Note by H.E. Mr. Seyed Hossein Sadat Meidani
Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Romania
On the Occasion of International Day of Science, Technology and Innovation for the South
Praise Lord of Life, God the Wise
A worthier notion shall not arise
Ferdowsi, the Great Poet of Iran, (935 – 1020–26)
Iran has a rich history of scientific and technological achievements, dating back to ancient times when scholars like Al-Khwarizmi and Avicenna laid the foundation for modern mathematics and medicine. From the development of algebra to advancements in astronomy and healthcare, Iran’s contributions have shaped global knowledge for centuries. Today, despite facing many international impediments, Iran continues to emerge as a leader in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and nanotechnology. This remarkable journey, from ancient innovations to modern breakthroughs, underscores Iran’s enduring legacy and its ambitious vision to be at the forefront of global science and technology.
Iran and Science
Throughout history contributions of Iranian scientists to science and technology is so extensive that it is not possible to cover them in a single note.[1] To offer just a few random examples, al-Khwarizmi, was a polymath. He has been described as the father or founder of algebra. His name gave rise to the English terms algorism and algorithm[2]. In 1000 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. The modern hospital system was developed based on the ideals and traditions of the Iranian academic centres like Gundeshapur University which was established in 3rd century AD[3]. The Canon of Medicine, written by Avicenna in 1025, is an encyclopaedia of medicine in five books which was used as a standard medical textbook through the 18th century in Europe.[4]
Iran has made considerable advances in science and technology through education and training, despite international restrictions in almost all aspects of research during the past 45 years too. The Iranian scientists have contributed greatly to science and technology but unfortunately, the mainstream media usually depicts a negative image of science and development in Iran. Today, Iran is among the advanced countries in many science and technology fields. It takes only a quick review of the recent news for the past few months to see that Iranians are shining at international science and technology competitions. With the 2024 scientific Olympiads over, Iran emerged third overall in five Olympiads with the highest number of participating countries.[5] For example, Iranian students ranked 1st in 17th International Olympiad on Astronomy, Astrophysics.[6] Iran has grabbed a gold medal, two silver medals, and a bronze medal at the 36th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI), ranking 9th among 96 countries.[7] Iran’s student team, including 4 high school students, won one silver and three bronze medals in the International Nuclear Science Olympiad (INSO) contest held in the Philippines.[8]
In terms of science production, Iran is ranked 15th in 2021. In the field of aerospace, it ranks 13th in the world. Iran ranks 15th in medicine and 7th in pharmaceuticals. For example, it was among the 10 countries was able to produce its own national Covid-19 vaccines. According to statistics, more than 155 million doses of corona vaccine have been injected in Iran (Almost 70 percent of population).
Additionally, in production of Nano medicine, Iran is on 7th ranking in the world. Iran stands among the top 5 countries that could produce high-power lasers. Meanwhile, Iran has reached the 4th place in the world in the production of infertility treatment sciences and the 15th place in the world in ophthalmology. Iranian surgeons are among the top 10 countries in the world in heart and heart valve surgeries. Additionally, my country is on the fourth place in robotics. Iran has reached the 13th rank in the world in marine industries, while it ranks second in the growth of science with an acceleration of 11 times more than the world average.
Iran’s National AI Strategy
Iran is now striving to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into governance and everyday life. To achieve this, Iran has adopted a comprehensive National Strategy Document on AI and inaugurated the National AI Organization on 23 July 2024. This initiative aims to position Iran among the top 10 countries harnessing AI for governance, digital economy, and entrepreneurship by 2034. The National Strategy Document emphasizes cultural values and international cooperation, aiming to transform Iran into a smart nation. Article 107 of Iran’s 7th Development Plan underscores this commitment, stating that digitalization alone is insufficient and that true transformation requires leveraging AI’s full capabilities.
