Iran grabbed five gold medals and two special awards in the International Science and Invention Fair (ISIF) 2024, which was held in Indonesia from November 5 to 10.

The competition brought together 1,980 teams from 24 countries competing in eight fields including technical- engineering, chemistry and nanotechnology, biotechnology and environment, energy engineering, physics and astronomy, artificial intelligence and technology, social sciences, education, and educational technologies, IRNA reported.

Participants from different countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Romania, the Czech Republic, Russia, Turkmenistan, Iran, Thailand, Vietnam, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, India, Hong Kong, and China attended the competition either online or in person.

Three Iranian teams participated in person, while the two other teams attended the competition virtually.

The team made up of Ilia Majidzadeh and Parsa Karimi won a gold medal in technical engineering; they also received a special award from the Malaysian Invention and Innovation Association.

The other team consisted of Amir Abbas Kavoosi, Amin, and Artin Salari also grabbed a gold medal in technical engineering.

Moreover, Nima Sohrabi won a gold medal in artificial intelligence technology and a special award from Romania.

The team comprised Artin Radmatin, Niki Abtahi, Baran Bahman, Sarina Nosrati, and Mohammad-Hossein Ezzati in environment, and the team consisted of Baran Derakhsandeh Daryasari, Paniz Khaljifar, Golshid Shirvani, and Yasman Saeedi in biotechnology managed to win two gold medals.

Recent achievements

A total of 18 students from Iran attended the 47th WorldSkills Competition, winning 9 medals including a silver medal and medallions for excellence.

The competition was held from September 10 to 15 in Lyon, France. Some 1,500 competitors from more than 65 countries and regions around the world gathered in Lyon to compete in different skills.

Hasan Mohammadi and Hamid-Reza Hamidi won the silver medal, IRIB reported

Iran grabbed a gold medal, two silver medals, and a bronze medal at the 36th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI), ranking 9th among 96 countries.

Hosted in Alexandria, Egypt, the event started on September 1 and concluded on September 8, IRNA reported.

Each participating country selected a team of up to four contestants to represent their nation.

The team competed in a two-day competition. Each contestant competed individually to maximize their score by solving three algorithmic problems within five hours.
Iranian students attended the event online and ranked ninth globally.

In a remarkable achievement, Iranian students won five gold medals, ranking first in the 17th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) which was held from August 17 to 27 in Vassouras, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. / T.T/

The value of Iran’s technical-engineering services stood at $700 million during the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20-October 21), the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) has announced.

According to the chairman of the board of directors of Iran Power Industry Syndicate, Iran has good capacities for exporting technical and engineering services overseas, which is important in realizing an eight percent growth of Iran’s economy.

All the capacities, whether domestic or foreign, should be used optimally to materialize an eight-percent economic growth in the country, Payam Baqeri said in early May. Focusing on exporting technical and engineering services is one of the areas that can help boost the economy to a great extent, he emphasized.

The member of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) went on to say that exporting technical and engineering services can yield foreign currency for the country as well.

In addition, exporting technical and engineering services creates a good opportunity for the country to sell the manufactured products in the target markets, he stated.

Baqeri pointed to a recent inauguration of the Uma Oya Dam and Power Plant in Sri Lanka and added that the multi-purpose project, which was designed and built by Iranian companies, is among the country’s main projects in the field of exporting technical and engineering services.

Exporting technical and engineering services in the current year named “Production Jump with People’s Participation” is a need that should be taken into serious consideration, he stressed.

In late April, the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Iran Water Industry Federation said the country exported $1.8 billion worth of technical and engineering services over the past two years.

Stressing the importance of exporting technical and engineering services, Reza Haj Karim said giant steps have been taken in the administration of President Ebrahim Raisi in the field as compared to the previous years.

Domestic knowledge-based companies have a high potential to export technical and engineering services and can do even better with due support from the government, he underscored.

Haj Karim further noted that Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and East Asian countries are among those whose economic growth is higher than the world average so this Asian market can be a lucrative market for Iranian domestic companies.

As a leading country in the water and electricity industry, Iran stands in the first rank in the region in the export of technical and engineering services in this industry, and this shows the high technical and engineering knowledge and ability of Iranian specialists and companies.

Thanks to the efforts of the country’s specialists in the years after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Iran is now among the top five power plant turbine manufacturing countries in the world. /T.T/

Deputy coordinator of the Iranian Army Air Defense Force told Mehr News Agency that the Islamic Republic has various defense systems to respond to diverse and massive threats.

Air defense creates authority by producing power and this leads to the formation of deterrence against enemy threats, Mohammad Khoshghalb said in an interview with Mehr News Agency.

He stressed that a large part of the Air Defense Force equipment is domestically-built.

