Iranian Minister of Information and Communication Technology Seyed Sattar Hashemi called for sustainable implementation of research projects to tap the country’s capacities in the field of ICT and to meet its development needs.
“It is required to carry out targeted
research projects to employ the existing capacities of the country in order to address
the real needs of development in the field of ICT,” he said at a ceremony to
commemorate the Research Week.
The minister termed as a
“strategic necessity” the effective link between science and industry and
urged the ICT Research Institute to tap
its maximum capacity to advance the ministry’s objectives.
“The field of ICT due to its
dynamic nature requires special and sustained focus on research and study because
many subjects that were once taught as textbooks in universities have undergone
substantial changes today,” Hashemi added.
He said that the role of ICT in all
aspects of life, including education, health, and the economy is “undeniable”.
“Successful research centers in
the world are those that have worked alongside the industry and their research
has emerged from the real needs of the industry,” he continued.
“However, when research was
solely aimed at confirming the indicators, it unconsciously took a significant
distance from the real needs of society and industry and prevented us from
achieving the main goals of research.”
The minister welcomed the shift
of focus in the ICT Research Institute by focusing on the needs of the
industry, which he said was “commendable”.
Saying that an operational and
specialized research arm in the telecom field is required, he added, the state
of the country's digital economy is less than satisfactory.
"Iran was one of the
successful digital economy ecosystems in the region in the past decade, but countries
that once took us as their example have surpassed us which requires serious
pathology."
Hashemi noted that the field of
research and development is a multi-sectoral and cross-sectoral field and said,
"Basically, technology is the common language between science and industry.
We must make maximum use of this exceptional opportunity and capacity."
He welcomed achievements in the
field of artificial intelligence and data-driven economy in ICT but cautioned, "Although
numerous efforts have been made in this field, one of the most important points
is to pay attention to ethics and data privacy."
In the ceremony which was held on
Monday, Hashemi unveiled the national Frequency Spectrum Vision Document which prepared
by the ICT Research Institute on behalf of the Communications Regulatory
Authority.
Launching of the Information
Technology Laboratory named after Professor Mohammad Hakak was one of the side
programs of the ceremony in the presence of the ICT minister.
The top researchers of the ICT
Research Institute were also honored by receiving a plaque of appreciation from
the minister. Also Communications Regulatory Authority, and Iran Post Company
were honored as research partner companies of the institute.