}
Science in Persia evolved in two main phases separated by the arrival and widespread adoption of Islam in the region.

References to scientific subjects such as natural science and mathematics occur in books written in the [[Zoroastrian Middle Persian|Pahlavi]] languages.

===Ancient technology in Iran===
The [[Qanat]] (a water management system used for irrigation) originated in pre-[[Achaemenid]] Iran. The oldest and largest known qanat is in the Iranian city of [[Gonabad]], which, after 2,700&nbsp;years, still provides drinking and agricultural water to nearly 40,000&nbsp;people.<ref>{{cite journal |last= Ward English |first= Paul |title= The Origin and Spread of Qanats in the Old World |journal=Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society |volume= 112 |issue= 3 |pages= 170–181 |date= 21 June 1968 |jstor= 986162}}</ref>

Iranian philosophers and inventors may have created the first batteries (sometimes known as the [[Baghdad Battery]]) in the Parthian or Sasanian eras. Some have suggested that the batteries may have been used medicinally. Other scientists believe the batteries were used for electroplating—transferring a thin layer of metal to another metal surface—a technique still used today and the focus of a common classroom experiment.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2804257.stm |publisher=BBC News |title=Riddle of 'Baghdad's batteries' |date=27 February 2003 |access-date=23 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903033419/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2804257.stm |archive-date=3 September 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, due to the absence of electrodes on the exterior of the pot, and the lack of records of electroplating at the time, most archaeologists believe it is not a battery, and is more likely a ritual or storage object.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Scott|first1=David A.|title=Copper and Bronze in Art: Corrosion, Colorants, Conservation|date=2002|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yQKuSOzkLvcC&q=bitumen+copper+cylinder+Khuyut+Rabbou&pg=PA17|publisher=Getty Publications|isbn=978-0-89236-638-5|pages=16–18|access-date=2020-10-20|archive-date=2021-05-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531010132/https://books.google.com/books?id=yQKuSOzkLvcC&q=bitumen+copper+cylinder+Khuyut+Rabbou&pg=PA17|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite interview|title=Archaeologists Revisit Iraq|access-date=6 April 2012|date=23 March 2012|last=Stone|first=Elizabeth|interviewer=Flatow, Ira|work=Science Friday|url=http://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/archaeologists-revisit-iraq/|quote=My recollection of it is that most people don't think it was a battery.&nbsp;... It resembled other clay vessels&nbsp;... used for rituals, in terms of having multiple mouths to it. I think it's not a battery. I think the people who argue it's a battery are not scientists, basically. I don't know anybody who thinks it's a real battery in the field.|archive-date=16 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416033610/https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/archaeologists-revisit-iraq/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Windwheels were developed by the [[Babylonians]] {{circa|1700&nbsp;BC}} to pump water for irrigation. The horizontal or [[panemone windmill]] first appeared in [[Greater Iran]] during the 9th century.<ref>Glick, Thomas F., Steven Livesey, and Faith Wallis. Medieval science, technology, and medicine: an encyclopedia. Routledge, 2014, 519</ref><ref>[https://www.engr.psu.edu/mtah/articles/geography_landscape_mills.htm#wind Geography, Landscape and Mills – Pennsylvania State University]</ref>

===Mathematics===
{{Further|Mathematics in medieval Islam}}

[[File:Book Al Sufi.jpg|thumbnail|Manuscript of [[Abd Al-Rahman Al Sufi|Abdolrahman Sufi]]'s ''Depiction of Celestial Constellations'']]

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The first five rows of [[Omar Khayyam#Binomial theorem and extraction of roots|Khayam-Pascal's triangle]]
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The 9th century mathematician [[Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi]] founded algebra and expanded upon Persian and Indian arithmetic systems. His writings were translated into [[Latin]] by [[Gerard of Cremona]] under the title: ''De jebra et almucabola''. [[Robert of Chester]] also translated it under the title ''Liber algebras et almucabala''. The works of Kharazmi "exercised a profound influence on the development of mathematical thought in the medieval West".<ref>Hill, Donald. ''Islamic Science and Engineering''. 1993. Edinburgh University Press. {{ISBN|0-7486-0455-3}} p.222</ref>

The [[Banū Mūsā]] brothers ("Sons of Moses"), namely Abū Jaʿfar, Muḥammad ibn Mūsā ibn Shākir (before 803{{Snd}} February 873), Abū al‐Qāsim, Aḥmad ibn Mūsā ibn Shākir (d. 9th century) and Al-Ḥasan ibn Mūsā ibn Shākir (d. 9th century), were three 9th-century [[Persian people|Persian]]<ref name="MontgomeryKumar2015">{{cite book|author1=Scott L. Montgomery|author2=Alok Kumar|title=A History of Science in World Cultures: Voices of Knowledge|date=12 June 2015|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-43906-6|page=221}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Bennison|first1=Amira K.|title=The great caliphs : the golden age of the 'Abbasid Empire|date=2009|publisher=[[Yale University Press]]|location=New Haven|isbn=978-0-300-15227-2|page=187}}</ref> scholars who lived and worked in [[Baghdad]]. They are known for their ''[[Book of Ingenious Devices]]'' on [[automata]] and mechanical devices and their ''Book on the Measurement of Plane and Spherical Figures''.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | last = Casulleras | editor = Thomas Hockey | first = Josep | title=Banū Mūsā | encyclopedia = The Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers | publisher = Springer | year = 2007 | location = New York | pages = 92–4 | url=http://islamsci.mcgill.ca/RASI/BEA/Banu_Musa_BEA.htm | isbn=978-0-387-31022-0}}</ref>

Other Iranian scientists included Abu Abbas Fazl Hatam, Farahani, Omar Ibn Farakhan, Abu Zeid Ahmad Ibn Soheil Balkhi (9th century&nbsp;AD), Abul Vafa Bouzjani, Abu Jaafar Khan, [[Abū Sahl al-Qūhī|Bijan Ibn Rostam Kouhi]], Ahmad Ibn Abdul Jalil Qomi, Bu Nasr Araghi, [[Abū Rayhān al-Bīrūnī|Abu Reyhan Birooni]], the noted Iranian poet Hakim [[Omar Khayyam]] Neishaburi, Qatan Marvazi, Massoudi Ghaznavi (13th century&nbsp;AD), [[Nasīr al-Dīn al-Tūsī|Khajeh Nassireddin Tusi]], and [[Jamshīd al-Kāshī|Ghiasseddin Jamshidi Kashani]].

===Medicine===
{{Main|Ancient Iranian Medicine}}
{{See also|Academy of Guneshapur|Bimarestan|Medicine in medieval Islam|Islamic medicine}}

The hospital system was developed in Sassanian Iran; for example, the [[Academy of Gundishapur]] was influential on the ideals and traditions of hospitals in the Mohammedan period.<ref>C. Elgood. ''A Medical history of Persia''. Cambridge Univ. Press. p. 173</ref>

[[File:Mansur1911.jpg|right|thumb|250px|From: Mansur ibn Ilyas: Tashrīḥ-e badan-e ensān. {{lang|ar| تشريح بدن انسان}} (''dissection of human body''). Manuscript, {{circa|1450}}, U.S. National Library of Medicine.]]
[[File:Canons of medicine.JPG|thumb|right|A 500-year-old Latin translation of the ''[[Canon of Medicine]]'' by [[Avicenna]].]]
Several documents still exist from which the definitions and treatments of the headache in medieval Persia can be ascertained. These documents give detailed and precise clinical information on the different types of headaches. The medieval physicians listed various signs and symptoms, apparent causes, and hygienic and dietary rules for prevention of headaches. The medieval writings are both accurate and vivid, and they provide long lists of substances used in the treatment of headaches. Many of the approaches of physicians in medieval Persia are accepted today; however, still more of them could be of use to modern medicine.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Gorji A |author2=Khaleghi Ghadiri M |s2cid=1979297 |title=History of headache in medieval Persian medicine |journal=Lancet Neurology |volume=1 |issue=8 |pages=510–5 |date=December 2002 |pmid=12849336 |doi=10.1016/S1474-4422(02)00226-0 }}</ref>

During the 7th century the Achaemenian dynasty was the major advocate of science. Documents indicate that condemned criminals' bodies were dissected and used for medical research during this timeframe<ref name="Shoja 359–378">{{Cite journal|last1=Shoja|first1=Mohammadali M.|last2=Tubbs|first2=R. Shane|date=April 2007|title=The history of anatomy in Persia|journal=Journal of Anatomy|volume=210|issue=4|pages=359–378|doi=10.1111/j.1469-7580.2007.00711.x|issn=0021-8782|pmc=2100290|pmid=17428200}}</ref> In due course, Persians' methods of gathering scientific information would undergo a major change. In the aftermath of the conquest of Islam, Muslim armies destroyed major libraries, and as a result, Persian scholars were deeply concerned as knowledge of the fields of science had been lost. Persians also prohibited the use of human anatomical dissection by Muslim medical practitioners for social and religious reasons.<ref name="Shoja 359–378"/> Persian literature was translated into Arabic for approximately two centuries to preserve the surviving Persians literature, which also indirectly served to conserve Persian history.<ref name="Shoja 359–378"/>

In the 10th century work of [[Shahnameh]], [[Ferdowsi]] describes a [[Caesarean section]] performed on [[Rudabeh]], during which a special wine agent was prepared by a [[Zoroastrian]] priest and used to produce unconsciousness for the operation.<ref>[[Edward Granville Browne]]. ''Islamic Medicine'', Goodword Books, 2002, {{ISBN|81-87570-19-9}}. p. 79</ref> Although largely mythical in content, the passage illustrates working knowledge of [[anesthesia]] in ancient [[Persia]].

Later in the 10th century, [[Abu Bakr Muhammad Bin Zakaria Razi]] is considered the founder of practical physics and the inventor of the special or net weight of matter. His student, [[Abu Bakr Joveini]], wrote the first comprehensive medical book in the [[Persian language|Persian]] language.

After the [[Islamic conquest of Iran]], medicine continued to flourish with the rise of notables such as [[Rhazes]] and [[Haly Abbas]], albeit [[Baghdad]] was the new cosmopolitan inheritor of [[Sassanid]] Jundishapur's medical academy. Rhaze noted that different diseases might have similar signs and symptoms, which highlights Rhazes' contribution to applied neuroanatomy. The differential diagnosis approach is still used in modern medicine. His music therapy was used as a means of promoting healing and he was one of the first people to realize that diet influences the function of the body and the predisposition to disease<ref name="Shoja 359–378"/>

An idea of the number of medical works composed in Persian alone may be gathered from [[Adolf Fonahn]]'s ''Zur Quellenkunde der Persischen Medizin'', published in [[Leipzig]] in 1910. The author enumerates over 400 works in the Persian language on medicine, excluding authors such as [[Avicenna]], who wrote in Arabic. Author-historians Meyerhof, Casey Wood, and Hirschberg also have recorded the names of at least 80 [[Optometry|oculist]]s who contributed treatises on subjects related to [[ophthalmology]] from the beginning of 800&nbsp;AD to the full flowering of Muslim medical literature in 1300&nbsp;AD.

Aside from the aforementioned, two other medical works attracted great attention in medieval Europe, namely [[Abu Mansur Muwaffaq]]'s ''Materia Medica'', written around 950&nbsp;AD, and the illustrated ''Anatomy'' of ''Mansur ibn Muhammad'', written in 1396&nbsp;AD.

Modern academic medicine began in Iran when [[Joseph Cochran]] established a medical college in [[Urmia]] in 1878. Cochran is often credited for founding Iran's "first contemporary medical college".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ams.ac.ir/AIM/0252/0252127.htm |title=Archives of Iranian Medicine |publisher=Ams.ac.ir |date=18 August 1905 |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928231919/http://www.ams.ac.ir/AIM/0252/0252127.htm |archive-date=28 September 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> The website of [[Urmia University]] credits Cochran for "lowering the infant mortality rate in the region"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urmia.ac.ir/intro.htm |title=Introduction to Urmia University |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070608120732/http://www.urmia.ac.ir/intro.htm |archive-date=2007-06-08}}</ref> and for founding one of Iran's first modern hospitals (Westminster Hospital) in Urmia.

Iran started contributing to modern medical research late in 20th century. Most publications were from pharmacology and pharmacy labs located at a few top universities, most notably Tehran University of Medical Sciences. [[Ahmad Reza Dehpour]] and [[Abbas Shafiee]] were among the most prolific scientists in that era. Research programs in immunology, parasitology, pathology, medical genetics, and public health were also established in late 20th century. In 21st century, we witnessed a huge surge in the number of publications in medical journals by Iranian scientists on nearly all areas in basic and clinical medicine. Interdisciplinary research were introduced during 2000s and dual degree programs including Medicine/Science, Medicine/Engineering and Medicine/Public health programs were founded. [[Alireza Mashaghi]] was one of the main figures behind the development of interdisciplinary research and education in Iran.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

===Astronomy===
{{Further|Persian astronomy|Astronomy in medieval Islam}}
[[File:Astrolabe-Persian-18C.jpg|250px|right|thumb|An 18th century Persian astrolabe]]
In 1000&nbsp;AD, [[Biruni]] wrote an astronomical encyclopaedia that discussed the possibility that the earth might revolve around the sun. This was before [[Tycho Brahe]] drew the first maps of the sky, using stylized animals to depict the constellations.

In the tenth century, the Persian astronomer Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi recorded the first known reference to the Andromeda galaxy, which he called a "little cloud".<ref name=scotsman>{{cite news| url=http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=1634902007 |work=The Scotsman |location=Edinburgh, UK | first=Claire | last=Gemson | title=1,001 inventions mark Islam's role in science | date=13 October 2007}}</ref>

In 830, the Persian mathematician al-Khwarizmi wrote the first major work of Muslim astronomy. In addition to presenting tables covering the movements of the Sun, Moon and the five planets, Ptolemaic concepts were introduced into Islamic science through this work.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gingerich|first=Owen|date=April 1986|title=Islamic Astronomy|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican0486-74|journal=Scientific American|volume=254|issue=4|pages=74–83|doi=10.1038/scientificamerican0486-74|bibcode=1986SciAm.254d..74G|issn=0036-8733}}</ref>

===Biology===
[[Abu Hanifa Dinawari]] is considered the founder of Arabic botany for his ''Kitab al-Nabat'' (''Book of Plants''), which consisted of six volumes. Only the third and fifth volumes have survived, though the sixth volume has partly been reconstructed based on citations from later works. In the surviving portions of his works, 637 plants are described from the letters ''sin'' to ''ya''. He describes the phases of [[plant growth]] and the production of flowers and fruit.<ref name=Fahd-815>{{citation|last=Fahd|first=Toufic|title=Botany and agriculture|page=815}}, in {{Citation |last1=Morelon |first1=Régis |last2=Rashed |first2=Roshdi |date=1996 |title=Encyclopedia of the History of Arabic Science |volume=3 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-0-415-12410-2 |pages=813–852|title-link=Encyclopedia of the History of Arabic Science }}</ref>

Medieval Islamic agronomists including Ibn Bassal and Abū l-Khayr described [[agricultural]] and [[horticultural]] techniques including how to propagate the olive and the [[date palm]], [[crop rotation]] of [[flax]] with [[wheat]] or [[barley]], and [[companion planting]] of [[grape]] and olive.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ruggles |first=D. Fairchild |author-link=D. Fairchild Ruggles |title=Islamic Gardens and Landscapes |url=https://archive.org/details/islamicgardensla0000rugg |url-access=registration |date=2008 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |isbn=978-0812240252|pages=32–35}}</ref>

===Chemistry===
{{Further|Alchemy and chemistry in medieval Islam}}

The authors of the alchemical texts (c. 850−950) attributed to [[Jabir ibn Hayyan]] pioneered the chemical use of vegetable and animal substances, which at the time represented an innovative shift towards [[organic chemistry]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kraus|first=Paul|author-link=Paul Kraus (Arabist)|year=1942–1943|title=Jâbir ibn Hayyân: Contribution à l'histoire des idées scientifiques dans l'Islam. I. Le corpus des écrits jâbiriens. II. Jâbir et la science grecque|publisher=[[Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale]]|location=Cairo|oclc=468740510|isbn=9783487091150}} vol. II, p. 41. On the dating of the texts attributed to Jabir ibn Hayyan, see {{harvnb|Kraus|1942–1943|loc=vol. I, pp. xvii–lxv}}.</ref> One of the innovations in Jabirian alchemy was the addition of [[sal ammoniac]] ([[ammonium chloride]]) to the category of chemical substances known as 'spirits' (i.e., strongly volatile substances). This included both naturally occurring sal ammoniac and [[Chemical synthesis|synthetic]] ammonium chloride as produced from [[Organic compound|organic substances]], and so the addition of sal ammoniac to the list of 'spirits' is likely a product of the new focus on organic chemistry. Since the word for sal ammoniac used in the Jabirian corpus (''nūshādhir'') is Iranian in origin, it has been suggested that the direct precursors of Jabirian alchemy may have been active in the [[Hellenization|Hellenizing]] and [[Syriac language|Syriacizing]] schools of the [[Sasanian Empire]].<ref>All of the preceding in {{harvnb|Kraus|1942–1943|loc=vol. II, pp. 41–42}}; cf. {{cite encyclopedia|last=Lory|first=Pierre|author-link=Pierre Lory|year=2008|title=Kimiā|encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Iranica|url=https://iranicaonline.org/articles/kimia}}</ref>

The Persian alchemist and physician [[Abu Bakr al-Razi]] (c. 865–925) conducted experiments with the heating of sal ammoniac, [[vitriol]], and other [[salts]], which would eventually lead to the discovery of [[mineral acids]] by thirteenth century Latin alchemists such as [[pseudo-Geber]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Multhauf|first=Robert P.|author-link=Robert P. Multhauf|year=1966|title=The Origins of Chemistry|location=London|publisher=Oldbourne}} pp. 141–142. {{Cite journal|last1=Karpenko|first1=Vladimír|last2=Norris|first2=John A.|year=2002|title=Vitriol in the History of Chemistry|journal=Chemické listy|volume=96|issue=12|pages=997–1005|url=http://www.chemicke-listy.cz/ojs3/index.php/chemicke-listy/article/view/2266}}</ref>

===Physics===
{{Further|Physics in medieval Islam}}
[[File:Kamal-1.jpg|thumb|right|[[Kamal al-Din al-Farisi]]'s autograph manuscript in Optics, Tanqih al-Manazir, 1309 A.D., Adilnor Collection.]]
[[Kamal al-Din Al-Farisi]] (1267–1318) born in [[Tabriz]], Iran, is known for giving the first mathematically satisfactory (though incorrect) explanation of the rainbow, and an explication of the nature of colours that reformed the theory of Ibn al-Haytham. Al-Farisi also "proposed a model where the ray of light from the sun was refracted twice by a water droplet, one or more reflections occurring between the two refractions."{{citation needed|date=February 2013}} He tested this through experimentation using a transparent sphere filled with water.