“Today, we have a very favorable situation in the field of detection. Regarding radar and detection systems, we use radars in different frequency bands and in different ranges, and we have maximum accuracy and minimum errors in the field of detection,” he underlined, adding that regarding identification, they do a multi-layered operation.

Regarding interception, the Airf Defense Force uses all tools, including ground and air bases to take a suitable tactical action if necessary, he added.

“Today, we have various and numerous engagement systems to respond to diverse and high-volume threats that are in different ranges, variable altitude layers, and frequencies,” Khoshghalb further emphasized.

Regarding defending the defense systems and special and sensitive places, Iran has favorable capacities and facilities, he said elsewhere in his remarks, adding that the country also owns systems that operate very well in detecting hypersonic threats.

Answering a question regarding the Israeli regime’s threats, he said that Iran has previously proven that it will not compromise with anyone who wants to cross its lines, and it would give a serious response to anyone who aims to do so.

“We will not allow the enemy to enter the stage of action,” he emphasized. /MNA/

The two domestically-made satellites launched by Iran on Tuesday in cooperation with Russia have begun transmitting signals, indicating their perfect condition and orbiting.

Receiving the signals has several meanings. Firstly, the launch was completely successful, and secondly, the operation of the satellite and its successful separation from the carrier, said Hossein Shahrabi, the CEO of Omidfaza, a private Iranian company behind the manufacturing and launching of the two satellites.

For us, this reception means the complete opening of the satellite antennas and their successful exit from the carrier, he added.

The satellites named Kowsar and Hodhod were launched into space from eastern Russia using a Soyuz rocket carrier in the early hours of Tuesday and were successfully placed into the 500 km orbit of Earth.

The data and images from the two satellites will be suitable for use in agriculture, land surveying, transport, and the environment.

The great advantage of the Hodhod satellite is that its mission is to create a platform for providing narrowband Internet of Things (IoT) services, with international coverage and in remote areas, including forests, mountains.

The launch reflects the growing space cooperation between Moscow and Tehran as well as another achievement of the Islamic Republic in aerospace technology. / MNA/

The head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said the country has become one of the top countries pocessing nuclear technology thanks to dedicated and round-the-clock efforts of its talented youths.

Addressing a meeting with students and professors of Shiraz University on Saturday, Mohammad Eslami said Iran has achieved considerable progresses in nuclear science and technology.

“Now we have succeeded in obtaining computing codes and software used in the design and construction processes,” the Iranian nuclear chief stressed. These codes are used in the production of atomic products, he underlined.

He noted that great efforts have been made in the AEOI during recent years to pass the “research phase and enter the industrial phase” and this process is advancing.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the AEOI chief stressed the importance of making progress in the fields of science and technology which will lead to the country’s development and progress in all fields.

“With the flourishing of science and technology, deterrence will be created and no one will think of aggression, so it is necessary to make more efforts not to be dominated by others,” the AEOI head added.

Over the past years, Iran has recorded many achievements in its peaceful nuclear energy program in defiance of US sanctions and other hurdles created by the Western countries, he continued.

As one of the first signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Iran has also been closely cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Regarding the unveiling of the light water training reactor simulator in Shiraz, Eslami added this simulator is one of the accelerating capacities in the field of research and human resource training, and students’ skills will increase through continuous work with this simulator. /MNA/

Secretary of Iran Nanotechnology Innovation Council Emad Ahmadvand said that the country’s export of nano-products in the previous Iranian calendar year (ended on March 19) increased 110 percent compared to a year earlier.

As IRIB reported, Iranian producers exported $145 million of nanotechnology products in the mentioned year, according to Ahmadvand.

Iran had exported $69 million worth of nanotechnology products between March 21, 2022, to March 21, 2023, he noted.

The official said the total value of Iran’s nano-products in the previous year stood at $1.62 billion, of which about 91 percent was sold in domestic markets and only nine percent was exported.

Ahmadvand further pointed out that sales of nano-made products in Iran in 2023 increased by 104 percent compared to 2022.

The nano-coating technologies, nano-composites, and nano-catalysts accounted for the major share of the domestic market, he added.

Presently, Iranian-made nanotechnology products are exported to 49 countries in the world, of which about 60 percent is exported to Iraq, Syria, India, China, and Turkey, the secretary of Iran Nanotechnology Innovation Council pointed out./ T.T/

The traditional art of Ghalamzani, the intricate craft of engraving beautiful designs on metals such as copper, brass, silver, and gold, has been recognized with an international Geographical Indication (GI). This prestigious recognition highlights Isfahan as the primary hub for this ancient craft.

Majd-al-Din Taj, the head of the Handicrafts Union of Isfahan, announced the news on Sunday, stating that this global registration is a major achievement for Isfahan’s artisans.

