Author: Hamed Amanollahi

In a significant step toward strengthening scientific and technological ties between Iran and Iraq, a high-level Iraqi delegation, led by Mr. Ali Razooqi, Senior Assistant and Deputy Chief of Staff to the Iraqi Prime Minister, accompanied by Dr. Yasser Al-Hajjaj, Cultural Attaché of the Republic of Iraq in Iran, met with Dr. Mousavi, President of Sharif University of Technology, on Monday, June 9, 2025. The meeting, held at the request of the Iraqi delegation, included Dr. Mousavi, the Vice President for Research and Technology, the Director of International Cooperation, several esteemed faculty members, and the Vice President of the university’s Science and Technology Park.

Dr. Mousavi welcomed the guests, providing a brief history of Sharif University and emphasizing the importance of deepening academic and scientific collaboration with Iraqi universities and institutions. He highlighted recent initiatives, such as the establishment of the Baghdad University Science and Technology Park and the creation of an international branch of Sharif University in Iraq, as examples of these growing ties. Dr. Abdekhodaie, President of the Strategic Council for International Affairs, then elaborated on the university’s history, its distinguished faculty and student body, robust educational and research infrastructure, and its connections with industry and the Science and Technology Park.

Mr. Ali Razooqi described Iran as a “brother nation” and a model for self-reliance on the global stage. He underscored the strategic importance of enhancing academic relations with Iran’s leading universities, particularly Sharif University of Technology, and affirmed that the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office is fully committed to fostering scientific collaboration and removing any obstacles to partnerships with prominent Iraqi universities. Noting Sharif University’s distinguished standing in international rankings, Mr. Razooqi expressed Iraq’s interest in offering government-funded scholarships to outstanding Iraqi students to study at Sharif University through a dedicated committee for advancing higher education in Iraq.

The Iraqi academic delegation, comprising Dr. Kamal Latif, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Energy Affairs; Dr. Mahmoud Mahdi, Representative of the Prime Minister’s Office for Scientific and Artificial Intelligence Affairs; Dr. Noor, Scientific Representative of the Ministry of Water Resources; Dr. Haidar Mohammed, Professor of Environmental Engineering; and Dr. Hassan, Member of the Communications and Information Technology Committee, participated in a specialized session. The session featured presentations by Sharif University faculty members, including Dr. Khalaj, Dr. Bayat, Dr. Talaeizadeh (representing Dr. Alasti), and Dr. Sadeghi, covering topics such as artificial intelligence, communication networks, modern agriculture, and geo-environmental hazards.

Sharif University of Technology’s Public Relations Office reports that a delegation from the university conducted a two-day visit to Iraq on May 28-29, 2025, to foster academic collaboration with the University of Baghdad and Al-Farahidi University.

On the first day, the delegation met with Dr. Bahaa Ibrahim Ansaf, President of the University of Baghdad, Dr. Suhail Najm Abdullah, The Assistant President of the University of Baghdad for Scientific Affairs, and Dr. Ali Hussein Al-Tamimi, head of the university’s upcoming Science and Technology Park. Discussions focused on enhancing academic and research cooperation, including joint master’s and PhD programs, student exchanges, and the development of academic and educational initiatives. Both parties explored opportunities for sharing expertise with international universities and co-publishing scientific research. They agreed to draft a working document outlining the framework for academic and research collaboration. Additionally, a memorandum of understanding was signed, enabling Sharif University to provide consultation and support for establishing the University of Baghdad’s Science and Technology Park, with a proposed operational plan for the coming months.

On the second day, the delegation met with representatives of Al-Farahidi University’s leadership, including Mr. Mohsen Al-Mandalawi, President of the Board of Directors, Dr. Batoul Muwaffaq Kazem, The Vice President of the Board of Directors, and Dr. Tareq Hafdhi Al-Khayat, President of the university. Building on a year of prior engagements, both sides agreed to pursue necessary approvals for launching two joint engineering programs—Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering—taught by Sharif University faculty. Following the meeting, steps were initiated to secure final approvals from Iraq’s Ministry of Higher Education, with plans to announce and promote student enrollment starting late June 2025.

Dr. Qadirkulovich, President of the Jizzakh Polytechnic Institute, along with the Director of International Cooperation of the institute and a representative from the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Iran, visited the Laboratory Services Center and several Technological offices and Centers based in the Sharif University of Technology Services Complex.

On the sidelines of the visit, the delegation presented their capabilities and proposals in eight areas of cooperation during a meeting held on Monday, 26 May 2025, with Dr. Mousavi, the President of the University, and other relevant officials.

Considering the university's priorities and the country’s needs, several areas of collaboration were agreed upon, including the development and production of solar panels, addressing research challenges in the basalt mining industry, activation of joint research grants between the two countries, and the exchange of faculty members, researchers, and students.

Dr. Shahrukh Daliev, the First Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan, led a delegation in a meeting with Prof. Mousavi, the President of Sharif University of Technology. During the meeting, both parties emphasized mutual collaborations between Sharif University of Technology and Uzbekistan's top four universities. Additionally, discussions were held regarding the exchange of experiences in the field of science and technology parks, as well as the establishment of a branch of Sharif University of Technology in Tashkent. The meeting concluded with the signing of a cooperation agreement by both parties.