== Science policy ==
{{see also|Higher education in Iran|List of Iranian Research Centers|List of countries by research and development spending}}The [[Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology]] and the [[National Research Institute for Science Policy]] come under the [[Ministry of Science, Research and Technology]]. They are in charge of establishing national research policies.

The government first set its sights on moving from a resource-based economy to one based on knowledge in its 20-year development plan, ''Vision 2025'', adopted in 2005. This transition became a priority after international sanctions were progressively hardened from 2006 onwards and the oil embargo tightened its grip. In February 2014, the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei introduced what he called the '[[resistive economy|economy of resistance]]', an economic plan advocating innovation and a lesser dependence on imports that reasserted key provisions of ''Vision 2025''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002354/235406e.pdf|title=Iran. In: UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030|last=Ashtarian|first=Kioomars|publisher=UNESCO|year=2015|isbn=978-92-3-100129-1|location=Paris|pages=389–407|access-date=6 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630025557/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002354/235406e.pdf|archive-date=30 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

''Vision 2025'' challenged policy-makers to look beyond [[extractive industries]] to the country's human capital for wealth creation. This led to the adoption of incentive measures to raise the number of university students and academics, on the one hand, and to stimulate problem-solving and industrial research, on the other.<ref name=":0" />

Iran's successive five-year plans aim to realize collectively the goals of ''Vision 2025''. For instance, in order to ensure that 50% of academic research was oriented towards socio-economic needs and problem-solving, the ''[[economy of Iran#National planning|Fifth Five-Year Economic Development Plan]]'' (2010–2015) tied promotion to the orientation of research projects. It also made provision for research and technology centres to be set up on campus and for universities to develop linkages with industry. The ''Fifth Five-Year Economic Development Plan'' had two main thrusts relative to science policy. The first was the "islamization of universities', a notion that is open to broad interpretation. According to Article 15 of the ''Fifth Five-Year Economic Development Plan'', university programmes in the humanities were to teach the virtues of critical thinking, theorization and multidisciplinary studies. A number of research centres were also to be developed in the humanities. The plan's second thrust was to make Iran the second-biggest player in science and technology by 2015, behind Turkey. To this end, the government pledged to raise domestic research spending to 3% of GDP by 2015.<ref name=":0" /> Yet, [[Science in Iran#Budget|R&D's share in the GNP]] is at 0.06% in 2015 (where it should be at least 2.5% of GDP)<ref>{{Cite report |title=Memorandum of the foreign trade regime of Iran |publisher=[[Ministry of Commerce (Iran)|Ministry of Commerce]] |date=November 2009 |url=http://www.irantradelaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Irans-Foreign-Trade-Regime-Report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713054415/http://www.irantradelaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Irans-Foreign-Trade-Regime-Report.pdf |archive-date=13 July 2011 |via=Iran Trade Law}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=248319|work=Tehran Times|access-date=18 May 2016|title=Govt. Favors weaning research from national budget|date=2015-07-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610230855/http://tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=248319|archive-date=10 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Science in Iran#Private sector|industry-driven R&D]] is almost non‑existent.<ref name=article2>{{cite news| title= Iran's Neoliberal Austerity-Security Budget| work= [[Hooshang Amirahmadi]]| url= http://www.payvand.com/news/15/feb/1076.html| access-date= 21 February 2015| date= 16 February 2015| publisher= Payvand.com| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160821225253/http://www.payvand.com/news/15/feb/1076.html| archive-date= 21 August 2016| url-status= live}}</ref>

''Vision 2025'' fixed a number of targets, including that of raising domestic expenditure on research and development to 4% of GDP by 2025. In 2012, spending stood at 0.33% of GDP.<ref name=":0" />

In 2009, the government adopted a ''National Master Plan for Science and Education'' to 2025 which reiterates the goals of Vision 2025. It lays particular stress on developing university research and fostering university–industry ties to promote the commercialization of research results.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="bare_url">{{cite web|url=http://royalsociety.org/uploadedFiles/Royal_Society_Content/Influencing_Policy/Reports/2011-03-28-Knowledge-networks-nations.pdf|title=- Royal Society|access-date=2 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603175652/http://royalsociety.org/uploadedFiles/Royal_Society_Content/Influencing_Policy/Reports/2011-03-28-Knowledge-networks-nations.pdf|archive-date=3 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="universityworldnews">{{cite web|url=http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20110330082828206|title=GLOBAL: Strong science in Iran, Tunisia, Turkey|publisher=University World News|access-date=21 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004190628/http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20110330082828206|archive-date=4 October 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20090827175231370|title=IRAN: 20-year plan for knowledge-based economy|publisher=University World News|access-date=21 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004191220/http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20090827175231370|archive-date=4 October 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="google">{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5iB6Zh7nT6ZGhwZrKK7xTUgiE_Hig?docId=N0263521301316235753A|title=China marching ahead in science|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110401112927/https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5iB6Zh7nT6ZGhwZrKK7xTUgiE_Hig?docId=N0263521301316235753A|archive-date=2011-04-01}}</ref><ref name="msnbc">{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42313412/ns/technology_and_science-science/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110401042959/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42313412/ns/technology_and_science-science|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 April 2011|title=China leads challenge to 'scientific superpowers'{{Snd}} Technology & science{{Snd}} Science|date=28 March 2011|publisher=MSNBC|access-date=21 October 2011}}</ref>

In early 2018, the Science and Technology Department of the Iranian President's Office released a book to review Iran's achievements in various fields of science and technology during 2017. The book, entitled "Science and Technology in Iran: A Brief Review", provides the readers with an overview of the country's 2017 achievements in 13 different fields of science and technology.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ifpnews.com/exclusive/brief-review-science-technology-iran-2017/|title=Science and Technology in Iran: A Brief Review|date=21 January 2018|publisher=IFPNews|access-date=16 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520072317/https://ifpnews.com/exclusive/brief-review-science-technology-iran-2017/|archive-date=20 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Human resources ===
{{See also|Economy of Iran#Labor force|Iran's brain drain}}
In line with the goals of ''Vision 2025'', policy-makers have made a concerted effort to increase the number of students and academic researchers. To this end, the government raised its commitment to higher education to 1% of GDP in 2006. After peaking at this level, higher education spending stood at 0.86% of GDP in 2015. [[Higher education in Iran|Higher education]] spending has resisted better than public expenditure on education overall. The latter peaked at 4.7% of GDP in 2007 before slipping to 2.9% of GDP in 2015. ''Vision 2025'' fixed a target of raising public expenditure on education to 7% of GDP by 2025.<ref name=":0" />

==== Student enrollment trends ====
{{See also|Women in Iran}}
[[File:Students enrolled in Iranian universities, 2007 and 2013.svg|thumb|Students enrolled in Iranian universities, 2007 and 2013. Source: UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030 (2015)]]
The result of greater spending on higher education has been a steep rise in tertiary enrollment. Between 2007 and 2013, student rolls swelled from 2.8 million to 4.4 million in the country's public and private universities. Some 45% of students were enrolled in private universities in 2011. There were more women studying than men in 2007, a proportion that has since dropped back slightly to 48%.<ref name=":0" />

Enrollment has progressed in most fields. The most popular in 2013 were social sciences (1.9 million students, of which 1.1 million women) and engineering (1.5 million, of which 373 415 women). Women also made up two-thirds of medical students. One in eight bachelor's students go on to enroll in a master's/PhD programme. This is comparable to the ratio in the Republic of Korea and Thailand (one in seven) and Japan (one in ten).<ref name=":0" />

The number of PhD graduates has progressed at a similar pace as university enrollment overall. Natural sciences and engineering have proved increasingly popular among both sexes, even if engineering remains a male-dominated field. In 2012, women made up one-third of PhD graduates, being drawn primarily to health (40% of PhD students), natural sciences (39%), agriculture (33%) and humanities and arts (31%). According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 38% of master's and PhD students were studying science and engineering fields in 2011.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:PhD graduates in Iran by field of study and gender, 2007 and 2012.svg|thumb|PhD graduates in Iran by field of study and gender, 2007 and 2012. Source: UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030 (2015)]]
There has been an interesting evolution in the gender balance among PhD students. Whereas the share of female PhD graduates in health remained stable at 38–39% between 2007 and 2012, it rose in all three other broad fields. Most spectacular was the leap in female PhD graduates in agricultural sciences from 4% to 33% but there was also a marked progression in science (from 28% to 39%) and engineering (from 8% to 16% of PhD students). Although data are not readily available on the number of PhD graduates choosing to stay on as faculty, the relatively modest level of domestic research spending would suggest that academic research suffers from inadequate funding.<ref name=":0" />

The ''Fifth Five-Year Economic Development Plan'' (2010–2015) fixed the target of attracting 25 000 foreign students to Iran by 2015. By 2013, there were about 14 000 foreign students attending Iranian universities, most of whom came from Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria and Turkey. In a speech delivered at the University of Tehran in October 2014, [[President Rouhani]] recommended greater interaction with the outside world. He said that {{Blockquote|text=scientific evolution will be achieved by criticism [...] and the expression of different ideas. [...] Scientific progress is achieved, if we are related to the world. [...] We have to have a relationship with the world, not only in foreign policy but also with regard to the economy, science and technology. [...] I think it is necessary to invite foreign professors to come to Iran and our professors to go abroad and even to create an English university to be able to attract foreign students.'<ref name=":0" />}}

One in four Iranian PhD students were studying abroad in 2012 (25.7%). The top destinations were Malaysia, the US, Canada, Australia, UK, France, Sweden and Italy. In 2012, one in seven international students in Malaysia was of Iranian origin. There is a lot of scope for the development of twinning between universities for teaching and research, as well as for student exchanges.<ref name=":0" />

==== Trends in researchers ====
According to the [[UNESCO Institute for Statistics]], the number of (full-time equivalent) researchers rose from 711 to 736 per million inhabitants between 2009 and 2010. This corresponds to an increase of more than 2 000 researchers, from 52 256 to 54 813. The world average is 1 083 per million inhabitants. One in four (26%) [[Women in Iran|Iranian researchers is a woman]], which is close to the world average (28%). In 2008, half of researchers were employed in academia (51.5%), one-third in the government sector (33.6%) and just under one in seven in the business sector (15.0%). Within the business sector, 22% of researchers were women in 2013, the same proportion as in Ireland, Israel, Italy and Norway. The number of firms declaring research activities more than doubled between 2006 and 2011, from 30 935 to 64 642. The increasingly tough sanctions regime oriented the [[Iranian economy]] towards the domestic market and, by erecting barriers to foreign imports, encouraged knowledge-based enterprises to localize production.<ref name=":0" />

===Research expenditure===
{{See also|Politics of Iran#Budget|l1=Public budget in Iran}}

Iran's national science budget was about $900&nbsp;million in 2005 and it had not been subject to any significant increase for the previous 15 years.<ref>{{cite journal|title=An Islamic Science Revolution?|url=http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/309/5742/1802?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=iran&searchid=1138556046976_3291&FIRSTINDEX=0&journalcode=sci|journal=Science|volume=309|issue=5742|pages=1802–1804|doi=10.1126/science.309.5742.1802|pmid=16166490|access-date=2 April 2016|date=2005-09-16|last1=Stone|first1=Richard|s2cid = 142885773|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416235632/http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/309/5742/1802?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=iran&searchid=1138556046976_3291&FIRSTINDEX=0&journalcode=sci|archive-date=16 April 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2001, Iran devoted 0.50% of GDP to research and development. Expenditure peaked at 0.67% of GDP in 2008 before receding to 0.33% of GDP in 2012, according to the [[UNESCO Institute for Statistics]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://data.uis.unesco.org/?queryid=74|title=GERD/GDP ratio in Iran|date=6 June 2017|website=UNESCO Institute for Statistics|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023202159/http://data.uis.unesco.org/?queryid=74|archive-date=23 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The world average in 2013 was 1.7% of GDP. Iran's government has devoted much of its budget to research on high technologies such as [[nanotechnology]], [[biotechnology]], [[stem cell]] research and information technology (2008).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20081031102629/Iran:%20Huge%20Investments%20On%20Nanotech |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730182453/http://uk.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20081031102629/Iran:%20Huge%20Investments%20On%20Nanotech |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 July 2012 |title=Iran: Huge Investments on Nanotech |website= Zawya |date=30 October 2008 |access-date=21 October 2011}}</ref> In 2006, the [[Iranian government]] wiped out the financial debts of all universities in a bid to relieve their budget constraints.<ref>{{cite journal|date=17 August 2006|title=Revival in Iran|journal=Nature|volume=442|issue=7104|pages=719–720|doi=10.1038/442719b |pmid=16915244 |author=editorial |bibcode=2006Natur.442R.719. |doi-access=free}}</ref> According to the [[UNESCO Science Report|UNESCO science report]] 2010, most research in Iran is government-funded with the Iranian government providing almost 75% of all research funding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/asia_leaping_forward_in_science_and_technology_but_japan_feels_the_global_recession_shows_unesco_report/|title=Asia leaping forward in science and technology, but Japan feels the global recession, shows UNESCO report &#124; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|publisher=Unesco.org|author=Source: Unescopress|access-date=21 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110403090911/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/asia_leaping_forward_in_science_and_technology_but_japan_feels_the_global_recession_shows_unesco_report/|archive-date=3 April 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Domestic expenditure on research stood at 0.7% of GDP in 2008 and 0.3% of GDP in 2012. Iranian businesses contributed about 11% of the total in 2008. The government's limited budget is being directed towards supporting small innovative businesses, business incubators and science and technology parks, the type of enterprises which employ university graduates.<ref name=":0" />

The share of private businesses in total national R&D funding according to the same report is very low, being just 14%, as compared with [[Turkey]]'s 48%. The rest of approximately 11% of funding comes from higher education sector and non-profit organizations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001899/189958e.pdf|title=UNESCO science report, 2010: the current status of science around the world; 2010|access-date=21 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115173525/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001899/189958e.pdf|archive-date=15 November 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> A limited number of [[List of Iranian companies|large enterprises]] (such as [[Industrial Development and Renovation Organization of Iran|IDRO]], [[National Iranian Oil Company#Subsidiary companies|NIOC]], [[National Iranian Petrochemical Company|NIPC]], [[Defense Industries Organization|DIO]], [[Iran Aviation Industries Organization]], [[Iranian Space Agency]], [[Iran Electronics Industries]] or [[Iran Khodro]]) have their own in-house [[Research and development|R&D capabilities]].<ref name="unctad.org">{{Cite web |url=http://unctad.org/en/docs/iteipc20057_en.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=11 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021045843/http://unctad.org/en/Docs/iteipc20057_en.pdf |archive-date=21 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Funding the transition to a knowledge economy ====
{{See also|Foreign direct investment in Iran|Economy of Iran|Venture capital in Iran}}
[[File:Scientific publication trends in Iran, 2005–2014, Strong growth in Iranian publications.svg|thumb|Trends in Iranian scientific publications, 2005–2014. Source: UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030 (2015)]]
''Vision 2025'' foresaw an investment of US$3.7 trillion by 2025 to finance the transition to a knowledge economy. It was intended for one-third of this amount to come from abroad but, so far, FDI has remained elusive. It has contributed less than 1% of GDP since 2006 and just 0.5% of GDP in 2014. Within the country's ''Fifth Five-Year Economic Development Plan'' (2010–2015), a [[National Development Fund]] has been established to finance efforts to diversify the economy. By 2013, the fund was receiving 26% of oil and gas revenue.<ref name=":0" />

Much of the US$3.7 trillion earmarked in ''Vision 2025'' is to go towards supporting investment in research and development by knowledge-based firms and the commercialization of research results. A law passed in 2010 provides an appropriate mechanism, the Innovation and Prosperity Fund. According to the fund's president, Behzad Soltani, 4600 billion Iranian rials (circa US$171.4 million) had been allocated to 100 knowledge-based companies by late 2014. Public and private universities wishing to set up private firms may also apply to the fund.<ref name=":0" />

Some 37 industries trade shares on the [[Tehran Stock Exchange]]. These industries include the petrochemical, automotive, mining, steel, iron, copper, agriculture and telecommunications industries, 'a unique situation in the Middle East'. Most of the companies developing high technologies remain state-owned, including in the automotive and pharmaceutical industries, despite plans to privatize 80% of state-owned companies by 2014. It was estimated in 2014 that the private sector accounted for about 30% of the [[pharmaceuticals in Iran|Iranian pharmaceutical market]].<ref name=":0" />[[File:Iranians now publish most in engineering, followed by chemistry.svg|thumb|Iranian publications by field of science, 2008–2014. Source: UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030 (2015)]]The [[IDRO Group|Industrial Development and Renovation Organization]] (IDRO) controls about 290 state-owned companies. IDRO has set up special purpose companies in each high-tech sector to coordinate investment and business development. These entities are the Life Science Development Company, Information Technology Development Centre, Iran InfoTech Development Company and the Emad Semiconductor Company. In 2010, IDRO set up a capital fund to finance the intermediary stages of product- and technology-based business development within these companies.<ref name=":0" />

==Technology parks==
{{See also|Communications in Iran#Technology start-ups|Industry of Iran|Foreign Direct Investment in Iran|List of research parks|l1=Technology start-ups in Iran}}
As of 2012, Iran had officially 31 science and [[technology park]]s nationwide.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} Furthermore, as of 2014, 36 science and technology parks hosting more than 3,650 companies were operating in Iran.<ref name="science" /> These firms have directly employed more than 24,000 people.<ref name="science">{{cite web |url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/02/iran-tech-it-sector-post-sanctions-relief-development.html|title=How sanctions helped Iranian tech industry |website=Al-Monitor |access-date=2 April 2016|date=2016-02-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329010409/http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/02/iran-tech-it-sector-post-sanctions-relief-development.html|archive-date=29 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the ''Iran Entrepreneurship Association'', there are ninety-nine (99) parks of science and technology, in totality, which operate without official permits. Twenty-one of those parks are located in [[Tehran]] and affiliated with [[University Jihad]], [[Tarbiat Modares University]], [[Tehran University]], [[Ministry of Energy (Iran)]], [[Ministry of Health and Medical Education]], and [[Amir Kabir University]] among others. [[Fars province]], with 8 parks and [[Razavi Khorasan province]], with 7 parks, are ranked second and third after Tehran respectively.<ref name="web.archive.org" />