He noted that one of the longstanding concerns of the region’s craft community has been the efforts by other countries to claim certain traditional Iranian crafts and cultural assets as their own. Taj referenced similar disputes, such as with the game of Chogan (polo) and iconic figures like Rumi, an illustrious Persian poet of the 13th-century poet

“This recognition has been a priority for the Handicrafts Union of Isfahan,” Taj explained. “We prepared and defended the necessary proposals, with financial support provided by the Isfahan Chamber of Commerce to cover the costs involved.”

Taj elaborated on the process for GI registration, stating that a craft must first be recognized nationally with a geographical registration before being eligible for global recognition.

“In the past two and a half years, 20 handicraft fields from Isfahan province have received national geographical registrations. The union is now focused on pursuing international recognition for these crafts.”

With the international GI for Ghalamzani, this ancient art joins other globally recognized crafts from Isfahan, including Minakari (enamel work), Qalamkar (block printing on fabric), and Kashi Haft-Rang (seven-colored tilework). This marks the fourth craft from Isfahan to achieve this status.

Taj emphasized the significance of GI status for both artisans and the industry. “The first benefit is that it confirms the authenticity of the craft, ensuring that it is indeed created by our talented artists in Isfahan and Iran,” he said.

Taj added that the recognition also provides marketing and branding advantages, addressing a long-standing issue where countries like Turkey and some Persian Gulf states have sold Iranian handicrafts under their own names.

To further safeguard the authenticity of the artworks, the Handicrafts Union will provide artisans with hologram stickers to be affixed to recognized products. Additionally, the union’s website will feature details about each registered craft, including the artist’s name, further promoting the link between the craft and its origin in Isfahan.

GI is a name or sign used on products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin (e.g., a town or region). The use of a geographical indication, as an indication of the product’s source, is intended as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities, is made according to traditional methods, or enjoys a good reputation due to its geographical origin.

Persian expertise for engraving metal objects

Ghalamzani is the splendid art of engraving superb designs on various kinds of metals such as copper, brass, silver, and gold by the means of carving chisels.

It seems that the history of engraving has not been too far from the time when man discovered and used the metals. The ancient samples are being kept in the National Museum of Iran and other ones across the globe, some dating 3000 years.

Isfahan’s ancient art of Ghalamzani gains international recognition

Isfahan has long been the main hub for ancient expertise, where artists make a range of gold and silver dishes stunningly decorated with animals and scenes of hunting.

A typical artist meticulously uses a chisel and hammer to carve out every detail to engrave vivid scenes. Experts say the artistic movement of the engraver’s hand and the harmonized blows of the hammer and engraving tool will be finally led to creating a unique job.

However, the material will be decorated and embellished after it has already been shaped by another talented artist using a hammer and anvil.

Modern-day metal dish preparation is occasionally handled by machinery due to the difficult work and advancing age of the masters.

Following the artist’s completion of the pattern drawing, the back of the piece is coated with tar and baked along with other materials. Next, the main lines of the design are traced using carving chisels. From this point on, it may take the artist weeks or even months to complete the design, which was once just an idea in his head.

Every piece is meticulously made, requiring the artists to have a great deal of skill, talent, and patience.

Many materials and tools, including chisels, hammers, instruments made by hand, etc. are used by the artisans to emboss and engrave the most intricate and complex designs on different kinds of metals.

Various natural scenes, human and animal forms, floral and plant patterns, hunting grounds, etc. Some of the numerous beautiful images that have been meticulously hand-carved into various types of Ghalamzani pieces include and.

In addition to applying heat, other techniques used to create these works of art include the use of waxes, dyes, sanding, and polishing. The beautiful Ghalamzani handicrafts come in the form of ornamental trays, plates, vases, pitchers, and other utensils. /T.T/

A prehistorical cave has recently been discovered in the Siahkalrud rural district of Rudsar county, which is situated in Gilan province, northern Iran. The cave is a significant find, being the first of its kind situated in a forested area just five kilometers from the Caspian Sea, Veli Jahani, the provincial tourism chief, said on Friday.

The official explained that the cave measures approximately 25 meters in length, and three meters in width, and varies in height from one to three meters due to its unique topography.

Jahani noted that the entrance of the cave appears to be artificially carved, although further studies are needed to confirm this.

The cave’s advantageous location near the Caspian coastline, within the Hyrcanian forests and adjacent to a flowing river, adds to its significance. Preliminary assessments suggest that the cave dates back to prehistoric times.

Jahani emphasized that more detailed studies and research are required to provide accurate assessments of the cave’s historical context.

He also highlighted that Gilan is home to over 150 caves, several of which have been registered as national heritage sites, with many being promoted as tourist attractions in recent years.

The lush green province, which is bounded by the Caspian Sea, is a historically and culturally rich region that offers visitors a diverse range of experiences. With its mild climate, lush greenery, majestic mountains, and stunning coastline, Gilan is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination in northern Iran.

