Iran–Russia Technology Diplomacy Meeting Held on Sidelines of INOTEX 2025

With the participation of the Russian President’s Special Adviser for Science and Technology, the Iran–Russia Technology Diplomacy Meeting was held on the sidelines of INOTEX 2025, during which the Russian side announced its readiness to expand technological cooperation with Iran.

According to the INOTEX 2025 Media Office, the meeting took place on the final day of the exhibition.

At the meeting, Mehdi Saffari Nia, President of Pardis Technology Park, described the event as a clear indication of both countries’ determination to deepen technological cooperation. He said that one of the core objectives behind establishing the Iran International Innovation District was to expand international technology partnerships, noting that Russia is the first country to engage in this framework.

Highlighting the advantages of operating within the Innovation District, Saffari Nia pointed to the long-standing history of cooperation between Pardis Technology Park and Russia. This cooperation, he said, has included the establishment of joint pharmaceutical companies and the creation of INOTEX as a platform to enhance technological connectivity between countries.

He also announced that the necessary infrastructure has been prepared to facilitate the presence of Russian technology companies within the Iran International Innovation District. In addition, he said plans are underway for Russian universities to establish branches in the district, adding that coordination has already been carried out with Iran University of Science and Technology to host a branch of Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Saffari Nia further stated that the Innovation District is ready to host Russian technology parks and serve as a base for joint Iran–Russia technological initiatives, including frameworks related to BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Andrei Fursenko, Special Adviser to the President of Russia for Science and Technology, expressed satisfaction with his presence at INOTEX 2025, saying that beyond learning about Iranian companies’ technological achievements, he was impressed by the strong enthusiasm of participants to present and explain their innovations.

Referring to both sides’ determination to operationalize existing technology cooperation agreements, Fursenko said that removing barriers to technological collaboration is a key responsibility.

He described the advanced infrastructure of the Iran International Innovation District as a strong foundation for expanding cooperation and noted that technological collaboration contributes not only to economic growth but also to stability and resilience at the national level.

“Our objective is not to replicate existing technologies,” Fursenko said. “We want our technological cooperation to produce outcomes that do not yet exist globally—and to be pioneers in those fields.”

Experts and officials from both countries also shared their perspectives during the meeting. Russian participants emphasized the importance of global leadership in technology, focusing on competitive activities, reducing technology monopolies through international cooperation, leveraging the large Iranian and Russian markets, and expressed readiness to establish a regional office of the Iran International Innovation District.

The Iranian side highlighted the role of technological cooperation in national development, the establishment of technological sovereignty, collaboration in emerging technologies, sharing technological capabilities, leveraging parallel technology associations for synergy, and the need for joint, structured planning to achieve defined objectives.

During the meeting, a technology cooperation memorandum of understanding was signed between Iran’s National Association of Advanced Industries and Knowledge-Based Companies in Industry and Mining and Russia’s Technological Sovereignty Exports Association. The agreement includes provisions for the establishment of two joint technology zones in Iran and Russia and the expansion of bilateral technological cooperation.