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Park's name
! Focus area
! Location
|-
| Guilan Science and Technology Park
| Agro-Food, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Electronics, Environment, ICT, Tourism.<ref name="unido.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.unido.org/index.php?id=o34918&L=2 |title=Iran |publisher=unido.org |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927020551/http://www.unido.org/index.php?id=o34918&L=2 |archive-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| [[Guilan]]
|-
| [[Pardis Technology Park]]
| Advanced Engineering (mechanics and automation), Biotechnology, Chemistry, Electronics, ICT, Nano-technology.<ref name="unido.org" />
| 25&nbsp;km North-East of [[Tehran]]
|-
| Tehran Software and Information Technology Park (planned)<ref>{{Citation |mode=cs1 |title=Telecoms And Technology Forecast |work=Economist Intelligence Unit}}</ref>
| ICT<ref>[http://www.cra.ir/Earchive/EArchiveF/UpdateCounter.asp?filename=rad1736E.pdf]{{dead link|date=February 2012}}</ref>
| Tehran
|-
| Tehran University and Science Technology Park<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://en.mehrnews.com/detail/News/103049| title=Tehran University Science and Technology Park unveils products| date=2014-06-10| access-date=12 June 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140616215012/http://en.mehrnews.com/detail/News/103049| archive-date=16 June 2014| url-status=live}}</ref>
|
| Tehran
|-
| Khorasan Science and Technology Park ([[Ministry of Science, Research and Technology]])
| Advanced Engineering, Agro-Food, Chemistry, Electronics, ICT, Services.<ref name="unido.org" />
| [[Khorasan province|Khorasan]]
|-
| Sheikh Bahai Technology Park (Aka "Isfahan Science and Technology Town")
| Materials and Metallurgy, Information and Communications Technology, Design & Manufacturing, Automation, Biotechnology, Services.<ref name="unido.org" />
| [[Isfahan]]
|-
| Semnan Province Technology Park
|
| [[Semnān Province|Semnan]]
|-
| East Azerbaijan Province Technology Park
|
| [[East Azerbaijan]]
|-
| Yazd Province Technology Park
|
| [[Yazd]]
|-
| Mazandaran Science and Technology Park
|
| [[Mazandaran]]
|-
| Markazi Province Technology Park
|
| [[Arak, Iran|Arak]]
|-
| "Kahkeshan" (Galaxy) Technology Park{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}
| [[Iranian Space Agency|Aerospace]]
| [[Tehran]]
|-
|Pars Aero Technology Park<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://english.farsnews.ir/newstext.aspx?nn=13920918000908 | title=Farsnews | access-date=14 December 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214065610/http://english.farsnews.ir/newstext.aspx?nn=13920918000908 | archive-date=14 December 2013 | url-status=live }}</ref>
|| [[Iranian Space Agency|Aerospace]] & [[Iran Aviation Industries Organization|Aviation]]
| [[Tehran]]
|-
|Energy Technology Park (planned)<ref name="en.mehrnews.com">{{Cite web| url=http://en.mehrnews.com/detail/News/103374| title=Iran to establish Energy Technology Park| date=2014-07-16| access-date=21 July 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721210231/http://en.mehrnews.com/detail/News/103374| archive-date=21 July 2014| url-status=live}}</ref>
||[[Energy in Iran|Energy]]
| {{NA}}
|}

==Innovation==
{{see also|Intellectual property in Iran|Banking in Iran#Venture capital|l2=Venture capital in Iran}}
[[File:Index of economic complexity - Iran.svg|thumb|[[Economic complexity index]] for Iran (1964–2014)]]
As of 2004, Iran's [[national innovation system]] (NIS) had not experienced a serious entrance to the technology creation phase and mainly exploited the technologies developed by other countries (e.g. [[National Petrochemical Company#Research and development|in the petrochemicals industry]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4777997|title=A National System of Innovation in the Making : An Analysis of the Role of Government with Respect to Promoting Domestic Innovations in the Manufacturing Sector of Iran|work=ResearchGate|access-date=2 April 2016}}</ref>

In 2016, Iran ranked second in the percentage of graduates in science and engineering in the [[Global Innovation Index]]. Iran also ranked fourth in [[Higher education in Iran|tertiary education]], 26 in knowledge creation, 31 in gross percentage of tertiary enrollment, 41 in general infrastructure, 48 in human capital as well as research and 51 in innovation efficiency ratio.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://en.mehrnews.com/news/119205/Iran-ranked-2nd-in-percentage-of-science-engineering-graduates|title=Iran ranked 2nd in percentage of science, engineering graduates|date=August 2016|access-date=28 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826070244/http://en.mehrnews.com/news/119205/Iran-ranked-2nd-in-percentage-of-science-engineering-graduates|archive-date=26 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

In recent years several [[Pharmaceuticals in Iran|drugmakers in Iran]] are gradually developing the ability to innovate, away from [[generic drugs]] production itself.<ref name="companiesandmarket">{{cite web |author=Greg Palast |url=http://www.officialwire.com/main.php?action=posted_news&rid=107645&catid=1015 |title=Pharmaceuticals: Afghan Ufficiale: La NATO Airstrike Uccide 14 |publisher=OfficialWire |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222092703/http://www.officialwire.com/main.php?action=posted_news&rid=107645&catid=1015 |archive-date=22 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

According to the ''[[Intellectual property in Iran#Agencies responsible for IP policy in Iran|State Registration Organization of Deeds and Properties]]'', a total of 9,570 national [[invention]]s were registered in Iran during 2008. Compared with the previous year, there was a 38-percent increase in the number of inventions registered by the organization.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iran-daily.com/1388/3372/html/science.htm |title=Iran Registered 9,000 Inventions Last Year |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415053429/http://www.iran-daily.com/1388/3372/html/science.htm |archive-date=2009-04-15}}</ref> Iran was ranked 64th in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2024.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2024/en/|title=Global Innovation Index 2024. Unlocking the Promise of Social Entrepreneurship|access-date=2024-10-22|author=[[World Intellectual Property Organization]]|year=2024|isbn=978-92-805-3681-2|doi= 10.34667/tind.50062|website=wipo.int|location=Geneva|page=18}}</ref>

Iran has several funds to support entrepreneurship and innovation:<ref name="web.archive.org">{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20150915104200/http://www.cgiran.org/main/images/files/20140429102612_IranEntrepreneurshipEcosystemReport-IEA2013-v2.pdf Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Iran]}} cgiran.org</ref>

*[[National Development Fund of Iran#Funding and loans|Innovation and Flourishing/Prosperity Fund]] of the Directorate of Science and Technology of the [[President of Iran|Presidential Office]];
*National Researchers and Industrialists Support Fund;
*Nokhbegan Technology Development Institute;
*Nanotechnology Fund;
*Iran Biotech Fund;
*Novin Technology Development Fund;
*Sharif Export Development Research and Technology Fund;
*Support Fund of Researchers and Technologists;
*Payambar Azam (the great prophet) Scientific and Technological Award;
*Student Entrepreneurs Support Fund;
*+6,000 private interest-free funds & 3 [[venture capital]] funds (Shenasa, Simorgh and Sarava Pars). See also: [[Banking in Iran]].

==Private sector==
{{See also|Economy of Iran|Industrial Development and Renovation Organization of Iran|Industry of Iran#Small and medium enterprises}}
[[File:Samand LX Kermanshah.jpg|thumbnail|[[IKCO]]'s Samand LX]]

[[Economy of Iran#National planning|The 5th Development Plan]] (2010–15) requires the private sector to communicate research needs to [[Higher education in Iran|universities]] so that universities would coordinate research projects in line with these needs, with sharing of expenses by both sides.<ref name="en.mehrnews.com"/>

Because of its weakness or absence, the support industry makes little contribution to the innovation/technology development activities. Supporting the development of [[Industry of Iran#Small and medium enterprises|small and medium enterprises in Iran]] will strengthen greatly the [[supply chain|supplier network]].<ref name="unctad.org" />

As of 2014, Iran had 930 industrial parks and zones, of which 731 are ready to be [[Privatization in Iran|ceded to the private sector]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://iran-daily.com/newspaper/page/4835/4/14035/0 | title=دسترسی غیر مجاز | access-date=17 July 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716043636/http://www.iran-daily.com/Newspaper/Page/4835/4/14035/0 | archive-date=16 July 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref> The [[government of Iran]] has plans for the establishment of 50–60 new [[industrial park]]s by the end of the fifth [[Economy of Iran#National planning|Five-Year Socioeconomic Development Plan]] (2015).<ref>[http://mehrnews.com/en/NewsDetail.aspxNewsID=509073?] retrieved 12 February 2008 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312054618/https://www.mehrnews.com/en/NewsDetail.aspxNewsID=509073|date=12 March 2020}}</ref>

As of 2016, Iran had nearly 3,000 [[knowledge-based]] companies.<ref name="unctad"/> As of February 2023, this number increased to 8,046. The number of knowledge-based companies in biotechnology, agriculture, and food industries is 362, in advanced pharmaceuticals is 480, in advanced materials (chemistry and polymer) is 1130, and in advanced machinery and equipment is 1721. This number is 326 companies in the field of medical equipment, 1821 in electricity and electronics, 1778 in information technology, 397 in commercialization, and 31 companies in creative industries and humanities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-28 |title=Science and technology are cornerstones of development, Raisi says |url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/482434/Science-and-technology-are-cornerstones-of-development-Raisi |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=Tehran Times}}</ref>

A 2003-report by the [[United Nations Industrial Development Organization]] regarding small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)<ref>[http://www.unido.org/fileadmin/user_media/Publications/Pub_free/Strategy_document_to_enhance_contribution_of_efficient_and_competitive_SME_sector%20_in_Iran.pdf ''Iran's Small and Medium Enterprises''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903060902/http://www.unido.org/fileadmin/user_media/Publications/Pub_free/Strategy_document_to_enhance_contribution_of_efficient_and_competitive_SME_sector%20_in_Iran.pdf |date=3 September 2013 }}. The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (2003). Retrieved 2 February 2010.</ref> identified the following impediments to industrial development:

*Lack of monitoring institutions;
*Inefficient [[Banking in Iran|banking system]];
*Insufficient [[Science in Iran#Science in modern Iran|research & development]];
*Shortage of managerial skills;
*[[Corruption in Iran|Corruption]];
*[[Taxation in Iran|Inefficient taxation]];
*Socio-cultural apprehensions;
*Absence of social learning loops;
*Shortcomings in international market awareness necessary for [[Global Competitiveness Report|global competition]];
*Cumbersome bureaucratic procedures;
*Shortage of skilled labor;
*Lack of [[Intellectual property in Iran|intellectual property protection]];
*Inadequate social capital, social responsibility and [[Culture of Iran|socio-cultural values]].

The [[economic complexity index|economic complexity]] ranking of Iran has increased by 1 places over the past 50 years from 66th in 1964 to 65th in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/irn/ | title=OEC{{Snd}} Iran (IRN) Exports, Imports, and Trade Partners | access-date=15 December 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220160122/http://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/irn/ | archive-date=20 December 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref> According to [[UNCTAD]] in 2016, private companies in Iran need better [[marketing]] strategies with emphasis on [[innovation]].<ref name="unctad"/>

Despite these problems, Iran has progressed in various scientific and technological fields, including [[National Iranian Petrochemical Company|petrochemical]], [[Healthcare in Iran#Pharmaceuticals|pharmaceutical]], [[Iranian Space Agency|aerospace]], [[List of military equipment manufactured in Iran|defense]], and [[Industry of Iran|heavy industry]]. Even in the face of [[sanctions against Iran|economic sanctions]], Iran is emerging as an [[industrialized country]].<ref name="ECO-20100927">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ecosecretariat.org/ftproot/Publications/Journal/2/Industrialization%20and%20Dependency%20-%20the%20Case%20of%20Iran%20d%20by%20Akbar%20Torbat.doc |title=Industrialization and Dependency: the Case of Iran |format=Microsoft Word |date=27 September 2010 |last1=Torbat |first1=Akbar |website=[[Economic Cooperation Organization]] |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726015057/http://www.ecosecretariat.org/ftproot/Publications/Journal/2/Industrialization%20and%20Dependency%20-%20the%20Case%20of%20Iran%20d%20by%20Akbar%20Torbat.doc |archive-date=2011-07-26 |access-date=5 February 2011 }}</ref>

Parallel to academic research, several companies have been founded in Iran during last few decades. For example, [[CinnaGen]], established in 1992, is one of the pioneering biotechnology companies in the region. [[CinnaGen]] won ''Biotechnology Asia 2005 Innovation Awards'' due to its achievements and innovation in biotechnology research. In 2006, [[Parsé Semiconductor Co.]] announced it had designed and produced a 32-bit computer [[microprocessor]] inside the country for the first time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eetimes.com/news/design/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=191203237 |title=Iran develops 32-bit processor |publisher=Eetimes.com |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929104925/http://www.eetimes.com/news/design/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=191203237 |archive-date=29 September 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Communications in Iran#Software development|Software companies]] are growing rapidly. In [[CeBIT]] 2006, ten [[Communications in Iran#Software development|Iranian software companies]] introduced their products.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/science/story/2006/03/060310_fb_me_cebit_iran.shtml |title=BBCPersian.com |publisher=BBC |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718200349/http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/science/story/2006/03/060310_fb_me_cebit_iran.shtml |archive-date=18 July 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[http://www.sanaray.ir/english/ Sanaray<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

In FY 2019, around 5,000 Iranian knowledge-based companies sold $28 billion worth of products or services including pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, polymer and chemical products, and industrial machinery. Among them, 250 companies exported $400 million to Central Asia and all of Iran's direct neighbours.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.payvand.com/news/20/jun/1021.html|title=Iran's Knowledge-based companies to raise annual sales to $35 billion|access-date=23 June 2020|archive-date=2 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102094245/http://www.payvand.com/news/20/jun/1021.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Science in modern Iran ==
{{See also|National Research Institute for Science Policy|Iran National Science Foundation|Education in Iran|Higher education in Iran}}

[[File:IUST GATE.jpg|thumb|200 px|[[Iran University of Science and Technology]] entrance]]

Theoretical and computational sciences are highly developed in Iran.<ref name="iran-daily.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.iran-daily.com/1388/3426/html/science.htm#s386553|title=Increase in Scientific Research|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620074438/http://www.iran-daily.com/1388/3426/html/science.htm|archive-date=2009-06-20}}</ref> Despite the limitations in funds, facilities, and international collaborations, Iranian scientists have been very productive in several experimental fields such as [[pharmacology]], [[pharmaceutical chemistry]], and organic and polymer [[chemistry]]. Iranian [[biophysicists]], especially molecular biophysicists, have gained international reputations since the 1990s{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}}. High field [[nuclear magnetic resonance]] facility, micro[[calorimetry]], [[circular dichroism]], and instruments for single protein channel studies have been provided in Iran during the past two decades. [[Tissue engineering]] and research on [[biomaterial]]s have just started to emerge in biophysics departments.

Considering the country's [[Iran's brain drain|brain drain]] and its poor political [[Iran-United States relations|relationship with the United States]] and some other Western countries, Iran's scientific community remains productive, even while [[sanctions against Iran|economic sanctions]] make it difficult for universities to buy equipment or to send people to the United States to attend scientific meetings.<ref name=nature/> Furthermore, Iran considers scientific backwardness, as one of the root causes of political and military bullying by developed countries over developing states.<ref>[http://www5.irna.ir/En/View/FullStory/?NewsId=392352&IdLanguage=3]{{dead link|date=January 2013}}</ref> After the [[Iranian revolution]], there have been efforts by the religious scholars to assimilate Islam with modern science and this is seen by some as the reason behind the recent successes of Iran to augment its scientific output.<ref name="NW-20090522" /> Currently Iran aims for a national goal of self-sustainment in all scientific arenas.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12185&page=61|title=Science and Technology and the Future Development of Societies: International Workshop Proceedings|date=23 January 2001|publisher=Nap.edu|access-date=21 October 2011|doi=10.17226/12185|isbn=978-0-309-11927-6|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017225419/http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12185&page=61|archive-date=17 October 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12185&page=24|title=Science and Technology and the Future Development of Societies: International Workshop Proceedings|date=11 February 2007|publisher=Nap.edu|access-date=21 October 2011|doi=10.17226/12185|isbn=978-0-309-11927-6|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017225433/http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12185&page=24|archive-date=17 October 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Many individual [[List of contemporary Iranian scientists|Iranian scientists]], along with the [[Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences]] and [[Academy of Sciences of Iran]], are involved in this revival. The ''Comprehensive Scientific Plan'' has been devised based on about 51,000 pages of documents and includes 224 scientific projects that must be implemented by the year 2025.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.payvand.com/news/11/mar/1079.html|title=Iran unveils Comprehensive Scientific Plan|date=4 January 2011|publisher=Payvand.com|access-date=21 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628232213/http://www.payvand.com/news/11/mar/1079.html|archive-date=28 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://payvand.com/blog/blog/2011/03/29/iran-and-global-scientific-collaboration-in-the-21st-century/|title=Iran and Global scientific collaboration in the 21st century|date=29 March 2011|publisher=Payvand.com|access-date=21 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005214143/http://payvand.com/blog/blog/2011/03/29/iran-and-global-scientific-collaboration-in-the-21st-century/|archive-date=5 October 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Medical sciences ===
{{See also|Healthcare in Iran|Pasteur Institute of Iran}}

With over 400 medical research facilities and 76 medical magazine indexes available in the country, Iran is the 19th country in medical research and is set to become the 10th within 10 years (2012).{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} Clinical sciences are invested in highly in Iran. In areas such as [[rheumatology]], [[hematology]], and [[bone marrow transplantation]], Iranian medical scientists publish regularly.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iran-daily.com/1388/3403/html/science.htm#s380415 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523083512/http://www.iran-daily.com/1388/3403/html/science.htm#s380415 |archive-date=2009-05-23 |title=Iranian Medical Breakthroughs Outstanding}}</ref> The Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Research Center (HORC) of [[Tehran University of Medical Sciences]] in Shariati Hospital was established in 1991. Internationally, this center is one of the largest bone marrow transplantation centers and has carried out a large number of successful transplantations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tums.ac.ir/research/BMT/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041102225049/http://www.tums.ac.ir/research/BMT/ |archive-date=2004-11-02 |title= Hematology{{Snd}} Oncology and BMT Research Center}}</ref> According to a study conducted in 2005, associated specialized pediatric hematology and oncology (PHO) services exist in almost all major cities throughout the country, where 43 board-certified or eligible pediatric hematologist–oncologists are giving care to children suffering from cancer or hematological disorders. Three children's medical centers at universities have approved PHO fellowship programs.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Alebouyeh M |title=Pediatric hematology and oncology in Iran: past and present state |journal=Pediatric Hematology and Oncology |volume=10 |issue=4 |pages=299–301 |year=1993 |pmid=8292512 |doi=10.3109/08880019309029505}}</ref> Besides hematology, [[gastroenterology]] has recently attracted many talented medical students. The gasteroenterology research center based at [[Tehran University of Medical Sciences]] has produced increasing numbers of scientific publications since its establishment.

