Leveraging Islamic countries’ potential to expand technological cooperation in medicinal plants

Pars Today – A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Iran’s Vice Presidency for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy’s Development Headquarters for Medicinal Plants and Traditional Medicine and the Islamic World Network of Nanotechnology (INN).

The MoU aims at expanding scientific and technological cooperation, networking among research centers and knowledge-based companies, and promoting the international presence of Iran’s traditional medicine capabilities and herbal and natural products.

According to Pars Today, citing IRIB, the Development Headquarters for Medicinal Plants and Traditional Medicine and the Islamic World Network of Nanotechnology (INN), through the signing of the memorandum, emphasized leveraging the shared capabilities of Islamic countries to expand scientific, research and technological cooperation in the fields of medicinal plants, Iranian traditional medicine, and traditional, herbal and natural products.

The cooperation aims to establish and strengthen a network of influential international stakeholders, identify and utilize the expertise of specialists and knowledge-based companies, facilitate connections among scientific and research centers, and provide a platform for implementing joint projects and research. Producing and exchanging educational and scientific content and utilizing the specialized capabilities of countries participating in scientific networks of the Islamic world are among the other areas outlined in the cooperation.

A key component of the memorandum is leveraging the capacity of the Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). With a focus on promoting scientific and technological cooperation among Islamic countries, technology transfer, strengthening ties among universities and research centers, and facilitating joint programs, the organization can serve as a platform for expanding international cooperation in medicinal plants and Iranian traditional medicine.

Under the agreement, the Islamic World Network of Nanotechnology will also help facilitate connections between domestic capabilities and international scientific and technological networks. This capacity could help identify scientific and technological partners in Islamic countries, establish channels of cooperation between knowledge-based companies and research centers, develop joint projects, and facilitate the international presence of Iranian products and technologies.