Iran concludes 8.5m euro agreement with EU

Thed minister made the remarks late on Saturday during the inaugural ceremony of a number of development projects in the University of Kashan, in Isfahan Province central Iran.

He noted that nine Iranian universities including the University of Tehran, Sharif University of Technology and University of Kashan have initiated scientific and research work with nine reputable universities across the world including those from the Netherlands, Austria, South Korea and the US in line with global joint scientific cooperation.

Meanwhile, some 230 joint research projects are currently being implemented along with the foreign researchers, he said.

“Over 2,800 technologies have been created in the Iranian science and technology campuses in the year to March 20, 2017,' Farhadi said, noting that the number of scientific productions 'raised from 216 in 2015 to 368 in 2016, showing an increase of 70 percent.'

He further noted that some 18 Iranian universities were ranked among the world top 900 universities in 2017, while in 2012, none of the Iranian universities were among the top academic centers in the Netherlands’ Leiden University’s ranking.

Ministry of Science, Research and Technology is seriously pursuing and supporting knowledge-based companies, as some 3,000 knowledge-based companies have so far been registered, most of which were during the tenure of the Government of Hope and Prudence, he said.

Noting that University of Kashan is the first in the country in admitting foreign students, the minister said that it is among the top Iranian universities.

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