[[File:MoslemBahadori.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Prof [[Moslem Bahadori]], one of the pioneering figures in modern Iranian medicine]]

Modern organ transplantation in Iran dates to 1935, when the first cornea transplant in Iran was performed by Professor [[Mohammad-Qoli Shams]] at Farabi Eye Hospital in Tehran, Iran. The [[Shiraz]] Nemazi transplant center, also one of the pioneering transplant units of Iran, performed the first Iranian [[kidney]] transplant in 1967 and the first Iranian [[liver]] transplant in 1995. The first heart transplant in Iran was performed in 1993 in Tabriz. The first lung transplant was performed in 2001, and the first heart and lung transplants were performed in 2002, both at [[Tehran University of Medical Sciences]].<ref name=ectrx>{{cite web |url=http://www.ectrx.org/forms/ectrxcontentshow.php?year=2005&volume=3&issue=1&supplement=0&makale_no=0&spage_number=333&content_type=FULL%20TEXT |title=::: Experimental and Clinical Transplantation |publisher=Ectrx.org |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726013635/http://www.ectrx.org/forms/ectrxcontentshow.php?year=2005&volume=3&issue=1&supplement=0&makale_no=0&spage_number=333&content_type=FULL%20TEXT |archive-date=26 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Currently, renal, liver, and heart transplantations are routinely performed in Iran. Iran ranks fifth in the world in kidney transplants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://roozonline.com/english/016441.shtml |access-date=9 July 2006 |title=Roozonline : Online USA Shopping Promo Code, Coupons, September 2021 100% Cashback Promo Code, Deals, Vouchers }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The Iranian Tissue Bank, commencing in 1994, was the first multi-facility tissue bank in country. In June 2000, the Organ Transplantation Brain Death Act was approved by the Parliament, followed by the establishment of the Iranian Network for Transplantation Organ Procurement. This act helped to expand heart, lung, and liver transplantation programs. By 2003, Iran had performed 131 liver, 77 heart, 7 lung, 211 bone marrow, 20,581 cornea, and 16,859 renal transplantations. 82&nbsp;percent of these were donated by living and unrelated donors; 10&nbsp;percent by cadavers; and 8&nbsp;percent came from living-related donors. The 3-year renal transplant patient survival rate was 92.9%, and the 40-month graft survival rate was 85.9%.<ref name=ectrx/>

[[Neuroscience]] is also emerging in Iran.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.mehrnews.com/detail/News/102253 |title=Iran neuroscience more progressive than Germany, China |date=3 March 2014 |work=Mehr News Agency |access-date=2 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418214144/http://en.mehrnews.com/detail/News/102253 |archive-date=18 April 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> A few PhD programs in cognitive and [[computational neuroscience]] have been established in the country during recent decades.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.mehrnews.com/detail/News/106715 |title=Iran, Russia seek cooperation in cognitive sciences |date=18 April 2015 |work=Mehr News Agency |access-date=2 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418214407/http://en.mehrnews.com/detail/News/106715 |archive-date=18 April 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Iran ranks first in Mideast and region in [[ophthalmology]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.irna.ir/News/General/Iran-ranks-first-in-Mideast-and-region-in-ophthalmology/30793503 |title=Iran ranks first in Mideast and region in ophthalmology |access-date=7 February 2012 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name=TBY>{{cite book |last1=Ayse |first1=Valentine |url=http://www.investiniran.ir/en/filepool/26?redirectpage=%2fen%2febook |last2=Nash |first2=Jason John |last3=Leland |first3=Rice |title=The Business Year 2013: Iran |place=London, UK |publisher=The Business Year |date=January 2013 |page=157 |isbn=978-1-908180-11-7 |access-date=16 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227193349/http://www.investiniran.ir/en/filepool/26?redirectpage=%2Fen%2Febook |archive-date=27 December 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Iranian surgeons [[Iran–Iraq War#Distinctions and peculiarity|treating wounded Iranian veterans]] during the Iran–Iraq War invented a new [[Neurosurgery|neurosurgical treatment]] for brain injured patients that laid to rest the previously prevalent technique developed by [[United States Army]] surgeon Dr Ralph Munslow. This new surgical procedure helped devise new guidelines that have decreased death rates for comatose patients with penetrating [[Traumatic brain injury|brain injuries]] from 55% of 1980 to 20% of 2010. It has been said that these new treatment guidelines benefited US congresswoman [[Gabby Giffords]] who had [[2011 Tucson shooting|been shot in the head]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-medical-advances-20110124,0,3062896.story |work=Los Angeles Times |first=Melissa |last=Healy |title=Advances in treatment help more people survive severe injuries to the brain |date=24 January 2011 |access-date=25 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128085831/http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-medical-advances-20110124,0,3062896.story |archive-date=28 January 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.quedit.com/detail/advances-in-treatment-help-more-people-survive-severe-injuries-to-the-brain-5128922.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429024913/http://www.quedit.com/detail/advances-in-treatment-help-more-people-survive-severe-injuries-to-the-brain-5128922.html |archive-date=2011-04-29 |title=Advances in treatment help more people survive severe injuries to the brain}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Healy |first=Melissa |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/la-he-medical-advances-20110124,0,1844181.story |title=Brain injuries: Changes in the treatment of brain injuries have improved survival rate |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |date=24 January 2011 |access-date=21 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628222645/http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/la-he-medical-advances-20110124,0,1844181.story |archive-date=28 June 2011 }}</ref>

===Biotechnology===
{{See also|Healthcare in Iran#Pharmaceuticals |l1=Pharmaceuticals in Iran|Agriculture in Iran#Agribusiness |l2=Agribusiness in Iran}}
[[File:inside Aryogen.jpg|thumb|alt=Inside Aryogen, production line for AryoSeven|Inside [[AryoGen]]'s production line]] Planning and attention to biotechnology in Iran started in 1996 with the formation of the Supreme Council for Biotechnology. The Biotech National Document targeted to develop the technology in the country in 2004 was approved by the government.
In 1999, with the aim of developing and synergies, particularly with regard to the importance of new technologies and strategic location of biotechnology, the Biotechnology Development Council was established under the vice presidency of science and technology and all activities of the former Supreme Council were held at the headquarters.
According to the Supreme Leader, emphasis on special attention to the development of biotechnology and biotech presenting to emphasize the development of a five-year program of economic, social and cultural, Biotech Development Council according to Act 705 dated 27 October 1390 Session Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution as The main reference of Policy, planning, strategy implementation, coordination and monitoring in the field of biotechnology was determined. Iran has a biotechnology sector that is one of the most advanced in the developing world.<ref name=NTI>{{cite web|website=nti.org |url=http://www.nti.org/country-profiles/iran/biological |title=Iran |access-date=2 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113104545/http://www.nti.org/country-profiles/iran/biological/ |archive-date=13 November 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Medical Biotechnology Trends and Achievements in Iran |pmc=3558225 |pmid=23407888 |volume=4 |issue=4 |year=2012 |journal=Avicenna Journal of Medical Biotechnology |pages=200–5 |last1=Mahboudi |first1=F |last2=Hamedifar |first2=H |last3=Aghajani |first3=H}}</ref> The [[Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute|Razi Institute for Serums and Vaccines]] and the [[Pasteur Institute of Iran]] are leading regional facilities in the development and manufacture of vaccines. In January 1997, the Iranian Biotechnology Society (IBS) was created to oversee biotechnology research in Iran.<ref name=NTI/>

Agricultural research has been successful in releasing high-yielding varieties with higher stability as well as tolerance to harsh weather conditions. The agriculture researchers are working jointly with international Institutes to find the best procedures and genotypes to overcome produce failure and to increase yield. In 2005, Iran's first [[Genetically modified organism|genetically modified]] (GM) rice was approved by national authorities and is being grown commercially for human consumption. In addition to GM rice, Iran has produced several GM plants in the laboratory, such as insect-resistant maize; cotton; potatoes and sugar beets; herbicide-resistant canola; salinity- and drought-tolerant wheat; and blight-resistant maize and wheat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://onlypunjab.com/fullstory2k5-insight--status-7-newsID-12171.html |title=Iranian scientists produce GM rice: Middle East Onlypunjab.com- Onlypunjab.com Latest News<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=19 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407211736/http://onlypunjab.com/fullstory2k5-insight--status-7-newsID-12171.html |archive-date=7 April 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Royan Institute]] engineered Iran's first [[cloning|cloned animal]]; the sheep was born on 2 August 2006 and passed the critical first two months of his life.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/science/story/2006/08/060805_mf_clone.shtml |title=BBCPersian.com |publisher=BBC |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210132125/http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/science/story/2006/08/060805_mf_clone.shtml |archive-date=10 February 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=17674 |title=Middle East Online |publisher=Middle East Online |date=30 September 2006 |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028014352/http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=17674 |archive-date=28 October 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In the last months of 2006, Iranian biotechnologists announced that they, as the third manufacturer in the world, have sent [[CinnaGen|CinnoVex]] (a recombinant type of [[Interferon]] b1a) to the market.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.igb.fraunhofer.de/en/competences/molecular-biotechnology/therapeutic-proteins/generic-interferon.html |title= Generic Interferon-beta (CinnoVex) – Fraunhofer IGB |access-date=2014-02-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221222148/http://www.igb.fraunhofer.de/en/competences/molecular-biotechnology/therapeutic-proteins/generic-interferon.html |archive-date= 21 February 2014}}</ref>
According to a study by David Morrison and Ali Khademhosseini (Harvard-MIT and Cambridge), [[stem cell research]] in Iran is amongst the top 10 in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://isg-mit.org/projects-storage/StemCell/stem_cell_iran.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=8 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002222401/http://isg-mit.org/projects-storage/StemCell/stem_cell_iran.pdf |archive-date=2 October 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> Iran planned to invest 2.5&nbsp;billion dollars in the country's stem cell research in the years 2008–2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.payvand.com/news/08/nov/1059.html |title=Iran invests $2.5b in stem cell research |website=payvand.com |access-date=2 April 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304195948/http://www.payvand.com/news/08/nov/1059.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Iran ranks second in the world in transplantation of stem cells.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://english.farsnews.ir/newstext.php?nn=8101301361 |title=Fars News Agency: Iran Ranks 2nd in World in Transplantation of Stem Cells |publisher=English.farsnews.ir |date=2012-04-28 |access-date=2013-01-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428074520/http://english.farsnews.ir/newstext.php?nn=8101301361 |archive-date= 28 April 2012}}</ref>

According to [[Scopus]], Iran ranked 21st in [[biotechnology]] by producing nearly 4,000 related-scientific articles in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.mehrnews.com/news/108455/Iran-ranks-21st-in-biotech-scientific-productions |title=Iran ranks 21st in biotech scientific productions |date=7 July 2015 |work=Mehr News Agency |access-date=2 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083454/http://en.mehrnews.com/news/108455/Iran-ranks-21st-in-biotech-scientific-productions |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Laser DSC09088.JPG|thumb|220px|right|[[Ali Javan]] first proposed and co-invented the [[gas laser]].{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}]]
In 2010, [[AryoGen]] Biopharma established the biggest and most modern knowledge-based facility for production of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies in the region. As at 2012, Iran produced 15 types of monoclonal/anti-body drugs. These anti-cancer drugs are now produced by only two to three western companies.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.farsnews.ir/newstext.php?nn=9010171549 |title=Fars News Agency: Ahmadinejad Stresses Iran's Growing Medical Tourism Industry |publisher=English.farsnews.ir |date=17 January 2012 |access-date=7 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://swap.stanford.edu/20120213085015/http%3A//english.farsnews.ir/newstext.php?nn%3D9010171549 |archive-date=13 February 2012 }}</ref>

In 2015, Noargen<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.noargen.com |title=Noargen |website=noargen.com |access-date=2016-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017213739/http://noargen.com/ |archive-date=17 October 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> company was established as the first officially registered CRO and CMO in Iran. Noargen uses the concept of CMO and CRO servicing to the biopharma sector of Iran as its main activity to fill the gap and promote developing biotech ideas/products toward commercialization.

===Physics and materials===
{{See also|Iranian nuclear program|IR-40|Bushehr nuclear power plant}}Iran had some significant successes in [[nuclear technology]] during recent decades, especially in [[nuclear medicine]]. However, little connection exists between Iran's scientific society and that of the [[nuclear program of Iran]]. Iran is the 7th country in production of [[uranium hexafluoride]] (or UF<sub>6</sub>).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.payvand.com/news/08/dec/1156.html |title=Iran, 7th in UF6 production{{Snd}} IAEO official |publisher=Payvand.com |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019155718/http://www.payvand.com/news/08/dec/1156.html |archive-date=19 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Iran now controls the entire [[Nuclear fuel cycle|cycle for producing nuclear fuel]].<ref>{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429060523/https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090411/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_nuclear_4 |date=29 April 2011}}</ref> Iran is among the 14 countries in possession of nuclear [energy] technology. In 2009, Iran was developing its first domestic [[Linear particle accelerator]] (LINAC).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iran-daily.com/1388/3380/html/science.htm#s374145 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426055231/http://www.iran-daily.com/1388/3380/html/science.htm#s374145 |archive-date= 2009-04-26 |title=Iranians Master Linac Know-How}}</ref>
It is among the few countries in the world that has the technology to produce [[zirconium]] alloys.<ref>{{cite web |author=John Pike |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iran/esfahan-nuke.htm |title=Esfahan / Isfahan{{Snd}} Iran Special Weapons Facilities |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920115349/http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iran/esfahan-nuke.htm |archive-date=20 September 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=John Pike |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iran/2005/iran-051114-rferl01.htm |title=Iran: Nuclear Expert Expresses Worry Over Political Developments |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102214811/http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iran/2005/iran-051114-rferl01.htm |archive-date=2 November 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Iran produces a wide range of [[laser]]s in demand within the country in medical and industrial fields.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}
In 2018, Iran inaugurated the first laboratory for [[quantum entanglement]] in the National Laser Center.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2019/07/20/2058030/iran-denies-closure-of-fordow-nuclear-site |title=Iran Denies Closure of Fordow Nuclear Site – Politics news |access-date=21 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721015107/https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2019/07/20/2058030/iran-denies-closure-of-fordow-nuclear-site |archive-date=21 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Computer science, electronics and robotics===
{{See also|Communications in Iran|Iran Electronics Industries}}

The Center of Excellence in Design, Robotics, and Automation was established in 2001 to promote educational and research activities in the fields of design, [[robotics]], and [[automation]]. Besides these professional groups, several robotics groups work in Iranian high schools.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.payvand.com/news/03/nov/1072.html |title=Iranian High Schools Establish Robotics Groups |publisher=Payvand.com |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629091644/http://www.payvand.com/news/03/nov/1072.html |archive-date=29 June 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> "[[Surena (robot)|Sorena 2]]" Robot, which was designed by engineers at [[University of Tehran]], was unveiled in 2010. The robot can be used for handling sensitive tasks without the need for cooperating with human beings. The robot is taking slow steps similar to human beings, harmonious movements of hands and feet and other movements similar to humans.<ref>{{cite news |title=Iran unveils human-like robot: report |url=https://www.smh.com.au/technology/iran-unveils-humanlike-robot-report-20100704-zvpd.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=4 July 2010|access-date=28 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928083050/https://www.smh.com.au/technology/iran-unveils-humanlike-robot-report-20100704-zvpd.html |archive-date=28 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.iran-daily.com/1389/4/13/MainPaper/3720/Page/1/?NewsID=20081 |title=No. 3720 &#124; Front page &#124; Page 1 |publisher=Irandaily |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629172649/http://www.iran-daily.com/1389/4/13/MainPaper/3720/Page/1/?NewsID=20081 |archive-date=29 June 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/08/17/iran-dancing-humanoid-robot/ | publisher=Fox News| title=Iran Has a Dancing, Humanoid Robot | date=17 August 2010 | access-date=18 August 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819133757/http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/08/17/iran-dancing-humanoid-robot/ | archive-date=19 August 2010 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Next the researchers plan to develop [[speech recognition|speech]] and [[Object recognition (computer vision)|vision]] capabilities and greater [[artificial intelligence|intelligence]] for this robot.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/iran-humanoid-robot-surena-2-walks-stands-on-one-leg |title=Iran's Humanoid Robot Surena Walks, Stands on One Leg |magazine=[[IEEE Spectrum]] |first1=Erico |last1=Guizzo |access-date=21 October 2011 |date=2010-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023233806/https://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/humanoids/iran-humanoid-robot-surena-2-walks-stands-on-one-leg |archive-date=23 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> the [[Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers]] (IEEE) has placed the name of [[Surena (robot)|Surena]] among the five prominent robots of the world after analyzing its performance.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.iran-daily.com/1389/8/18/MainPaper/3817/Page/1/Index.htm# |title=No. 3817 &#124; Front page &#124; Page 1 |publisher=Irandaily |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629174741/http://www.iran-daily.com/1389/8/18/MainPaper/3817/Page/1/Index.htm |archive-date=29 June 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Ultra Fast Microprocessors Research Center'' in Tehran's [[Amirkabir University of Technology]] successfully built a [[supercomputer]] in 2007.<ref>{{cite news |last=Beck |first=Jonathan |url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1198517207339&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |title=Report says Iran has built a supercomputer &#124; Iranian{{Snd}} Iran News |work=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |date=25 December 2007 |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917182717/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1198517207339&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull |archive-date=17 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Maximum processing capacity of the supercomputer is 860&nbsp;billion operations per second. Iran's first supercomputer launched in 2001 was also fabricated by [[Amirkabir University of Technology]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iran-daily.com/1386/3015/html/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070710075729/http://iran-daily.com/1386/3015/html/index.htm |archive-date=2007-07-10 |title=Tehran Produces Mideast's Most Powerful Supercomputer}}</ref> In 2009, a SUSE Linux-based HPC system made by the [http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/world/iran/agency.htm Aerospace Research Institute of Iran] (ARI) was launched with 32 cores and now runs 96 cores. Its performance was pegged at 192 GFLOPS.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=knowledge_center&articleId=340338&taxonomyId=1&intsrc=kc_top |title=Iran says AMD chips used in its rocket research |access-date=2009-06-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625175558/http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=knowledge_center&articleId=340338&taxonomyId=1&intsrc=kc_top |archive-date=25 June 2009 }}</ref> Iran's National [[Super Computer]] made by Iran Info-Tech Development Company (a subsidiary of [[Industrial Development and Renovation Organization of Iran|IDRO]]) was built from 216 [[AMD]] processors. The [[Linux]]-cluster machine has a reported "theoretical peak performance of 860 gig-flops".<ref>{{cite web |author=FaraKaraNet Web Design Dept. |url=http://en.iraninfotech.com/seinfo/default.aspx?page=Document&app=Documents&docId=11724&docParId=0 |title=Iran Information Technology Development Company |publisher=En.iraninfotech.com |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815164553/http://en.iraninfotech.com/seinfo/default.aspx?page=Document&app=Documents&docId=11724&docParId=0 |archive-date=15 August 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Routerlab team at the [[University of Tehran]] successfully designed and implemented an access-[[router (computing)|router]] (RAHYAB-300) and a 40&nbsp;Gbit/s high capacity switch fabric ([[UTS (Mainframe UNIX)|UTS]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.ut.ac.ir/routerlab |title=Router Lab, University of Tehran{{Snd}} Home |publisher=Web.ut.ac.ir |access-date=21 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928130426/http://web.ut.ac.ir/routerlab/ |archive-date=28 September 2011 }}</ref> In 2011 [[Amirkabir University of Technology]] and [[Isfahan University of Technology]] produced 2 new [[supercomputer]]s with processing capacity of 34,000&nbsp;billion operations per second.<ref name="Httpwwwpayvandcomnewsfebhtml">{{cite news |url=http://www.payvand.com/news/11/feb/1248.html |title=Iran unveils indigenous supercomputers |publisher=Payvand.com |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628231901/http://www.payvand.com/news/11/feb/1248.html |archive-date=28 June 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> The supercomputer at Amirkabir University of Technology is expected to be among the [[TOP500|500 most powerful computers in the world]].<ref name="Httpwwwpayvandcomnewsfebhtml" /> From 1997 until 2017, Iran submitted 34,028 articles about [[Artificial Intelligence]] and its usage, ranking it at the 14th place in the world in the area of artificial intelligence (it is the 8th country in the world in AI based on high impact and high citation articles).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/439876/Iran-ranks-8th-for-top-papers-in-AI|title=Iran ranks 8th for top papers in AI|date=2 September 2019}}</ref>