Gilan is also known for its beautiful natural scenery and exotic wildlife. The stunning waterfront of the Anzali lagoon, the majestic Talesh mountains, and the verdant rice paddies are just a few of the natural wonders that attract visitors to the region. /T.T/

The Director General of International Affairs at the Ministry of Health says that the Islamic Republic of Iran has achieved 99% self-sufficiency in pharmaceutical production.

Mohammad Hossein Niknam made the remarks in a closed session on “The impact of economic sanctions on health and health services in the Eastern Mediterranean Region” on the sidelines of the 71st session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean (RC71).

He stated that Iran produces 99 percent of its pharmaceutical needs and is working on developing major vaccines to counteract the effects of unilateral sanctions, adding that these products have advanced production systems and necessary quality guarantees.

Despite humanitarian exemptions for medicines and medical equipment from unilateral sanctions, their delivery to Iran is hindered by the impact of sanctions on financial and commercial activities, transportation and insurance companies, restrictions on international payments, and strict compliance by foreign companies and suppliers, he underlined.

He added that the Islamic Republic of Iran is currently hosting over 5 million refugees and migrants, the majority of whom are Afghans requiring humanitarian assistance. Although approximately 80 percent of them lack legal residency documents, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing comprehensive policies, including providing access to primary health care and education.

Niknam pointed out the economic repercussions of sanctions, financial transaction restrictions, and reduced interest from funders on the government and humanitarian organizations’ ability to carry out projects including providing essential goods and constructing schools and health centers.

Considering the special emphasis of the WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean on “improving access to affordable medical products by providing efficient supply chains at the regional and national levels”, as one of the flagship projects announced, he said, adding that the establishment of a safe and sustainable mechanism by the WHO to ensure equitable and equal access of countries to health goods can be an important step towards reducing the destructive effects of sanctions.

The 71st session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean (RC71) was held in Doha, Qatar. /MNA/

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) director for the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) has called Iran’s health sector a role model in the region.

WHO EMRO is interested in expanding cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran, IRNA quoted Hanna Hasan Balkhi as saying.

The official made the remarks in a meeting with Alireza Raeisi, the Iranian deputy health minister, and Mohammad-Hossein Niknam, the deputy health minister for international affairs, on the sidelines of the Seventy-first session of the WHO EMRO.

A delegation led by Health Minister Mohammad-Reza Zafarqandi participated in the seventy-first session of the WHO EMRO which was held in Doha, Qatar, from October 14 to 17.

“During my short visit to Iran a few months ago, I became familiar with the capabilities of Iran in the health sector; Iran is a role model in health in the region,” Balkhi noted.

“Utilizing full potentials available in the [regional] countries is essential for us, and we will not hesitate to support the implementation of health programs,” the official noted.

Raeisi, for his part, enumerated priorities in the country’s health sector, namely completing the implementation of the family physician program and the electronic health record program.

Referring to non-communicable diseases as another important issue in the health sector, the official said, “Unfortunately, due to the crises in West Asia, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases has increased, and the onset age of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and obesity has lowered.

Therefore, we are planning to control the risk factors from childhood through old age. To achieve the goal, we need to develop plans in cooperation with the World Health Organization.”

EMRO annual meeting

The annual meeting of the member countries of EMRO is one of the most important regional events in which Ministers of health and high-level representatives of the 22 Member States and territories of WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region, as well as representatives of partner organizations and civil society, will meet to discuss priority public health issues, make decisions, and regulations.

During the session, Balkhi was scheduled to present her regional vision for the endorsement of Member States. The vision, which aims to secure the best attainable level of health for everyone in the region, includes 3 flagship initiatives: expanding timely and equitable access to life-saving medicines and vaccines; building a more resilient health workforce, and reducing the morbidity, mortality, and social costs associated with substance use disorders.

The Regional Strategic Operational Plan describes what WHO aims to achieve in the coming 4 years in response to country priorities, and how it will do it.

The Regional Committee also included discussions of priority public health issues, technical papers, updates, and a wide range of panel discussions and side events.

Addressing the seventy-first session of WHO EMRO, Raeisi called on the WHO to establish a working group to address the impacts of unilateral coercive measures on health in the region and to develop possible solutions consistent with basic human rights.

The official further noted coercive sanctions have denied nations the right to access essential medicines and medical tools.

He also highlighted the significance of sharing precise data as well as having a collective commitment to universal health coverage to overcome the challenges in the region.

“To promote regional health, it is essential to identify the capacities, capabilities, and successful strategies in the region,” Raeisi noted.

The official also underscored the importance of political and social leaders’ commitments to public health, strengthening the global leadership of the World Health Organization, recognizing health as the basic ‘public good’, ensuring equal access to health for all countries, and enhancing the role of the World Health Organization in facilitating the share of knowledge and technology to all member states regardless of any political and economic barriers. / T.T/