TEHRAN (Iran News) –The Turkish ambassador to Iran, Hicabi Kirlangic, and the Iranian deputy science minister, Vahid Haddadi-Asl, have stressed boosting technological cooperation, particularly joint scientific collaboration.

“Iran’s scientific and technological relations have not developed in parallel with its political and economic ones. We are ready to expand our relations with Turkey in study opportunities, student exchange, scholarships, technology, and knowledge-based companies,” IRIB quoted Haddadi-Asl as saying.

During a meeting that was held in Tehran on September 12, Haddadi-Asl highlighted the importance of scientific relations between Iran and Turkey as two neighboring Muslim countries.

“Before the coronavirus outbreak, we had Persian language and literature chairs in Turkey. There are still several [academic] chairs in this country,” he added.

“In case Turkish universities agree to establish a Persian language and literature chair, we are willing to dispatch professors and pay for all expenses.”

“Also, we are ready to receive and review Turkey’s proposals for teaching the Turkish language, needed by companies working in Iran.”

“A large number of Iranian students are studying in Turkey, at their own expense, and we would like to study and solve problems in the joint committee.”

Pointing to the recent earthquakes in Iran and Turkey, he stated, “Several Iranian seismologists are interested in conducting research in the earthquake-affected areas of Turkey, and we hope that with the help of the Turkish embassy, the necessary preparations will be made for their presence in Turkey.”

Kirlangic, who has been working in Iran since February, appreciated Iran for extensive assistance to Turkey as the earthquake hit this country and related that to the close relations between the two nations.

He, for his part, stated: “To conduct scientific research on earthquakes, a joint project can be defined by professors and research centers of the two sides.”

Highlighting the cultural, historical, and religious commonalities of Iran and Turkey, he added scientific cooperation between the two countries should be much more than the current level.

Tehran-Ankara scientific cooperation

On July 20, 2022, emphasizing the need to boost collaboration between knowledge-based companies of the two countries, Hasan Mandal, the president of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) said science and technology parks can also enhance relations, IRNA reported.

He made the remarks in a meeting in Tehran with Haddadi-Asl, calling for industries to help universities and scientific centers upgrade the level of cooperation.

The Iranian official, for his part, said, “47 research projects are being carried out jointly by the two countries, and the two sides are ready to add 30 more projects in different fields, especially in the water sector.”

Science diplomacy

“The Islamic Republic of Iran pursues a policy of sustainable development in science and technology with a forward-looking view of humans and the environment, deputy science minister Peyman Salehi,” said on April 3.

“In this regard, we welcome the interaction and exchange of science and technology with all interested countries and consider science diplomacy as one of the key tools of international cooperation,” he added, IRNA reported.

He made the remarks addressing the 26th session of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) which was held from March 27 – 31 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Science diplomacy is the use of scientific collaborations among nations to address common problems and build constructive international partnerships.

The share of Iranian articles with international participation has had a significant growth of 209 percent during an eight-year period (2013-2020), becoming the Islamic world’s leading country in science diplomacy, according to the Scopus International Citation Database.