On June 12, 2024, Sharif University of Technology hosted a meeting aimed at fostering economic cooperation. Attendees included representatives from the Tehran Governorate, a delegation from Tomsk province in Russia, and the top five universities in Tehran. The Russian delegation began their visit by touring Dr. Roosta Azad Technology Services Complex, gaining insight into the complex's technological service offerings. Following the tour, a collaborative meeting was held, bringing together representatives from Tehran's universities, Sharif University of Technology's Vice President of Research and Technology, deans from the faculties of Energy Engineering, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, and Computer Engineering, as well as directors of International Affairs from Sharif University of Technology. The focus of the meeting was to identify potential areas for mutual collaboration.

On Monday 24 May 1403, a group of representatives from St. Petersburg University of Russia visited Sharif University of Technology and got to know the educational, scientific and research environment of the university.

At first, the Russian guests took a tour of the offices and centers located in the university's Technology Service Complex, as well as the Central Laboratory, and got to know the activities of these centers closely. Then, they visited the research activities in the field of solar panels by visiting the Department of Physics. Then, the Russian team visited facilities, equipment and research capacities in the Nano Research Institute, as well as the Department of Materials Engineering and Advanced Materials and Nano Laboratory.

After the tour of the university, the Russian delegation met and talked with Dr. Mousavi and a group of vice presidents and managers of the university. In this meeting, the cooperation between Sharif University of Technology and Russian universities, including; Saint Petersburg University and Tomsk Polytechnic University was discussed. They also exchanged opinions on holding joint courses, student and professor exchanges and publishing joint articles.

According to the SUT’s Public Relations Department, on Thursday, May 20, 2024, Dr. Ibrahim Hayawi, president of Iraqi University of Warith Al-Anbiyaa, got acquainted with SUT’s educational, research, and technological spaces.

During a meeting that was held in the presence of Dr. Mousavi, the president of Sharif University of Technology, Dr. Ibrahim Hayavi, and a group of vice presidents and managers from both universities, Dr. Mousavi, talked about greater interaction and the development of relations between Iran and Iraq. He also spoke about exchange student programs between these two countries and creating opportunities for students for pilgrimage programs in Iraq.

Also, the university's educational, scientific, and technological activities in Sharif Innovation District and the innovation centers were discussed. Both parties expressed their satisfaction with this connection and emphasized strengthening this scientific link in the form of joint research projects, the presence of more Iraqi students at Sharif University of Technology, and holding educational and research courses.

Then, the Iraqi delegation visited the companies located in Shahid Sattari Innovation Complex, the exhibition of the university's technological achievements in the Technology Services Complex, the equipment of the university's central laboratory, as well as the 3D printer workshop located in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.

On February 28th 2024, Deputy Minister of Science and Education of the Russian Federation and a delegation of Russian university rectors, including Southern Federal University, Altai State Technical University, and Nizhny Novgorod State University visited SUT.

Initially, Russian delegation visited Sharif Technology Services Complex and got familiar with technological offices and centers at this complex. Then they took a visit of Superconductor Electronics Research Laboratory at the Electrical Engineering Department.

Next, the Russian went the President’s Office and were given a sincere welcome by the president of university and other vice-presidents.

At this session, the vice-president of education, vice-president of research and technology, and the deans of the School of Computer Science, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering School, Energy Engineering Department and Sharif Convergence Science and Technology participated.

Both sides expressed their enthusiastic interests of collaboration and stressed to strengthen this bilateral cooperation between SUT and Russian universities in the fields of joint paper publications, joint research programs, and etc.

On February 27th, 2024, the ambassador of India Mr. H.E. Rudra Gaurav Shrestha, and the cultural affairs attaché of the embassy in Tehran visited SUT and got familiar with the educational, research, and innovation atmosphere at SUT.

This session was held at the president’s office of SUT, the director of the International Affairs Office, and a group of faculty members from departments such as chemical and petroleum engineering and Sharif Institute of Convergence Science and Technology also attended this session.

At this meeting, the president of SUT warmly welcomed the Indian delegation and elaborated on the close collaboration between SUT and some Indian universities and institutes in terms of joint paper publications, MoUs, and also Indian students who are studying in the main campus and Kish International campus.

At the end of the session, the Indian delegation took a visit to the Institute of Nano-science and Technology.

On January 6th, 2024, a scientific and academic delegation from some universities including Bukhara State University, Tashkent State Agrarian University, Tashkent State Agrarian, Karshi State University, Termez State University, Urgench State University, and the Ministry of High Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan visited SUT.

In the course of this session with the president of SUT, the director of the International Affairs Office, and the Vice-president of Education Affairs, Vice- President for Science and Technology of SUT both sides explored some fields of collaboration in terms of exchange programs, students and professors exchange, and also implementation of a SUT branch in Uzbekistan. Both sides signed some MoUs to activate the mentioned issues in the near future.

At the end of the session, the delegation took a tour of Sharif Technology Services Complex, the Institute of Nano Science and Nano Technology, Sharif Innovation Tower, and HPDS knowledge-based company in Sharif Innovation District.