Iran: Festival Highlights Nanotech Success

EghtesadOnline: The 12th edition of the Nanotechnology Festival and Exhibition (also known as IranNano 2019) wrapped up at Tehran’s International Exhibition Center on Sunday.

News ID: ۷۸۴۹۴۵

14 October 2019

Organized by Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council, the four-day event hosted domestic and foreign institutions, research centers, knowledge-based companies, tech firms, startups and teams active in the field of nanotechnology and tons of visitors to an 11,000 square-meter exhibition space, the event's website reported.

Exhibitors featured their products, technological achievements and laboratory equipment in branches related to nanotechnology in 160 pavilions.

The subcategories of the exhibition included water and environment, energy, healthcare, automotive industry, urban and industrial construction, textile, petroleum, agriculture, packaging, nanomaterial, lab equipment, public education and trade, according to Financial Tribune.

IranNano aimed to discover nanotech research and industrial potentials and introduce them to the national and global markets. Organizer also tried to foster links between companies and customers.

The event was also intended to raise public awareness and know-how related to nanotechnology and its application in different fields.

Several workshops on different topics and specialized conferences were also held on the sidelines of the event.

On the closing day, outstanding scientists, researchers, institutions, labs and other exhibitors were awarded during a ceremony.

Cutting-Edge Technologies

During a visit to the exhibition, Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami said the use of cutting-edge technologies can boost the country's defense sector.

Hatami suggested that defense sector representatives can meet knowledge-based firms active in nanotech fields and outline their challenges.

"Tech firms will also present their capabilities and forge a constructive collaboration with players in the defense sector," he added.

Hatami said that adding nanotechnologies to defense products can boost their efficiency.

In line with the Defense Ministry's policies to enhance cooperation between the defense sector and technology ecosystem, Hatami had signed a deal with Vice President for Science and Technology Sorena Sattari in mid-September to invest 10 trillion rials ($86.2 million) in local knowledge-based companies active in the field of defense technologies.

Academia’s Presence

On the sidelines of the event, Islamic Azad University entered into a research and development agreement with Iran’s High-Tech Laboratory Network, affiliated to the Vice Presidential Office for Science and Technology.

Based on the deal, the two sides agreed to expand educational and research collaborations and share scientific experiences. They also agreed to share their laboratory spaces and equipment to aid the students and experts in their researches.

According to Babak Negahdari, an official with IAU, the exhibition featured over 300 nano-products developed by university students and graduates, 50 of which had already been commercialized.

"The number of exhibited items was 60% higher compared to last year's festival and this illustrates Islamic Azad University's large and productive investments in the field of nanotechnology and relevant studies," he said.

More Agreements

The festival concluded with four more agreements signed between domestic knowledge-based companies and major industrial firms.

The agreements envisaged the commercialization and production of several nanomaterials, including heat-resistant anti-corrosive paint to be used in the automotive industry, antibacterial carpets and special fabrics made of nanoparticles that can transfer electric pulses. The fabrics are used in making electrical muscle stimulation sport wears.

Besides, producing material to improve the impact resistance of packaging was also among the agreements.

Giving support to domestic knowledge-based companies and involving them in conventional industries have been on the government's agenda since President Hassan Rouhani started his first term in office in 2013.

Experts believe that promoting technological products and applying smart solutions in industrial sectors can curb Iran's oil-based revenues and reliance on imports.