According to Atabe News, Ali Eskandari, Iran’s ambassador to Uzbekistan, met with a delegation from Imam Reza International University visiting Tashkent and highlighted the 127 percent growth in exports from Razavi Khorasan Province to Uzbekistan. He described the visits by academic and economic delegations as a positive development.

Emphasizing the need for greater involvement by companies affiliated with Astan Quds Razavi in areas such as health tourism and technology, he said that, to succeed in Central Asia’s scientific and industrial markets, academic delegations must engage with the support of the private sector and knowledge-based companies, ensuring that research projects lead to production and sustainable employment.

Advancing Technology Rather Than One-Way Knowledge Transfer

Ebrahim Daneshifar, President of Imam Reza International University, proposed establishing a joint technology development office. He said the university’s approach goes beyond selling products or transferring knowledge in one direction.

“In fields such as artificial intelligence, information technology, nanotechnology, and green hydrogen production, we can establish a mutually beneficial partnership by combining Iran’s design capabilities with Uzbekistan’s production facilities and develop joint products,” he said.

Referring to the university’s successful experience in Iran, he added that specialized projects, such as assessing the productivity and health of agricultural seeds through image processing—a project previously carried out for Astan Quds Razavi’s Seed and Plant Company—could be localized and implemented in Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector.

Directly Connecting Education with Industry

Daneshifar also explained the university’s educational model for connecting students with the labor market. He said that several industrial and technology companies currently sponsor the university’s students, while their research and development projects are incorporated into university coursework. This approach has helped outstanding graduates enter industry more quickly.

Emphasizing the university’s operational flexibility, he noted that its affiliation with the scientific and cultural structure of Astan Quds Razavi allows it to dispatch specialists and talented professionals to target countries quickly, without the bureaucratic procedures common in government institutions.

The Need for a Sound Understanding of Scientific Diplomacy

Dr. Ebrahim Davoudi, Director of International Affairs at Imam Reza International University, described the management team’s firsthand experience of the global academic environment as a distinctive asset for advancing the university’s scientific objectives. He said success in international activities requires a thorough understanding of international mechanisms.

Referring to upcoming plans to strengthen this approach, he added that a memorandum of understanding would soon be signed between the university and the School of International Relations of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The agreement will provide for specialized workshops and courses in this field, attended by experts and political specialists, as part of efforts to expand scientific diplomacy and foreign relations.

Scientific Diplomacy Based on Mutual Engagement

In another part of the meeting, Iran’s ambassador to Uzbekistan described inviting Uzbek officials and university professors to visit Mashhad’s scientific and academic capacities as an effective way to expand cooperation. He emphasized that introducing Astan Quds Razavi’s outstanding capabilities in food industries, agriculture, and laboratory services could pave the way for practical agreements.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Ali Eskandari, Iran’s ambassador to Tashkent; Safarkhani, Iran’s cultural attaché in Uzbekistan; and Soleimani, the embassy’s Second Secretary. Participants emphasized Imam Reza International University’s particular responsibility in expanding international academic cooperation.

During an intensive visit to three Uzbek cities—Samarkand, Bukhara, and Tashkent—the university delegation signed seven comprehensive cooperation agreements with leading universities in Uzbekistan. The visit aimed to revive historical and civilizational ties and connect knowledge with industry, while extending to the heart of Central Asia the university’s model of scientific diplomacy, which has previously been pursued in countries such as Iraq.