580 New Ideas Registered in NAN 

A total of 580 new ideas in the form of research projects, technological knowhow, knowledge-based products and master's and doctoral theses have been registered in the new Ideas and Needs System (NAN), according to the head of the Islamic World Science Citation Center and secretary of the NAN Policy Council.
“According to the latest statistics, 6,321 technological needs have also been registered in this system,” Ahmad Fazelzadeh was also quoted as saying by IRNA.
The new ideas were registered in the form of 276 research projects, 67 knowledge-based products, 49 technological knowhow, 15 master's and doctoral theses, as well as 173 other projects.
The needs were registered in the fields of technology, engineering, basic sciences, humanities, health science, agriculture and natural resources, art and veterinarian science.
The official noted that the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology has launched NAN to compile needs-oriented data on the country’s needs, ideas and capabilities, and the integration of the existing systems of research, technology and innovation in related fields to meet the country’s needs.
“NAN, which was designed with these goals in mind, is a tool for creating a national innovation system that forges a link with the society, private and public sectors, industries, universities, knowledge-based and innovative companies, science and technology parks, and business incubators,” he said.
“In addition to applying the research of scientific centers, this system helps evoke the feeling of participation among all people and creates a national hub for pooling ideas to build a prosperous and developed Iran.”
According to Fazelzadeh, one of the means of realizing these goals is to promote research in universities to address the country's needs by supporting demand-oriented theses and treatises.
“The NAN system provides a basis for defining and writing these treatises. Also, based on the approvals of the Ministry of Science Research and Technology, incentives have been considered for faculty members [to increase motivation],” he said.

Knowledge-Based Firms Inadequate

A total of 8,735 knowledge-based companies are active in the country, according to the Deputy Science, Research and Technology Minister Ali Kheyreddin. 
“Although Iran has a good status in science production in the region and the world, we do not have an acceptable growth in the field of innovation and our academic staff have a low profile in the field of technology,” he said during a ceremony for honoring the top researchers of Semnan University, IRNA reported. 
“We have 51 science and technology parks, and 900 Level-3 knowledge-based companies in Iran. Currently, 8,735 knowledge-based companies are active in the country, and we are far from the desirable situation,” he added. 
Kheyreddin noted that there 60 incentives, in addition to increasing the salary of the academic staff working for the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, are in place to boost their activities in the field of innovation and technology. 
“Iran ranks first in the region in terms of science production and 15th in the world, but unfortunately, we do not have a good rank in the field of innovation. About 80% of [domestic] new technologies cannot reach the market,” he said. “Laboratories lacking equipment, neglect of market needs, lack of supporting standards, international sanctions, poor government policies and financial constraints are some of the problems facing the country.” 
The deputy minister also bemoaned the lack of motivation among faculty members regarding commercialization, not knowing the needs of the industry and society, and lack of training for graduates and faculty members about marketing and entrepreneurship. 
“It is necessary to change the mission of the universities and specify the research and technology priorities, otherwise the universities will face problems. The contribution of universities in solving society’s problems should be increased,” he said. 
Referring to the low share of research and development in gross domestic product, he said, “The total research and development budget of the country is 30 trillion rials [$78.76 million]. There aren’t enough investments in the field of research and development, and its GDP share is currently below half a percent.” 
Kheyreddin noted that reinforcing commercialization services in technology and innovation centers, diversifying sources of financing, reforming the legislative system and using the capacity of specialized agencies to help academic staff members are crucial. “Currently, only 10% of faculty members have entered the field of technology, which figure should increase,” he said. 
During this ceremony, 133 top researchers of Semnan University were honored in the presence of the province’s Governor General Mohammad Reza Hashemi and other executive officials. 
This year, six Semnan University researchers were included in the list of the top 1% of scientists in the world and 17 members of the university’s academic staff were among the top 2% of scientists in the world.