===Chemistry and nanotechnology===
{{see also|National Petrochemical Company#Research and development}}
[[File:Trends in nanotechnology in Iran, Iran is now ranked seventh worldwide for the number of nanotech-related papers.svg|thumb|Number of Iranian articles on nanotechnology in 2014. Source: UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030 (2015)]]

Iran is ranked 120th in the field of chemistry (2018).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scimagojr.com/countryrank.php?year=2018&area=1600|title=International Science Ranking|website=scimagojr.com|access-date=2019-09-20}}</ref> In 2007, Iranian scientists at the Medical Sciences and Technology Center succeeded in mass-producing an advanced scanning microscope—the [[Scanning Tunneling Microscope]] (STM).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://iran-daily.com/1386/2847/html/index.htm |title=STM Production on Mass Level |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070710075729/http://iran-daily.com/1386/2847/html/index.htm |archive-date=2007-07-10}}</ref> By 2017, Iran ranked 4th in ISI indexed nano-articles.<ref name="statnano.com">{{cite web|url=http://statnano.com/report/s29 |title=ISI indexed nano-articles ( Article ) {{!}} Countries Report |website=statnano.com |access-date=2013-12-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110160252/http://statnano.com/report/s29 |archive-date=10 January 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nanotech-now.com/news.cgi?story_id=45237 |title=Press Release: "Iran Stands 10th in World Ranking of Nanoscience Production " |publisher=Nanotechnology Now |access-date=2013-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819174238/http://www.nanotech-now.com/news.cgi?story_id=45237 |archive-date=19 August 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.nano.ir/index.php/main/page/17 |title=Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council |publisher=En.nano.ir |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007162208/http://en.nano.ir/index.php/main/page/17 |archive-date=7 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="bernama">{{cite web |url=http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/bm/newsworld.php?id=453647 |title=Iran Ranks 15th in Nanotech Articles |agency=Bernama |date=9 November 2009 |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111210064005/http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/bm/newsworld.php?id=453647 |archive-date=10 December 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>StatNano Annual Report 2017, StatNano Publications, http://statnano.com/publications/4679 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112153029/http://statnano.com/publications/4679 |date=12 November 2018 }}, March 2018.</ref> Iran has designed and mass-produced more than 35 kinds of advanced nanotechnology devices. These include laboratory equipment, antibacterial strings, power station filters and construction related equipment and materials.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.payvand.com/news/12/oct/1116.html |title=Iran mass producing over 35 nano-tech laboratory equipments |publisher=Payvand.com |access-date=2013-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017032521/http://www.payvand.com/news/12/oct/1116.html |archive-date=17 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Research in nanotechnology has taken off in Iran since the Nanotechnology Initiative Council (NIC) was founded in 2002. The council determines the general policies for the development of nanotechnology and co-ordinates their implementation. It provides facilities, creates markets and helps the private sector to develop relevant R&D activities. In the past decade, 143 nanotech companies have been established in eight industries. More than one-quarter of these are found in the health care industry, compared to just 3% in the automotive industry.<ref name=":0" />

Today, five research centres specialize in nanotechnology, including the Nanotechnology Research Centre at Sharif University, which established Iran's first doctoral programme in nanoscience and nanotechnology a decade ago. Iran also hosts the International Centre on Nanotechnology for Water Purification, established in collaboration with UNIDO in 2012. In 2008, NIC established an Econano network to promote the scientific and industrial development of nanotechnology among fellow members of the Economic Cooperation Organization, namely Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:Trends in nanotechnology in Iran, The 143 Iranian nanotech companies are active in eight industries.svg|thumb|Industries in which Iranian nanotech companies are active. Source: UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030]]

Iran recorded strong growth in the number of articles on nanotechnology between 2009 and 2013, according to Thomson Reuters' Web of Science. By 2013, Iran ranked seventh for this indicator. The number of articles per million population has tripled to 59, overtaking Japan in the process. Few patents are being granted to Iranian inventors in nanotechnology, as yet, however. The ratio of nanotechnology patents to articles was 0.41 per 100 articles for Iran in 2015.<ref name=":0" />

===Aviation and space===
{{See also|Iran Aviation Industries Organization|Iranian Space Agency}}
[[File:سیمرغ - افتتاح پایگاه ملی فضایی امام خمینی(ره) (2).jpg|thumb|[[Simorgh (rocket)|Simorgh launch]]. [[Iranian Space Agency]].

The Simorgh rocket has had 7 official launch missions until December 2024, and with this statistic, it is among the 40 active satellite launchers with the highest number of launch operations in the world.]]
On 17 August 2008, The [[Iranian Space Agency]] proceeded with the second test launch of a three stages [[Safir (rocket)|Safir]] SLV from a site south of [[Semnan (city)|Semnan]] in the northern part of the [[Dasht-e Kavir|Dasht-e-Kavir desert]]. The ''Safir'' (Ambassador) satellite carrier successfully launched the [[Omid satellite]] into orbit in February 2009.<ref>{{cite news|title=Iran says it has put first dummy satellite in orbit|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-satellite/iran-says-it-has-put-first-dummy-satellite-in-orbit-idUSHAF75296620080817|agency=Reuters|access-date=12 September 2018|date=17 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912131332/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-satellite/iran-says-it-has-put-first-dummy-satellite-in-orbit-idUSHAF75296620080817|archive-date=12 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2009/feb/03/iran-satellite-launch | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=Iran sends first homemade satellite into orbit | date=3 February 2009 | access-date=23 May 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906051404/http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2009/feb/03/iran-satellite-launch | archive-date=6 September 2013 | url-status=live }}</ref> Iran is the [[Timeline of first orbital launches by country#List of first orbital launches by country|9th country to put a domestically built satellite into orbit]] since the Soviet Union launched the first in 1957.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kayhanintl.com/feb5/domestic.htm |access-date=13 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304132312/http://www.kayhanintl.com/feb5/domestic.htm |archive-date=4 March 2012| title= Mass Production of Zafar Missile Begins |url-status=<!--dead-->live}}</ref> Iran is among a handful of countries in the world capable of developing satellite-related technologies, including [[satellite navigation system]]s.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.payvand.com/news/12/may/1309.html |title=Iran unveils domestically manufactured satellite navigation system |publisher=Payvand.com |access-date=2013-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618140138/http://www.payvand.com/news/12/may/1309.html |archive-date=18 June 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Iran is the 8th country capable of manufacturing [[Iran Aviation Industries Organization|jet engine]]s.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://worldwarwings.com/iran-turbo-engine/ | title=Iran Reveals Powerhouse Turbo Engine{{Snd}} Prepares Mass Production for Air Force | access-date=28 August 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829073534/http://worldwarwings.com/iran-turbo-engine/ | archive-date=29 August 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref>

On 6 December 2024, [[Simorgh (rocket)|Simorgh SLV]] launched [[Saman-1 (rocket stage)|Saman-1]] orbital transfer block to an altitude of 400 kilometers, along with two other payloads (including the Fakhr-1 satellite), with a total weight of 300 kilograms.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-06 |title=ماهواره‌بر سیمرغ رکورد بزرگترین و سنگین‌ترین تزریق محموله فضایی در مدار را شکست |url=https://www.isna.ir/news/1403091611164/ |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=ایسنا |language=fa}}</ref>

Iran produces the [[HESA Simourgh]] cargo plane (based on re-engineering of the [[Antonov An-140|Antonov-140]] ), the [[HESA Yasin|Yasin]] training jet (an indigenous platform) and the [[HESA Kowsar|HESA Kawsar]] two-seat fighter (based on re-engineering of the [[Northrop F-5|F-5]]).

To date, seven national space programs have flown non-human animals into space: the United States, Soviet Union, France, Argentina, China, Japan and Iran.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tarikhi |first=Parviz |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-05347-9 |title=The Iranian Space Endeavor |date=2015 |publisher=Springer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Enthusiast |first=Space |date=2024-04-16 |title=Animals in Space: The Full Story of Non-human Astronauts |url=https://orbitaltoday.com/2024/04/16/animals-in-space-the-full-story-of-non-human-astronauts/ |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=Orbital Today |language=en}}</ref>

In 2024 (up to December), only seven countries worldwide, including Iran, successfully conducted [[List of orbital launch systems|satellite launches]] (either from their own territory or from other countries): the [[United States]], [[Russia]], [[China]], the [[European Space Agency|European Union]], [[India]], [[Japan]], and [[Iran]] (However, it's worth noting that while the [[European Space Agency|European Union]] is computed as a single entity in this summation).<ref>https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_chr/lau2024.htm</ref>

===Astronomy===
The Iranian government has committed 150&nbsp;billion rials (roughly 16 million US dollars)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irantour.org/currency.html |title=Iran Currency Rate-Iranian Rial Dollar Euro Exchange Rates |publisher=Irantour.org |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025110755/http://www.irantour.org/currency.html |archive-date=25 October 2011 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> for a [[telescope]], an observatory, and a training program, all part of a plan to build up the country's [[astronomy]] base. Iran wants to collaborate internationally and become internationally competitive in astronomy, says the University of Michigan's Carl Akerlof, an adviser to the Iranian project. "For a government that is usually characterized as wary of foreigners, that's an important development".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.physicstoday.org/vol-57/iss-7/p28a.html |publisher=Physics Today |date=July 2004 |title=Iran Invests in Astronomy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041020012012/http://www.physicstoday.org/vol-57/iss-7/p28a.html |archive-date=2004-10-20}}</ref> In 2016, Iran unveiled its new optical telescope for observing celestial objects as part of [[APSCO]]. It will be used to understand and predict the physical location of natural and man-made objects in orbit around the Earth.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://spacewatchme.com/2016/09/iran-apsco-create-space-situational-awareness-network/| title=Iran and APSCO to create a space situational awareness network| date=2016-09-21| access-date=24 September 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924190645/http://spacewatchme.com/2016/09/iran-apsco-create-space-situational-awareness-network/| archive-date=24 September 2016| url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2022, [[Iranian National Observatory|Iran's National 3.4-meter Telescope (INO)]] captured and recorded its first image of deep space.

In 2024, using the [[Iranian National Observatory]] Lens Array (INOLA), the first ever attempt at exploring the [[Stellar haloes|stellar halo]] of [[M33 galaxy|M33 Galaxy]] using ultra-deep broad-band imaging was conducted and reported.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Sharbaf |first=Zahra |url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2024eas..conf.1692S/abstract |title=Ultra-deep imaging of M33: exploring its stellar halo with broad band imaging for the first time |last2=Akhlaghi |first2=Mohammad |last3=Golini |first3=Giulia |last4=Trujillo |first4=Ignacio |last5=Infante-Sainz |first5=Raul |last6=Altafi |first6=Hamed |last7=Khosroshahi |first7=Habib |last8=Saremi |first8=Elham |last9=Molaeinezhad |first9=Alireza |date=2024-07-01}}</ref>

===Energy===
{{See also|Energy in Iran|Petroleum industry in Iran|List of power stations in Iran|Industry of Iran}}

Iran is ranked 12th in the field of energy (2018).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scimagojr.com/countryrank.php?year=2018&area=2100 |title=International Science Ranking |website=scimagojr.com |access-date=2019-09-20}}</ref> Iran is among the four world countries that are capable of manufacturing advanced [[V94.2]] [[gas turbine]]s.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.iran-daily.com/1389/12/19/MainPaper/3914/Page/4/Index.htm |title=No. 3914 &#124; Domestic Economy &#124; Page 4 |publisher=Irandaily |date=21 March 2010 |access-date=7 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504172751/http://www.iran-daily.com/1389/12/19/MainPaper/3914/Page/4/Index.htm |archive-date=4 May 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Iran is able to produce all the parts needed for its gas refineries<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20110531043119/SelfSufficiency_in_Refinery_Parts_Production_in_Iran |title=Self-Sufficiency in Refinery Parts Production |publisher=Zawya |date=31 May 2011 |access-date=7 February 2012}}</ref> and is now the third country in the world to have developed [[Gas to liquids]] (GTL) technology.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Iran-Besieged-by-Gasoline-Sanctions-Develops-GTL-to-Extract-Gasoline-from-Natural-Gas.html |title=Iran, Besieged by Gasoline Sanctions, Develops GTL to Extract Gasoline from Natural Gas |publisher=Oilprice.com |access-date=7 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207171626/http://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Iran-Besieged-by-Gasoline-Sanctions-Develops-GTL-to-Extract-Gasoline-from-Natural-Gas.html |archive-date=7 February 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zawya.com/story/Iran_masters_GTL_technology-ZAWYA20140312055756/ |title=Iran masters GTL technologyTelecoms & IT – Zawya |access-date=2014-03-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313134321/http://www.zawya.com/story/Iran_masters_GTL_technology-ZAWYA20140312055756/ |archive-date=13 March 2014 }}</ref> Iran produces 70% of its industrial equipment domestically including various [[turbine]]s, [[pump]]s, [[catalyst]]s, [[oil refinery|refineries]], [[NIOC#NIOC's major domestic contractors|oil tankers]], [[Oil platform|oil rig]]s, offshore platforms and exploration instruments.<ref name="msn.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/iran-fulfills-dream-as-it-unveils-first-homemade-oil-rig/ar-BB10aF1h |title=Iran fulfills dream as it unveils first homemade oil rig |publisher=MSN |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227191327/https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/iran-fulfills-dream-as-it-unveils-first-homemade-oil-rig/ar-BB10aF1h |archive-date=2020-02-27}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nitc.co.ir/iran-daily/1387/3265/html/economy.htm#s343302] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110329204835/http://www.nitc.co.ir/iran-daily/1387/3265/html/economy.htm|date=29 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://iran-daily.com/1386/2829/html/economy.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612033723/http://iran-daily.com/1386/2829/html/economy.htm |archive-date=2008-06-12 |title=Iran Daily{{Snd}} Domestic Economy{{Snd}} 04/29/07 |date=12 June 2008 |access-date=7 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://niordc.ir/index.aspx?siteid=77&pageid=973&newsview=6402 |title=::.. NIORDC{{Snd}} National Iranian Oil Refining & Distribution Company.. |publisher=Niordc.ir |date=14 July 2010 |access-date=7 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309221859/http://niordc.ir/index.aspx?siteid=77&pageid=973&newsview=6402 |archive-date=9 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=SHANA |url=http://www.shana.ir/155561-en.html |title=Share of domestically made equipments on the rise |publisher=Shana.ir |date=18 July 2010 |access-date=7 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309074817/http://www.shana.ir/155561-en.html |archive-date=9 March 2012 }}</ref> Iran is among the few countries that has reached the technology and "know-how" for drilling in the deep waters.<ref>[http://english.farsnews.ir/newstext.php?nn=9010170497 Oil Minister: Iran Self-Sufficient in Drilling Industry] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606031356/http://english.farsnews.ir/newstext.php?nn=9010170497 |date=6 June 2013 }}. Fars News Agency. Retrieved 13 January 2012.</ref> Iran's indigenously designed [[Darkhovin Nuclear Power Plant]] is scheduled to come online in 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL0812863720080208 |title=Iran starts second atomic power plant: report |agency=Reuters|date=8 February 2008 |access-date=7 February 2012 |first=Chris |last=Baldwin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325225836/http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL0812863720080208 |archive-date=25 March 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Armaments===
[[File:Trends in nanotechnology in Iran, Average citations of Iranian nanotech articles, in comparison with those of other leading countries, 2013.svg|thumb|Average citations of Iranian nanotech articles, in comparison with those of other leading countries, 2013. Source: UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030 (2015)]]{{Main|Defense industry of Iran|List of military equipment manufactured in Iran}}
{{See also|Defense Industries Organization|Iran Electronics Industries|Iran Aviation Industries Organization}}

Iran possesses the technology to launch superfast [[Hoot (missile)|anti-submarine rockets]] that can travel at the speed of 100 meters per second under water, making the country second only to Russia in possessing the technology.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/article/55043/iran-displays-supercavitating-torpedo-and-semi-submersible|title=Iran displays supercavitating torpedo and semi-submersible|access-date=2 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081154/http://www.janes.com/article/55043/iran-displays-supercavitating-torpedo-and-semi-submersible|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Iran is among the few countries that possess the technological know-how of the [[unmanned aerial vehicle]]s (UAV) fitted with scanning and reconnaissance systems.<ref>[http://turkishcentralnews.com/archives/857]{{dead link|date=January 2013}}</ref> Since 1992, it also has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, sophisticated radars, guided missiles, a submarine, and [[HESA Kowsar|fighter planes]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/iran-launches-production-of-stealth-sub | publisher=Fox News| title=Iran Launches Production of Stealth Sub | date=30 November 2011 | access-date=25 April 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208071646/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,156160,00.html | archive-date=8 February 2011 | url-status=live }}</ref>

==Scientific collaboration==
{{See also|Foreign relations of Iran|Iran's brain drain|Iranian citizens abroad}}

Iran annually hosts international science festivals. The ''International Kharazmi Festival in Basic Science'' and The ''Annual Razi Medical Sciences Research Festival'' promote original research in science, technology, and medicine in Iran. There is also an ongoing [[R&D]] collaboration between [[List of Iranian companies|large state-owned companies]] and the [[universities in Iran]].

Iranians welcome scientists from all over the world to Iran for a visit and participation in seminars or collaborations. Many Nobel laureates and influential scientists such as [[Bruce Alberts]], [[F. Sherwood Rowland]], [[Kurt Wüthrich]], [[Stephen Hawking]], and [[Pierre-Gilles de Gennes]] visited Iran after the Iranian revolution. Some universities also hosted American and European scientists as guest lecturers during recent decades.

