Iran Nanotechnology Policy Studies Committee

The Iran Nanotechnology Policy Studies Committee was established in 2001 and was renamed the Iranian Nanotechnology Initiative Council (INI) in 2003. It is a committee for studying nanotechnology trends and defining a direction for nanotechnology development in Iran. Iran began its activities to develop nanotechnology early in 2001, when then Iranian president Mohammad Khatami made the Technology Cooperation Office (TCO) responsible for the coordination of developmental activities for nanotechnology in the country. In 2003, after extensive studies and analysis, TCO recommended creation of a council and was given the task of defining a direction for nanotechnology development in Iran. INI was established to advice on new directions. They mobilized quickly and introduced the first national nanotechnology development plan titled, “Future Strategy.” The plan was then adopted by the cabinet ministers. Its mission was to gain access among the 15 advanced nations in nanotechnology in order to achieve economic development for the country.

Since 2001, and especially after formation of the INI council, numerous activities were organized in nanoscience and nanotechnology, with the following being the most prominent ones:

• Networking between local laboratories with instruments of common interest
• Recognizing Iranian scientists active in nanotechnology and supporting their activities
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• Providing financial incentives to Iranian scientists to publish nanotechnology articles in international scientific journals
• Identifying international partners for research and scientific collaborations
• Publicizing advances in nanotechnology in Iran and other countries
• Offering of advanced nanotechnology courses in master's and Ph.D. programs throughout Iranian universities

INI aims to gain access to a fair share of the international trade using nanotechnology, laying the proper groundwork for enjoying the benefits of nanotechnology, to upgrade the Iranian quality of life, and to institutionalize sustainable and dynamic development of science, technology, and nanoindustry.

INI is headed by the vice president (as of July 2009, the deputy president for science and technology affairs) and the head of the Management and Programming Organization and comprises the ministers of agriculture, economics, and finance affairs, health and medical education, industry and mines, petroleum, science, research and technology, as well as five senior nanotechnology experts chosen by the head of the council. The councils' secretary is the head of the presidential office for technological cooperation.

The main duties of INI include passing goals, approaches, strategies, and national plans for developing nanotechnology in the country. Its major tasks are allocation between sectors and synchronizing them inside the framework of the national long-term plan. INI has complete supervision on the realization of the defined goals and plans.

TCO/INI suggested the National Iranian Nanotechnology Initiative (NINI) Program (approved by the Iranian cabinet in July 2005) that subsequently established the Nanotechnology Laboratory Network (NBN) supporting researchers and industries in the field.