The newly established National AI Organization is tasked with driving Iran’s AI initiatives, fostering innovation, and stimulating economic growth across various sectors. A strategic council, comprising ministers, institutional heads, and other stakeholders, will oversee the strategy’s implementation, ensuring coordination and monitoring. Article 5 of the National Strategy Document mandates that various ministries and governmental bodies develop the technical, legal, regulatory, and standard frameworks necessary to guide and accelerate AI adoption. These entities are also responsible for organizing AI education to enhance workforce skills, build human capital, and foster international collaboration with like-minded countries. Additionally, the strategic council is charged with supporting and commercializing AI initiatives, as well as facilitating business operations for companies in the AI sector.
Rather than functioning as a large state-run entity, the National AI Organization is designed to be agile, focusing on creating data line farms, developing large-scale software solutions, and compiling actionable AI data for government use.
This marks the beginning of a new era for Iran, as it seeks to solidify its position as a global leader in AI research and application, fueling the nation’s development and technological advancement.
Iran AI Rankings: Iran Emerges as a Global Leader
AI is a machine’s ability to perform the cognitive functions we associate with human minds, such as perceiving, reasoning, learning, interacting with the environment, problem-solving, and even exercising creativity.[9] AI is predicted to transform the world by 2030.[10]
According to one report Iran has gained the 33rd global ranking in the field of AI.[11] According to another report released by the Web of Science database Iran is one of the leading countries among the Islamic countries in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI).[12] This recognition highlights Iran’s significant contributions to AI research over the past two decades, as analyzed through the Web of Science portal.
The ranking released in July 2024, places Iran prominently among global leaders in several AI sub-fields:
| Sub-field | Global Ranking | Ranking Among Islamic Countries |
| Neural Network | 6 | 1 |
| Artificial Intelligence | 16 | 2 |
| Computer Vision | 25 | 4 |
| Natural Language Processing | 25 | 5 |
| Machine Learning | 17 | 2 |
| Robotics | 27 | 2 |
| Multi-agent System | 12 | 1 |
The report also highlights that Iran’s growth rate in AI research and scientific production has significantly accelerated in recent years. The following chart illustrates this trend, with the green line representing the growth rate of AI research in the subfield of Neural Networks. Other lines, from top to bottom, show the growth rates in Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Multi-agent Systems.
|
AI research Growth Rate in Iran Green: Neural Networks Yellow: Machine Learning Blue: Artificial Intelligence Navy Blue: Multi-agent Systems |
Iran has consistently demonstrated its willingness to engage in international cooperation, including partnerships with countries like Romania, to share and exchange scientific knowledge and experiences. However, Iranians are highly resistant to threats and intimidation, and unilateral restrictions have never deterred the country from advancing its scientific pursuits domestically. As history has shown, Iran is a reliable and collaborative partner in any scientific endeavour, provided that cooperation is founded on reciprocal respect and mutual interests.
[1] cf. Ali Kayhani, A Brief History of Science and Medicine in Iran, 2019.
[2] https://study.com/academy/lesson/mathematician-al-khwarizmi-facts-contributions.html
[3] https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/a-medical-history-of-persia-and-the-eastern-caliphate/903C69EEE9B3867991D46E654D15C63C
[4] https://www.qnl.qa/en/blogs/12492
[5] https://en.irna.ir/news/85590686/Iran-secures-third-place-in-2024-international-Olympiads
[6] https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/08/27/732176/Iran-students-win-first-place-IOAA-event-Brazil
[7] https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/503351/Iranian-students-win-colorful-medals-at-IOI-2024
[8] https://www.rappler.com/bulletin-board/contests-awards/filipino-students-win-golds-silver-medals-international-nuclear-science-competition-august-2024/
[9] https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-is-ai
[10] https://www.forbes.com/sites/robtoews/2024/03/10/10-ai-predictions-for-the-year-2030/
[12] https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/500551/Iran-ranks-first-in-neural-network-technology-among-Islamic-nations
About the author:
H.E. Dr. Seyed Hossein Sadat Meidani is the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Romania.