Although sanctions have caused a shift in Iran's trading partners from West to East, scientific collaboration has remained largely oriented towards the West. Between 2008 and 2014, Iran's top partners for scientific collaboration were the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany, in that order. Iranian scientists co-authored almost twice as many articles with their counterparts in the US (6 377) as with their next-closest collaborators in Canada (3 433) and the UK (3 318).<ref name=":0" /> Iranian and U.S. scientists have collaborated on a number of projects.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Jillson|first=Irene|date=2013-03-18|title=The United States and Iran|url=http://www.sciencediplomacy.org/article/2013/united-states-and-iran|journal=Science & Diplomacy|volume=2|issue=1|access-date=18 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720045015/http://www.sciencediplomacy.org/article/2013/united-states-and-iran|archive-date=20 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Malaysia is Iran's fifth-closest collaborator in science and India ranks tenth, after Australia, France, Italy and Japan. One-quarter of Iranian articles had a foreign co-author in 2014, a stable proportion since 2002. Scientists have been encouraged to publish in international journals in recent years, a policy that is in line with ''Vision 2025''.<ref name=":0" />

The volume of scientific articles authored by Iranians in international journals has augmented considerably since 2005, according to Thomson Reuters' Web of Science (Science Citation Index Expanded). Iranian scientists now publish widely in international journals in engineering and chemistry, as well as in life sciences and physics. Women contribute about 13% of articles, with a focus on chemistry, medical sciences and social sciences. Contributing to this trend is the fact that PhD programmes in Iran now require students to have publications in the Web of Science.

Iran has submitted a formal request to participate in a project which is building an [[International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor]] (ITER) in France by 2018. This megaproject is developing nuclear fusion technology to lay the groundwork for tomorrow's nuclear fusion power plants. The project involves the European Union, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation and United States. A team from ITER visited Iran in November 2016 to deepen its understanding of Iran's fusion-related programmes.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.payvand.com/news/12/jul/1199.html|title=Iran joins research team for nuclear fusion project|publisher=Payvand.com|access-date=2013-01-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130311093139/http://www.payvand.com/news/12/jul/1199.html|archive-date=11 March 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Iran hosts several international research centres, including the following established between 2010 and 2014 under the auspices of the [[United Nations]]: the [[Regional Center for Science Park and Technology Incubator Development]] ([[UNESCO]], est. 2010), the [[International Center on Nanotechnology]] ([[UNIDO]], est. 2012) and the [[Regional Educational and Research Center for Oceanography for Western Asia]] (UNESCO, est. 2014).<ref name=":0" />

Iran is stepping up its scientific collaboration with developing countries. In 2008, Iran's Nanotechnology Initiative Council established an Econano network to promote the scientific and industrial development of nanotechnology among fellow members of the Economic Cooperation Organization, namely Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The Regional Centre for Science Park and Technology Incubator Development is also initially targeting these same countries. It is offering them policy advice on how to develop their own science parks and technology incubators.<ref name=":0" />

Iran is an active member of [[COMSTECH]] and collaborates on its international projects. The coordinator general of COMSTECH, [[Atta ur Rahman (scientist)|Atta-ur-Rahman]] has said that Iran is the leader in science and technology among Muslim countries and hoped for greater cooperation with Iran in different international technological and industrialization projects.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.farsnews.ir/newstext.php?nn=8903261625|title=Fars News Agency:: OIC Official Hails Iran's Leading Role in Science, Technology|date=16 June 2010|publisher=English.farsnews.ir|access-date=21 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301004635/http://english.farsnews.ir/newstext.php?nn=8903261625|archive-date=1 March 2012 }}</ref> Iranian scientists are also helping to construct the Compact Muon Solenoid, a detector for the Large Hadron Collider of the European Organization for Nuclear Research ([[CERN]]) that is due to come online in 2008{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}}. Iranian engineers are involved in the design and construction of the first regional [[particle accelerator]] of the Middle East in Jordan, called [[International Centre for Synchrotron-Light for Experimental Science Applications in the Middle East|SESAME]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/39638/title/Comment__SESAME_opens_doors_to_international_collaboration|title=SESAME opens doors to international collaboration|last=Sigfried|first=Tom|publisher=Science News Service|year=2009|issue=2|location=Washington, DC|publication-date=17 January 2009|volume=175|page=32|doi=10.1002/scin.2009.5591750224|periodical=Science News|access-date=24 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421061218/http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/39638/title/Comment__SESAME_opens_doors_to_international_collaboration|archive-date=21 April 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2024, Iran held talks with The [[Global South]] and [[Developing countries]] that were interested in scientific and technological cooperation with Iran in the field of [[Nuclear technology#Civilian uses|peaceful nuclear science and technology]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-18 |title=Eslami talks bilateral nuclear cooperation with key foreign officials |url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/503866/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Tehran Times}}</ref> which led to the signing of a memorandum of understanding ([[MoU]]) with [[Burkina Faso]] in this field in September 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-19 |title=Iran, Burkina Faso sign MoU in Vienna to boost mutual coop. |url=https://en.mehrnews.com/news/221535/Iran-Burkina-Faso-sign-MoU-in-Vienna-to-boost-mutual-coop |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Mehr News Agency}}</ref> Another example is [[South Africa]] and Iran<ref>https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-open-nuclear-project-bids-russia-or-iran-minister-says-2025-02-17/</ref>

Since the [[JCPOA|lifting of international sanctions]], Iran has been developing scientific and educational links with Kuwait, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, China and Russia.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://en.mehrnews.com/news/111702/Kuwait-Iran-to-review-setting-up-joint-university| title=Kuwait-Iran to review setting up joint university| date=2015-11-07| access-date=6 November 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106184733/http://en.mehrnews.com/news/111702/Kuwait-Iran-to-review-setting-up-joint-university| archive-date=6 November 2016| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| url=http://en.mehrnews.com/news/117522/Iran-Italy-ink-MoU-on-university-coop| title=Iran, Italy ink MoU on university coop| date=2016-06-21| access-date=6 November 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106123330/http://en.mehrnews.com/news/117522/Iran-Italy-ink-MoU-on-university-coop| archive-date=6 November 2016| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| url=http://en.mehrnews.com/news/121078/University-of-Tehran-Russia-s-SPSU-to-form-joint-academy| title=University of Tehran, Russia's SPSU to form joint academy| date=2016-11-05| access-date=6 November 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106184945/http://en.mehrnews.com/news/121078/University-of-Tehran-Russia-s-SPSU-to-form-joint-academy| archive-date=6 November 2016| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| url=http://en.mehrnews.com/news/114399/Joint-university-of-Iran-Germany-planned| title=Joint university of Iran, Germany planned| date=2016-02-13| access-date=6 November 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106185155/http://en.mehrnews.com/news/114399/Joint-university-of-Iran-Germany-planned| archive-date=6 November 2016| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| url=http://en.mehrnews.com/news/114696/Iran-Switzerland-to-ink-academic-coop| title=Iran-Switzerland to ink academic coop| date=2016-02-23| access-date=6 November 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106123433/http://en.mehrnews.com/news/114696/Iran-Switzerland-to-ink-academic-coop| archive-date=6 November 2016| url-status=live}}</ref>

==Contribution of Iranians and people of Iranian origin to modern science==
{{Main|List of contemporary Iranian scientists, scholars, and engineers}}
[[File:Ahmad Reza Dehpour.jpg|thumb|120px|[[Ahmad Reza Dehpour]], Iran's most prolific researcher of the year 2006]]

In 1960, [[Ali Javan]] invented first gas laser. In 1973, the [[fuzzy set theory]] was developed by [[Lotfi Zadeh]]. Iranian cardiologist [[Tofy Mussivand]] invented the first [[artificial heart]] and afterwards developed it further. [[HbA1c]] was discovered by [[Samuel Rahbar]] and introduced to the medical community. The [[Vafa-Witten theorem]] was proposed by [[Cumrun Vafa]], an Iranian string theorist, and his co-worker [[Edward Witten]]. [[Nima Arkani-Hamed]], is a noted theoretical physicist at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton who is known for large extra dimensions and scattering amplitudes. The Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) equation has been named after [[Mehran Kardar]], notable Iranian physicist.

[[Farhad Arbab|Dr. Farhad Arbab]]<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-319-90089-6 |title=It's All About Coordination: Essays to Celebrate the Lifelong Scientific Achievements of Farhad Arbab |date=2018 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=978-3-319-90088-9 |editor-last=de Boer |editor-first=Frank |series=Lecture Notes in Computer Science |volume=10865 |location=Cham |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-90089-6 |editor-last2=Bonsangue |editor-first2=Marcello |editor-last3=Rutten |editor-first3=Jan}}</ref> (with an h-index over 40 in computer science and engineering<ref>{{Cite web |title=Farhad Arbab |url=https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=GTW3mJ4AAAAJ&hl=en |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=scholar.google.com}}</ref>), is the founder of the [[Reo Coordination Language|Reo programming language]] for advanced [[cyber-physical systems]]. [[Reza Malekzadeh|Dr. Reza Malekzadeh]] is the founder of the Golestan [[Cohort study|Cohort Study]],<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pourshams |first=A. |last2=Khademi |first2=H. |last3=Malekshah |first3=A. F. |last4=Islami |first4=F. |last5=Nouraei |first5=M. |last6=Sadjadi |first6=A. R. |last7=Jafari |first7=E. |last8=Rakhshani |first8=N. |last9=Salahi |first9=R. |last10=Semnani |first10=S. |last11=Kamangar |first11=F. |last12=Abnet |first12=C. C |last13=Ponder |first13=B. |last14=Day |first14=N. |last15=Dawsey |first15=S. M |date=2009-03-30 |title=Cohort Profile: The Golestan Cohort Study—a prospective study of oesophageal cancer in northern Iran |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyp161 |journal=International Journal of Epidemiology |volume=39 |issue=1 |pages=52–59 |doi=10.1093/ije/dyp161 |issn=0300-5771|pmc=3709199 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Khademi |first=H. |last2=Malekzadeh |first2=R. |last3=Pourshams |first3=A. |last4=Jafari |first4=E. |last5=Salahi |first5=R. |last6=Semnani |first6=S. |last7=Abaie |first7=B. |last8=Islami |first8=F. |last9=Nasseri-Moghaddam |first9=S. |last10=Etemadi |first10=A. |last11=Byrnes |first11=G. |last12=Abnet |first12=C. C. |last13=Dawsey |first13=S. M. |last14=Day |first14=N. E. |last15=Pharoah |first15=P. D. |date=2012-04-17 |title=Opium use and mortality in Golestan Cohort Study: prospective cohort study of 50 000 adults in Iran |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2502 |journal=The BMJ |volume=344 |issue=apr17 2 |pages=e2502–e2502 |doi=10.1136/bmj.e2502 |issn=1756-1833|pmc=3328545 }}</ref> which, based on its findings, was the first to prove the carcinogenicity of opium for international scientific communities.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Warnakulasuriya |first=Saman |last2=Cronin-Fenton |first2=Deirdre |last3=Jinot |first3=Jennifer |last4=Kamangar |first4=Farin |last5=Malekzadeh |first5=Reza |last6=Dar |first6=Nazir A |last7=Etemadi |first7=Arash |last8=Fortini |first8=Paola |last9=Glass |first9=Deborah C |last10=Khanjani |first10=Narges |last11=Kikura-Hanajiri |first11=Ruri |last12=Malats |first12=Nuria |last13=Pourshams |first13=Akram |last14=Rahimi-Movaghar |first14=Afarin |last15=Richardson |first15=David B |date=November 2020 |title=Carcinogenicity of opium consumption |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s1470-2045(20)30611-2 |journal=The Lancet Oncology |volume=21 |issue=11 |pages=1407–1408 |doi=10.1016/s1470-2045(20)30611-2 |issn=1470-2045}}</ref> The engineering design for the reengineering of the [[IR-40|Arak reactor (IR-40)]] as a hybrid [[Light-water reactor|light-water]] [[Heavy-water reactor|heavy-water]] reactor, by Iran's [[Nuclear program of Iran|nuclear]] scientists (under the supervision of [[Ali Akbar Salehi|Dr. Ali Akbar Salehi]]), received praise from international experts during the post-[[JCPOA]] technical negotiations.<ref>Ali Akbar Salehi's Interview with Channel 4 of the Islamic Republic of Iran Television, 2018.</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mansourzadeh |first=Fatemeh |last2=Khoshahval |first2=Farrokh |last3=Safdari |first3=Jaber |date=February 2018 |title=A conceptual design for a generic heavy water research reactor to a more proliferation-resistant reactor |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2017.10.035 |journal=Annals of Nuclear Energy |volume=112 |pages=418–430 |doi=10.1016/j.anucene.2017.10.035 |issn=0306-4549}}</ref>

Other examples of notable discoveries and innovations by Iranian scientists and engineers (or of Iranian origin) include:

* [[Siavash Alamouti]] and [[Vahid Tarokh]]: invention of [[space–time block code]]
* [[Moslem Bahadori]]: reported the first case of [[plasma cell granuloma]] of the lung.
* [[Nader Engheta]], inventor of "invisibility shield" (plasmonic cover) and research leader of the year 2006, ''Scientific American'' magazine,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=scientific-american-50-sa-2006-12 |title=Scientific American 50: SA 50 Winners and Contributors |magazine=Scientific American |date=12 November 2006 |access-date=20 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011131754/http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=scientific-american-50-sa-2006-12 |archive-date=11 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> and winner of a [[Guggenheim Fellowship]] (1999) for "Fractional paradigm of classical electrodynamics"
* [[Reza Ghadiri]]: invention of a self-organized replicating molecular system, for which he received 1998 Feynman prize
* Maysam Ghovanloo: inventor of Tongue-Drive Wheelchair.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=-eUEfV0AAAAJ&hl=en |title= Maysam Ghovanloo |website= Google Scholar}}</ref>
* [[Alireza Mashaghi]]: made the first single-molecule observation of cellular [[protein folding]], for which he was named the Discoverer of the Year in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nwo-i.nl/en/news/2013/07/07/a-rubiks-cube-at-the-nanoscale-proteins-puzzle-with-amino-acid-chains/ |title=A Rubik's cube at the nanoscale: proteins puzzle with amino acid chains |access-date=5 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106010733/https://www.nwo-i.nl/en/news/2013/07/07/a-rubiks-cube-at-the-nanoscale-proteins-puzzle-with-amino-acid-chains/ |archive-date=6 January 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://phys.org/news/2016-10-universal-clamping-protein-stabilizes-proteins.html |title=Universal clamping protein stabilizes folded proteins: New insight into how the chaperone protein Hsp70 works |access-date=5 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106010807/https://phys.org/news/2016-10-universal-clamping-protein-stabilizes-proteins.html |archive-date=6 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Karim Nayernia]]: discovery of spermatagonial stem cells
* Afsaneh Rabiei: inventor<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/7641984.html |publisher= PatentStorm |title=US Patent 7641984 – Composite metal foam and methods of preparation thereof |access-date=29 March 2010 |date=5 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100205214856/http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/7641984.html |archive-date=5 February 2010 }}</ref> of an ultra-strong and lightweight material, known as Composite metal foam|Composite Metal Foam (CMF).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mae.ncsu.edu/homepages/rabiei/ |title=Dr. Afsaneh Rabiei |publisher=Mae.ncsu.edu |date=25 April 2011 |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616072103/http://www.mae.ncsu.edu/homepages/rabiei/ |archive-date=16 June 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Mohammad-Nabi Sarbolouki]], invention of dendrosome<ref>{{cite journal |title=Dendrosomes: a novel family of vehicles for transfection and therapy |date=9 May 2000 |doi=10.1002/1097-4660(200010)75:10<919::AID-JCTB308>3.0.CO;2-S |volume=75 |issue=10 |journal=Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology |pages=919–922|last1=Sarbolouki |first1=Mohammad N. |last2=Sadeghizadeh |first2=Majid |last3=Yaghoobi |first3=Mohammad M. |last4=Karami |first4=Ali |last5=Lohrasbi |first5=Tahmineh |bibcode=2000JCTB...75..919S }}</ref>
* Ali Safaeinili: co-inventor of Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding ([[MARSIS]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/express/spotlight/20050504.html |title=First-of-Its-Kind Antenna to Probe the Depths of Mars |publisher=Mars.jpl.nasa.gov |date=4 May 2005 |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018123922/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/express/spotlight/20050504.html |archive-date=18 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Mehdi Vaez-Iravani]]: invention of shear force microscopy
* [[Rouzbeh Yassini]]: inventor of the cable modem
* Using the [[Iranian National Observatory]] Lens Array (INOLA), the first ever attempt at exploring the [[Stellar haloes|stellar halo]] of [[M33 galaxy|M33 Galaxy]] using ultra-deep broad-band imaging was conducted and reported, in 2024.<ref name=":1" />

== Iranian scientists ==
Many Iranian scientist received internationally recognized awards. Examples are:
* [[Maryam Mirzakhani]]: In August 2014, Mirzakhani became the first-ever woman, as well as the first-ever Iranian, to receive the [[Fields Medal]], the highest prize in mathematics for her contributions to topology.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ben Mathis-Lilley |title=A Woman Has Won the Fields Medal, Math's Highest Prize, for the First Time |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2014/08/12/first_female_fields_medal_winner_maryam_mirzakhani_of_stanford.html |website=Slate |publisher=Graham Holdings Company |access-date=14 August 2014 |date=12 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814032405/http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2014/08/12/first_female_fields_medal_winner_maryam_mirzakhani_of_stanford.html |archive-date=14 August 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Cumrun Vafa]], 2017 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://breakthroughprize.org/Laureates/1/L3797 |title=2017 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics |access-date=5 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106055142/https://breakthroughprize.org/Laureates/1/L3797 |archive-date=6 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> He is the recipient of the [[Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics]] (ICTP)'s, 2008 [[Dirac Medal (ICTP)|Dirac Medal]], which was won alongside [[Juan Maldacena]], and [[Joseph Polchinski]] for their advancement of string theory. In 1998 he was a Plenary Speaker at the [[International Congress of Mathematicians]]. In 2016, Vafa was awarded the [[Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics]]. He is also among the 2021 [[Mustafa Prize]] Laureates.<ref name="The Mustafa Prize">{{Cite web |title=The Mustafa Prize |url=https://mustafaprize.org/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=mustafaprize.org}}</ref>
*[[Nima Arkani-Hamed]], 2012 Fundamental Physics Prize winner.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bic.org.my/?action=events&do=body87 |title= Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre |publisher= Bic.org.my |date= 10 November 2009 |access-date= 21 October 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111002001737/http://www.bic.org.my/?action=events&do=body87 |archive-date= 2 October 2011 |url-status= live }}</ref>
* [[Ramin Golestanian]]: In August 2014, Ramin Golestanian won the [[Holweck Prize]] for his research work in physics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/science/2014/08/140820_u08_golestanian_holweck.shtml |title=نشان 'هول‌وک' برای فیزیک‌دان ایرانی مقیم بریتانیا |publisher=BBC Persian |date=21 August 2014 |access-date=2 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825040711/http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/science/2014/08/140820_u08_golestanian_holweck.shtml |archive-date=25 August 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ias-worldwide.org/ibrahim.html |title=Islamic Academy of Sciences IAS- Ibrahim Award Laureates |publisher=Ias-worldwide.org |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928184658/http://www.ias-worldwide.org/ibrahim.html |archive-date=28 September 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Mehdi Golshani]] has been among the winners of the first year of the Templeton Science & Religion course program and also among the [[Former Judges of The Templeton Prize]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biography |url=https://mgolshani.ir/en/biography/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=mgolshani.ir}}</ref>
* [[Mahmoud Hessabi|Professor Seyyed Mahmoud Hesabi]] was awarded the prestigious title of [[Legion of Honour|Commandeur de la Légion d'Honneur]] by the French government.<ref>{{Cite web |title=بنیاد پروفسور حسابی – زندگی نامه |url=http://www.hessaby.com/neshanha/neshanha.html |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=hessaby.com}}</ref>
* [[Amin Shokrollahi|M. Amin Shokrollahi]], among the 2017 [[Mustafa Prize]] Laureates.<ref name="The Mustafa Prize"/>
* [[Ali Khademhosseini]], [[Hossein Baharvand|Prof. Hossein Baharvand]], Dr. Mohammad Abdolahad among the 2019 [[Mustafa Prize]] Laureates.<ref name="The Mustafa Prize"/>
* [[Yasaman Farzan]], among winners of the 2013 [[ICTP Prize|International Centre for Theoretical Physics Prize.]]<ref>{{Citation |title=ICTP Prize |date=2024-08-22 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICTP_Prize |access-date=2024-11-23 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Mohammad Khatami|S.M. Khatami]] gained international attention from the United Nations General Assembly and global public opinion due to his proposal for a [[Dialogue Among Civilizations|dialogue among civilizations]]. As a result of this initiative, he was awarded honorary doctorates from three universities: [[University of St Andrews|the University of St Andrews in the UK]], [[University of Liège|the University of Liège in Belgium]], and the [[University of Tehran]].
* [[Mohammad Gharib]] was presented with the [[Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur]] ([[Legion of Honour]]) in 1954.
* [[Nasrin Moazami]] was presented with the "[[Ordre des Palmes académiques|Chevalier de I'Ordre des Palmes Académiques]]," a citation for outstanding research.
* [[Javad Tabatabai]], winner of [[Ordre des Palmes académiques|the Ordre des Palmes Académiques]] – Paris (14 July 1995)
* [[Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi]] was presented with the Knight of the [[Legion of Honour]] in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Légion d'honneur. Promotion du 14 juillet 2022 {{!}} École Pratique des Hautes Études |url=https://www.ephe.psl.eu/legion-dhonneur-promotion-du-14-juillet-2022 |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=ephe.psl.eu |language=fr}}</ref>
* [[Majid Samii]] Neurosurgeon of the Year 2013 : Elected by the World Neurosurgery journal.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ramina |first=Ricardo |date=November 2013 |title=Madjid Samii – Neurosurgeon of the year |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1878875012013551 |journal=World Neurosurgery |language=en |volume=80 |issue=5 |pages=472 |doi=10.1016/j.wneu.2012.11.056}}</ref>
* [[Saeed Sohrabpour]], in February 2019, was elected a foreign associate of the US [[National Academy of Engineering]] "for establishing Sharif University as an academic Center of Excellence and advancing engineering and science education in Iran."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nae.edu/204037/National-Academy-of-Engineering-Elects-86-Members-and-18-Foreign-Members|title=National Academy of Engineering Elects 86 Members and 18 Foreign Members|last=|first=|date=2019-02-07|website=National Academy of Engineering|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-08-21}}</ref>

=== Young Scientist Awards<ref>{{Cite web |title=IPM – Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences |url=https://ipm.ac.ir/ViewNewsInfo.jsp?NTID=1665 |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=ipm.ac.ir}}</ref> ===
* [[Saba Valadkhan]] was awarded the [[GE]] / ''[[Science (journal)|Science]]'' Young Scientist Award for her breakthrough in understanding the mechanism of [[spliceosome]]s. She was also awarded the [[American Association for Advancement of Science]] (AAAS) Young Scientist Grand Prize in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Valadkhan Lab |url=https://www.valadkhanlab.org/news.php |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=valadkhanlab.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-19 |title=Researchers from the Institut Pasteur in Iran and French Guiana Win the 2018 "Pasteur Talent" Award |url=https://www.pasteur.fr/en/institut-pasteur/institut-pasteur-throughout-world/news/researchers-institut-pasteur-iran-and-french-guiana-win-2018-pasteur-talent-award |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=Institut Pasteur |language=en-gb}}</ref>

=== International Scientific Olympiads ===

* [[Maryam Mirzakhani]] (in 1995), Iman Eftekhari (in 1997), Omid Amini (in 1998), and Ali Akbar Daemi (in 2005) won the gold medal at the [[International Mathematical Olympiad]] with a perfect full score of 42 out of 42. In 1998, Iran achieved the top rank (among teams of participating countries) at the [[International Mathematical Olympiad]].
* Elham Sadat Naghib won a gold medal at the 11th [[International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics|International Astronomy Olympiad]] and also achieved a perfect full score in the observational section.
* In the first [[International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence]] (IOAI 2024), the Iranian national team presented the best solution to one of the three scientific round problems, which was more accurate not only than other teams but also than the question designer's solution (among 41 participating teams from 33 countries around the world).<ref>https://tehrantimes.com/news/505165/Iranian-professor-elected-as-IOAI-committee-chairman</ref>

==International rankings==
{{See also|International rankings of Iran#Science and technology|l1=International Rankings of Iran in Science and Technology}}

* According to the [[Institute for Scientific Information]] (ISI), Iran increased its [[academic publishing]] output nearly tenfold from 1996 to 2004, and has been ranked first globally in terms of output growth rate (followed by China with a 3 fold increase).<ref name="2005 OST PSA report">{{cite web |url=http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file27330.pdf |title=2005 OST PSA report |access-date=21 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302211858/http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file27330.pdf |archive-date=2 March 2012 }}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web |url=http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file27330.pdf |title=2005 OST PSA report |access-date=21 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714013156/http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file27330.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2011 }}</ref> In comparison, the only [[G8]] countries in top 20 ranking with fastest performance improvement are Italy at tenth and Canada at 13th globally.<ref name="2005 OST PSA report"/><ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.softmachines.org/wordpress/?p=216 |title=Which nation's scientific output is rising fastest? « Soft Machines |publisher=Softmachines.org |date=29 March 2006 |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927014049/http://www.softmachines.org/wordpress/?p=216 |archive-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Iran, China, India and [[Brazil]] are the only developing countries among 31 nations with 97.5% of the world's total scientific productivity. The remaining 162 developing countries contribute less than 2.5% of the world's scientific output.<ref>{{cite web |author=David Dickson |url=http://www.scidev.net/en/news/china-brazil-and-india-lead-southern-science-outp.html |title=China, Brazil and India lead southern science output |publisher=SciDev.Net |date=16 July 2004 |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724055336/http://www.scidev.net/en/news/china-brazil-and-india-lead-southern-science-outp.html |archive-date=24 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite the massive improvement from 0.0003% of the global scientific output in 1970 to 0.29% in 2003, still Iran's total share in the world's total output remained small.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Scientific output of Iran at the threshold of the 21st century| doi=10.1007/s11192-005-0017-5|volume=62|issue=2|journal=Scientometrics|pages=239–248|date=January 2005|last1=Rezaei|first1=Nima|last2=Mahmoudi|first2=Maryam|last3=Moin|first3=Mostafa| s2cid=9482433}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Nancy Imelda Schafer, ISI |url=http://archive.sciencewatch.com/nov-dec2003/sw_nov-dec2003_page1.htm |title=Middle Eastern Nations Making Their Mark |publisher=Archive.sciencewatch.com |date=14 March 2002 |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003121918/http://archive.sciencewatch.com/nov-dec2003/sw_nov-dec2003_page1.htm |archive-date=3 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to [[Thomson Reuters]], Iran has demonstrated a remarkable growth in science and technology over the past one decade, increasing its science and technology output fivefold from 2000 to 2008. Most of this growth has been in engineering and [[chemistry]] producing 1.4% of the world's total output in the period 2004–2008. By year 2008, Iranian science and technology output accounted for 1.02% of the world's total output (That is ~340,000% growth in 37 years of 1970–2008).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=410623&sectioncode=26 |title=Field rankings for Iran |work=Times Higher Education |date=4 March 2010 |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829185748/http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=410623&sectioncode=26 |archive-date=29 August 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> 25% of scientific articles published in 2008 by Iran were international [[Collaborative authorship|coauthorships]]. The top five countries coauthoring with Iranian scientists are US, UK, Canada, Germany and France.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind10/c5/c5s.htm |title=S&E Indicators 2010 – Chapter 5. Academic Research and Development |publisher=[[National Science Foundation]] (NSF) |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109033039/http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind10/c5/c5s.htm |archive-date=9 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.nsf.gov/search?q=cache:a_NNcybP8bEJ:www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind10/c5/tt05-b.xls+iran&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&client=SBE2&proxystylesheet=SBE2&site=SBE-Relsei&access=p&oe=UTF-8 |title=tt05-B |publisher=Search.nsf.gov |date=4 December 2009 |access-date=21 October 2011}}</ref>
* A 2010 report by Canadian research firm Science-Metrix has put Iran in the top rank globally in terms of growth in scientific productivity with a 14.4 growth index followed by South Korea with a 9.8 growth index.<ref name="science-metrix.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.science-metrix.com/30years-Paper.pdf|title=30 years in science: Secular movements in knowledge creation|work=Science-Metrix|access-date=2 April 2016|date=2015-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913172105/http://www.science-metrix.com/30years-Paper.pdf|archive-date=13 September 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Iran's growth rate in science and technology is 11 times more than the average growth of the world's output in 2009 and in terms of total output per year, Iran has already surpassed the total scientific output of countries like [[Sweden]], Switzerland, [[Israel]], Belgium, [[Denmark]], Finland, [[Austria]] or that of [[Norway]].<ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite web |url=http://www.science-metrix.com/30years/index.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=20 February 2010 |archive-date=20 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220211919/http://www.science-metrix.com/30years/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000608100&fid=1725 |title=Cellcom CEO: Iran's bomb isn't made by peasants |work=Globes |date=14 December 2010 |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402234042/http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000608100&fid=1725 |archive-date=2 April 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="sciencewatch.com">{{cite web |url=http://sciencewatch.com/ana/fea/10novdecFea/ |title=2010 Nov/Dec – Middle East Revisited: Iran's Steep Climb – ScienceWatch.com – Thomson Reuters |publisher=ScienceWatch.com |date=10 January 2011 |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107032944/http://sciencewatch.com/ana/fea/10novdecFea/ |archive-date=7 November 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Iran with a science and technology yearly growth rate of 25% is doubling its total output every three years and at this rate will reach the level of Canadian annual output in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.science-metrix.com/pdf/SM_2005_002_CNS_Collaboration_Canada-Developing_Countries.pdf |title=Scientific Collaboration between Canada and Developing Countries |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201032057/http://www.science-metrix.com/pdf/SM_2005_002_CNS_Collaboration_Canada-Developing_Countries.pdf |archive-date=1 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The report further notes that Iran's scientific capability build-up has been the fastest in the past two decades and that this build-up is in part due to the Iraqi invasion of Iran, the subsequent bloody [[Iran–Iraq War]] and Iran's high casualties due to the international sanctions in effect on Iran as compared to the international support [[Iraq]] enjoyed. The then technologically superior Iraq and its use of [[chemical weapons]] on Iranians, made Iran to embark on a very ambitious science developing program by mobilizing scientists in order to offset its [[international isolation]], and this is most evident in the country's nuclear sciences advancement, which has in the past two decades grown by 8,400% as compared to the 34% for the rest of the world. This report further predicts that though Iran's scientific advancement as a response to its international isolation may remain a cause of concern for the world, all the while it may lead to a higher [[quality of life]] for the Iranian population but simultaneously and paradoxically will also isolate Iran even more because of the world's concern over Iran's technological advancements. Other findings of the report point out that the fastest growing sectors in Iran are Physics, Public health sciences, Engineering, Chemistry and Mathematics. Overall the growth has mostly occurred after 1980 and specially has been becoming faster since 1991 with a significant acceleration in 2002 and an explosive surge since 2005.<ref name="science-metrix.com"/><ref name="ReferenceB"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-02/s-www021610.php |title=Wall, war, wealth: 30 years in science |publisher=Eurekalert.org |date=17 February 2010 |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607062036/http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-02/s-www021610.php |archive-date=7 June 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18546-iran-showing-fastest-scientific-growth-of-any-country.html |title=Iran showing fastest scientific growth of any country – science-in-society – 18 February 2010 |magazine=New Scientist |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021000625/http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18546-iran-showing-fastest-scientific-growth-of-any-country.html |archive-date=21 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Scientometrics, Volume 62, Number 2 |doi=10.1007/s11192-005-0017-5 |volume=62 |issue=2 |journal=Scientometrics |pages=239–248|date=January 2005 |last1=Rezaei |first1=Nima |last2=Mahmoudi |first2=Maryam |last3=Moin |first3=Mostafa |s2cid=9482433 }}</ref> It has been argued that scientific and technological advancement besides [[Nuclear program of Iran|the nuclear program]] is the main reason for United States worry about Iran, which may become a superpower in the future.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aljazeera.com/news/articles/41/Just_like_China_Iran_is_emerging_as_a_super_po.html |title=AJE – al Jazeera English |access-date=2010-04-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100405095703/http://aljazeera.com/news/articles/41/Just_like_China_Iran_is_emerging_as_a_super_po.html |archive-date=5 April 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Soroor Ahmed |url=http://www.radianceweekly.com/203/5361/cut-motion-saw-trivialisation-of-politics/2010-05-09/science/story-detail/iran-turkey-break-scientific-monopolyhas-islam-anything-to-do-with-it.html |title=Iran, Turkey Break Scientific Monopoly Has Islam Anything to Do With It? |publisher=Radianceweekly.com |date=2010-05-09 |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001071728/http://www.radianceweekly.com/203/5361/cut-motion-saw-trivialisation-of-politics/2010-05-09/science/story-detail/iran-turkey-break-scientific-monopolyhas-islam-anything-to-do-with-it.html |archive-date=1 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/israeli-study-exposes-fallacy-of-iran-threat-2140 |title=Israeli study exposes fallacy of Iran threat |publisher=Geopolitical Monitor |date=12 May 2009 |access-date=21 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314054457/http://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/israeli-study-exposes-fallacy-of-iran-threat-2140 |archive-date=14 March 2012 }}</ref> Some in Iranian scientific community see sanctions as a western conspiracy to stop Iran's rising rank in modern science and allege that some (western) countries want to monopolize modern technologies.<ref name="NW-20090522">{{cite news |first1=Maziar |last1=Bahari |url=https://www.newsweek.com/quarks-and-koran-irans-islamic-embrace-science-80063 |title=Quarks and the Koran: Iran's Islamic Embrace of Science |work=[[Newsweek]] |date=22 May 2009 |access-date=21 October 2011 |url-status=live  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221143733/https://www.newsweek.com/quarks-and-koran-irans-islamic-embrace-science-80063 |archive-date=21 December 2013 }}</ref>
* As per [[US government]] report on science and engineering titled "[[National Science Board#Activities as Policy Advisers to Congress and the President|Science and Engineering Indicators: 2010]]" prepared by [[National Science Foundation]], Iran has the world's highest growth rate in Science & Engineering article output with an annual growth rate of 25.7%. The report is introduced as a factual and policy neutral "...volume of record comprising the major high-quality quantitative data on the U.S. and international science and engineering enterprise". This report also notes that the very rapid growth rate of Iran inside a wider region was led by its growth in scientific instruments, pharmaceuticals, communications and semiconductors.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind10/c5/c5s4.htm |title=S&E Indicators 2010 – Chapter 5. Academic Research and Development – Outputs of S&E Research: Articles and Patents – US National Science Foundation (NSF) |publisher=nsf.gov |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609020839/http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind10/c5/c5s4.htm |archive-date=9 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind10/c5/c5s.htm#sb6 |title=S&E Indicators 2010 – Chapter 5. Academic Research and Development – Sidebars – US National Science Foundation (NSF) |publisher=nsf.gov |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109033039/http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind10/c5/c5s.htm#sb6 |archive-date=9 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind10/front/fronts6.htm |title=S&E Indicators 2010 – Front Matter – About Science & Engineering Indicators – US National Science Foundation (NSF) |publisher=nsf.gov |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018152755/http://nsf.gov/statistics/seind10/front/fronts6.htm |archive-date=18 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind10/c6/c6s2.htm |title=S&E Indicators 2010 – Chapter 6. Industry, Technology, and the Global Marketplace – Worldwide Distribution of Knowledge- and Technology-Intensive Industries – US National Science Foundation (NSF) |publisher=nsf.gov |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609021103/http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind10/c6/c6s2.htm |archive-date=9 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind10/pdf/seind10.pdf |title=Science and Engineering Indicators 2010 |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106015546/http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind10/pdf/seind10.pdf |archive-date=6 November 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* The subsequent [[National Science Foundation]] report published in 2012 by US government under the name "[[National Science Board#Activities as Policy Advisers to Congress and the President|Science and Engineering Indicators: 2012]]", had put Iran first globally in terms of growth in science and engineering article output in the first decade of this millennium with an annual growth rate of 25.2%.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind12/pdf/seind12.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=6 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519100150/https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind12/pdf/seind12.pdf |archive-date=19 May 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* The latest updated [[National Science Foundation]] report published in 2014 by US government titled "[[National Science Board#Activities as Policy Advisers to Congress and the President|Science and Engineering Indicators 2014]]", has again ranked Iran first globally in terms of growth in science and engineering article output at an annualized growth rate of 23.0% with 25% of Iran's output having been produced through international collaboration.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind14/content/etc/nsb1401.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=6 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501233134/https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind14/content/etc/nsb1401.pdf |archive-date=1 May 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind14/|title=nsf.gov – S&E Indicators 2014 – US National Science Foundation (NSF)|access-date=2 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402165312/http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind14/|archive-date=2 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Iran ranked 49th for citations, 42nd for papers, and 135th for citations per paper in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.in-cites.com/countries/iran2006.html |title=Essential Science Indicators |publisher=In-cites.com |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621051852/http://www.in-cites.com/countries/iran2006.html |archive-date=21 June 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> Their publication rate in international journals has quadrupled during the past decade. Although it is still low compared with the developed countries, this puts Iran in the first rank of Islamic countries.<ref name=nature>{{cite journal|author=Nature |title=Education and training put Iran ahead of richer states |volume=441 |issue=7096 |doi=10.1038/441932d |pmid=16791171 |journal=Nature |page=932|bibcode=2006Natur.441..932M |date=2006-06-21 |doi-access=free }}</ref> According to a British government study (2002), Iran ranked 30th in the world in terms of scientific impact.<ref name="berr.gov.uk">{{cite web |url=http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file11959.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2008-07-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002222141/http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file11959.pdf |archive-date=2 October 2008 }}</ref>
* According to a report by SJR (A Spanish sponsored scientific-data data) Iran ranked 25th in the world in scientific publications by volume in 2007 (a huge leap from the rank of 40 few years before).<ref>{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814031100/http://www.scimagojr.com/countryrank...=0&min_type=it |date=14 August 2011}}</ref> As per the same source Iran ranked 20th and 17th by total output in 2010 and 2011 respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://scimagojr.com/countryrank.php?area=0&category=0&region=all&year=2010&order=it&min=0&min_type=it |title=International Science Ranking |website=Scimagojr.com |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006064940/http://scimagojr.com/countryrank.php?area=0&category=0&region=all&year=2010&order=it&min=0&min_type=it |archive-date=6 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scimagojr.com/countryrank.php?area=0&category=0&region=all&year=2011&order=it&min=0&min_type=it |title=International Science Ranking |website=scimagojr.com |access-date=2 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430084916/http://www.scimagojr.com/countryrank.php?area=0&category=0&region=all&year=2011&order=it&min=0&min_type=it |archive-date=30 April 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* In 2008 report by [[Institute for Scientific Information]] (ISI), Iran ranked 32, 46 and 56 in [[Chemistry]], [[Physics]] and [[Biology]] respectively among all science producing countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mehrnews.ir/NewsPrint.aspx?NewsID=678634 |title=Iranian science according to ISI (2008) |website=Mehrnews.ir |access-date=21 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927143513/http://www.mehrnews.ir/NewsPrint.aspx?NewsID=678634 |archive-date=27 September 2011 }}</ref> Iran ranked 15th in 2009 in the field of nanotechnology in terms of presenting articles.<ref name="bernama"/>
* Science Watch reported in 2008 that Iran has the world's highest growth rate for [[citation]]s in medical, environmental and ecological sciences.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sciencewatch.com/dr/rs/08sep-rs/ |title=September 2008 – Rising Stars |publisher=ScienceWatch.com |date=7 June 2010 |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917125830/http://sciencewatch.com/dr/rs/08sep-rs/ |archive-date=17 September 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the same source, Iran during the period 2005–2009, had produced 1.71% of world's total engineering papers, 1.68% of world's total chemistry papers and 1.19% of world's total material sciences papers.<ref name="sciencewatch.com"/>
* According to the sixth report on "international comparative performance of UK research base" prepared in September 2009 by Britain-based research firm ''Evidence'' and [[Department for Business, Innovation and Skills]], Iran has increased its total output from 0.13% of world's output in 1999 to almost 1% of world's output in 2008. As per the same report Iran had doubled its [[biological sciences]] and [[Medical research|health research]] out put in just two years (2006–2008). The report further notes that Iran by 2008 had increased its output in [[physical sciences]] by as much as ten times in ten years and its share in world's total output had reached 1.3%, comparing with US share of 20% and Chinese share of 18%. Similarly Iran's engineering output had grown to 1.6% of the world's output being greater than Belgium or Sweden and just smaller than Russia's output at 1.8%. During the period 1999–2008, Iran improved its [[Impact factor|science impact]] from 0.66 to 1.07 above the world's average of 0.7 similar to Singapore's. In engineering Iran improved its impact and is already ahead of India, South Korea and Taiwan in engineering research performance. By 2008, Iran's share of most cited top 1% of world's papers was 0.25% of the world's total.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/corporate/migratedD/publications/I/ICPRUK09v1_4 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-01-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725140204/http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/corporate/migratedD/publications/I/ICPRUK09v1_4 |archive-date=25 July 2011 }}</ref>
* As per French government report "L'Observatoire des sciences et des techniques (OST) 2010", Iran had the world's fastest growth rate in scientific article output between 2003 and 2008 period at +219%, producing 0.8% of the world's total material sciences knowledge out put in 2008, the same as Israel. The fastest growing scientific field in Iran was medical sciences at 344% and the slowest growth was of chemistry at 128% with the growth for other fields being biology 342%, ecology 298%, physics 182%, basic sciences 285%, engineering 235% and mathematics at 255%. As per the same report among the countries that produced less than 2% of the world's science and technology, only Iran, Turkey and Brazil had the most dynamic growth in their scientific output, with Turkey and Brazil having a growth rate above 40% and Iran above 200% compared with South Korea and Taiwan growth rates at 31% and 37% respectively. Iran also was among the countries whose scientific visibility was growing fastest in the world such as China, Turkey, India and Singapore though all growing from a low visibility base.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.obs-ost.fr/sites/default/files/P3_SP2.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=10 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130720014153/http://www.obs-ost.fr/sites/default/files/P3_SP2.pdf |archive-date=20 July 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.obs-ost.fr/sites/default/files/R10_Complet_1.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=10 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130720020639/http://www.obs-ost.fr/sites/default/files/R10_Complet_1.pdf |archive-date=20 July 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.obs-ost.fr/fr/frressources_en_ligne/rapports_analyses_reference/rapport2010VersionTelechargeable |title=Rapport 2010 : Version téléchargeable &#124; Observatoire des Sciences et des Techniques |access-date=2014-05-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513011630/http://www.obs-ost.fr/fr/frressources_en_ligne/rapports_analyses_reference/rapport2010VersionTelechargeable |archive-date=13 May 2014 }}</ref>
* According to the latest updated French government report "L'Observatoire des sciences et des techniques (OST) 2014", Iran had the world's fastest growth rate in scientific production output in the period between 2002 and 2012, having increased its share of world's total scientific output by +682% in the said period, producing 1.4% of world's total science and ranking 18th globally in terms of its total scientific output. Meanwhile, Iran also ranks first globally for having increased its share in the world's high impact (top 10%) publications by +1338% between 2002 and 2012 and similarly ranks first globally as well for increasing its global scientific visibility through having its share of international citations increased by +996% in the above period. Iran also ranks first globally in this report for the growth rate in scientific production of individual fields by having increased its science output in [[Biology]] by +1286%, in [[Medicine]] by +900%, in [[Ecology|Applied biology and Ecology]] by +816%, in [[Chemistry]] by +356%, in [[Physics]] by +577%, in [[Space sciences]] by +947%, in [[Engineering|Engineering sciences]] by +796% and in [[Mathematics]] by +556%.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.obs-ost.fr/sites/default/files/espace_internat_publications_scientifiques.xls |title=Archived copy |access-date=10 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513012402/http://www.obs-ost.fr/sites/default/files/espace_internat_publications_scientifiques.xls |archive-date=13 May 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.obs-ost.fr/sites/default/files/Sommaires_Edito_International_maj_Mai2014.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=10 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924054610/http://www.obs-ost.fr/sites/default/files/Sommaires_Edito_International_maj_Mai2014.pdf |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.obs-ost.fr/fr/frindicateur/analyses_et_indicateurs_de_reference |title=Observatoire des Sciences et Techniques |access-date=2014-05-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513012350/http://www.obs-ost.fr/fr/frindicateur/analyses_et_indicateurs_de_reference |archive-date=13 May 2014 }}</ref>
* A [[bibliometric]] analysis of [[West Asia|middle east]] was released by professional division of [[Thomson Reuters#Operations|Thomson Reuters]] in 2011 titled "Global Research Report Middle East" comparing scientific research in middle eastern countries with that of the world for the first decade of this century. The study findings rank Iran at second position after Turkey in terms of total scientific output with Turkey producing 1.9% of the world's total science output while Iran's share of world's total science output was at 1.3%. Total scientific output of 14 countries surveyed including Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen was just 4% of the world's total output; with Turkey and Iran producing the bulk of scientific research in the region. In terms of growth in scientific research, Iran was ranked first with 650% increase of its share in world's output and Turkey second with a growth of 270%. Turkey increased its research publication rate from 5000 papers in year 2000 to nearly 22000 in the year 2009, while Iran's research publication started from a lower point of 1300 papers in year 2000 and grew to 15000 papers in the year 2009 with a notable surge in Iranian growth after year 2004. In terms of production of highly [[cited]] papers, 1.7% of all Iranian papers in mathematics and 1.3% of papers in engineering fields attained highly cited status defined as most cited top 1% of world's publications, exceeding the world's average in [[Impact factor|citation impact]] for those fields. Overall Iran produces 0.48% of the world's highly cited output in all fields just about half of what would be expected for parity at 1%. Comparative figures for other countries following Iran in the region are: Turkey producing 0.37% of the world's highly cited papers, Jordan 0.28%, Egypt 0.26% and Saudi Arabia 0.25%. External scientific collaboration accounted for 21% of the total research projects undertaken by researchers in Iran with largest collaborators being United States at 4.3%, United Kingdom at 3.3%, Canada 3.1%, Germany 1.7% and Australia at 1.6%.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://researchanalytics.thomsonreuters.com/m/pdfs/globalresearchreport-aptme.pdf | title=Archived copy | access-date=8 March 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110626183423/http://researchanalytics.thomsonreuters.com/m/pdfs/globalresearchreport-aptme.pdf | archive-date=26 June 2011 | url-status=live }}</ref>
* In 2011, world's oldest scientific society and Britain's leading academic institution, the [[Royal Society]] in collaboration with [[Elsevier]] published a study named "Knowledge, networks and nations" surveying global scientific landscape. According to this survey Iran has the world's fastest growth rate in science and technology. During the period 1996–2008, Iran had increased its scientific output by 18 folds.<ref name="bare_url" /><ref name="universityworldnews" /><ref name="google" /><ref name="msnbc" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://vikno.eu/eng/sciense-and-technology/sciense-and-technology/the-future-science-will-be-set-by-china-and-iran.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110403090915/http://vikno.eu/eng/sciense-and-technology/sciense-and-technology/the-future-science-will-be-set-by-china-and-iran.html |archive-date=2011-04-03 |title=The future science will be set by China and Iran |date=30 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/a8f6695e-5953-11e0-bc39-00144feab49a.html#axzz1HyjSRv9x |title=/ Technology / Science{{Snd}} Emerging world on science fast-track |work=Financial Times|location=London |date=28 March 2011 |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019013526/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/a8f6695e-5953-11e0-bc39-00144feab49a.html#axzz1HyjSRv9x |archive-date=19 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Brown |first=Mark |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011-03/29/china-leads-new-science-giants |title=China, Turkey and Iran emerge as scientific giants (Wired UK) |publisher=Wired.co.uk |date=5 August 2011 |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016160758/http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011-03/29/china-leads-new-science-giants |archive-date=16 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://bulletin.sciencebusiness.net/news/74914/New-countries-emerge-as-major-players-in-science |title=New countries emerge as major players in science |publisher=Science Business |date=29 March 2011 |access-date=21 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003032405/http://bulletin.sciencebusiness.net/news/74914/New-countries-emerge-as-major-players-in-science |archive-date=3 October 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/03/29/china-and-iran-challenging-science-superpowers-of-us-and-britain-115875-23022764/ |title=China and Iran challenging science "superpowers" of US and Britain |work=Daily Mirror |location=UK |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920040002/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/03/29/china-and-iran-challenging-science-superpowers-of-us-and-britain-115875-23022764/ |archive-date=20 September 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://royalsociety.org/policy/reports/knowledge-networks-nations/ |title=Knowledge, networks and nations report |publisher=Royal Society |date=28 March 2011 |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902105838/http://royalsociety.org/policy/reports/knowledge-networks-nations/ |archive-date=2 September 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20291-iran-is-top-of-the-world-in-science-growth.html |title=Iran is top of the world in science growth – science-in-society – 28 March 2011 |magazine=New Scientist |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005224553/http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20291-iran-is-top-of-the-world-in-science-growth.html |archive-date=5 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* As per [[WIPO]]'s report titled "World Intellectual Property Indicators 2013", Iran ranked 90th for [[patent]]s generated by Iranian nationals all over the world, 100th in [[industrial design]] and 82nd in [[trademark]]s, positioning Iran below [[Jordan]] and [[Venezuela]] in this regard but above [[Yemen]] and [[Jamaica]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/freepublications/en/intproperty/941/wipo_pub_941_2013.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-05-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610115933/http://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/freepublications/en/intproperty/941/wipo_pub_941_2013.pdf |archive-date=10 June 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wipo.int/ipstats/en/wipi/index.html|title=Launch of World Intellectual Property Indicators – 2015 Edition|access-date=2 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412190020/http://www.wipo.int/ipstats/en/wipi/index.html|archive-date=12 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
*According to the [[Australian Strategic Policy Institute]] (ASPI) in 2023, Iran ranks among the top 10 countries in future critical technology.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://en.mehrnews.com/news/199891/Iran-ranks-in-top-ten-future-science-technology-superpower | title=Iran ranks in top ten future science, technology superpower | date=25 April 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://techtracker.aspi.org.au/our-report/ | title=Our Report &#124; Techtracker ASPI }}</ref>

==Iranian journals listed in the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI)==
{{See also|Media of Iran}}

According to the [[Institute for Scientific Information]] (ISI), Iranian researchers and scientists have published a total of 60,979 scientific studies in major international journals in the last 19 years (1990–2008).<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web |url=http://rie.ir/index.aspx?siteid=82&pageid=670&newsview=11268 |title=پژوهشگاه مطالعات وزارت آموزش و پرورش |publisher=Rie.ir |date=17 June 2009 |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317152335/http://rie.ir/index.aspx?siteid=82&pageid=670&newsview=11268 |archive-date=17 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="jamejamonline1">{{cite web |url=http://www.jamejamonline.ir/en/newstext.aspx?newsnum=100909588824 |title=JamejamOnline.ir |publisher=JamejamOnline.ir |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929143247/http://www.jamejamonline.ir/en/newstext.aspx?newsnum=100909588824 |archive-date=29 September 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Iran science production growth (as measured by the number of publications in science journals) is reportedly the "fastest in the world", followed by Russia and China respectively (2017/18).<ref name="ReferenceD">{{Cite web| url=http://en.mehrnews.com/news/136116/Iran-science-production-shows-world-s-fastest-growth| title=Iran science production shows world's fastest growth| date=2018-07-28| access-date=28 July 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728190847/http://en.mehrnews.com/news/136116/Iran-science-production-shows-world-s-fastest-growth| archive-date=28 July 2018| url-status=live}}</ref>

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| style="text-align:left; font-size:100%;" |[[#Science in modern Iran|Scientific growth in Iran]]<ref name="sciencewatch.com"/><ref name="autogenerated2"/><ref name="jamejamonline1"/><ref name="farsnews1">{{cite web |url=http://english.farsnews.ir/newstext.php?nn=9010173781 |title=Fars News Agency:: VP Stresses Iran's Astonishing Scientific Achievements |publisher=English.farsnews.ir |access-date=7 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://swap.stanford.edu/20120213062901/http%3A//english.farsnews.ir/newstext.php?nn%3D9010173781 |archive-date=13 February 2012 }}</ref><ref name="ReferenceD"/>
|}
</div>

[[File:Natureestaki.jpg|right|thumb|500px|Iranian neuroscientists have also published in highly acclaimed journals. This nature paper is an example of such a research work carried out by Iranians who did their majority training and research in Iran]]
* ''Acta Medica Iranica''
* ''Applied Entomology and PhytoPathology''
* ''Archives of Iranian Medicine''
* ''[[DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences]]''
* ''Iranian Biomedical Journal''
* ''Iranian Journal of BioTechnology''
* ''Iranian Journal of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering''
* ''Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences-English''
* ''Iranian Journal of Plant Pathology''
* ''Iranian Journal of Science and Technology''
* ''Iranian Polymer Journal''
* ''Iranian Journal of Public Health''
* ''Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research''
* ''Iranian Journal of Reproductive Medicine''
* ''Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine''
* ''Iranian Journal of Fuzzy Systems''
* ''Journal of Entomological Society of Iran''
* ''Plant Pests & Diseases Research Institute Insect Taxonomy Research Department Publication''
* ''The Journal of the Iranian Chemical Society''
* ''Rostaniha (Botanical Journal of Iran)''

==See also==

===General===
{{Portal|Iran|Science|Technology}}
* [[Higher Education in Iran]]
* [[List of Iranian Research Centers]]
* [[List of contemporary Iranian scientists, scholars, and engineers]] (modern era)
* [[List of Iranian scientists]]
* [[Economy of Iran]]
* [[Industry of Iran]]
* [[Iran's brain drain]]
* [[International rankings of Iran]]
* [[Intellectual Movements in Iran]]
* [[Base isolation|Base isolation from Iran]]
* [[Science in newly industrialized countries]]
* [[Composite Index of National Capability]]
* [[Islamic Golden Age]]
* [[Persian philosophy]]

===Prominent organizations===
* [[Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran]]
* [[Atomic Energy Organization of Iran]]
* [[Iranian Space Agency]]
* [[Iranian Chemists Association]]
* [[The Physical Society of Iran]]
* [[Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology]]
* [[Iran National Science Foundation]]

== Sources ==
{{Free-content attribution

 | title = UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030
| author = UNESCO
| publisher = UNESCO Publishing
| page numbers = 387–409
| source = 
| documentURL = http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002354/235406e.pdf
| license statement URL = 
| license = CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="unctad">{{Cite web |url=http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/dtlstict2016d3_summary_en.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=7 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220085442/http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/dtlstict2016d3_summary_en.pdf |archive-date=20 December 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

==External links==
* [https://www.msrt.ir Ministry of Science, Research and Technology Of Iran Official Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915211637/http://www.msrt.ir/ |date=15 September 2012 }}
* [https://www.ict.gov.ir/ Ministry of Information and Communications Technology of Iran Official Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126053424/https://www.ict.gov.ir/ |date=26 January 2022 }}
* [http://www.sid.ir/ Iranian scientific publications online digital archive]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160130184533/http://www.photoparsi.com/51/388-best-of-iran-s-2011-research-and-technology Best of Iran's 2011 research and technology]
;Reports
* [http://unctad.org/en/docs/iteipc20057_en.pdf Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Review – Iran.] [[United Nations Conference on Trade and Development]] (2005)
* [http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/dtlstict2016d3_summary_en.pdf Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Review – Iran.] [[United Nations Conference on Trade and Development]] (2016)

{{History of science}}
{{S&T in Iran}}
{{Asia topic|Science and technology in}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Science And Technology in Iran}}
[[Category:Science and technology in Iran| ]]
[[Category:Science in the medieval Islamic world|Iran]]
[[Category:History of Iran by topic]]
[[Category:Economy of Iran]]
[[Category:Education in Iran]]