Over the last decade, Iran has managed to achieve significant breakthroughs in the development of nanotechnologies and in the commercialization and manufacturing of nano products.

Professor Ali Beitollahi of�the Iran University of�Science and Technology and high-ranking member of�the Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council, told Sputnik that these achievements were made possible by�strict adherence to�the 10-Year Plan of�Practical Implementation of�Nanotechnologies (2005-2015).

"There are currently over�28,000 specialists working in�this field, along�with about�2,600 researchers in�100 universities of�our country. Over 13,000 graduates and postgraduates whom we supported in�their scientific endeavors have successfully defended their theses related to�the subject. There are over�120 industrial enterprises working in�the high-tech sector. And I�m proud to�announce that over�320 nano products were successfully commercialized and are now available on�the market," professor said.

Beitollahi pointed out�that back when the 10-Year Plan was adopted in�2005, the Iranian scientists were basically starting from�scratch and often consulted their Russian colleagues to�learn more about�nanotechnology.

"We now have a whole network of�nanolaboratories, comprising 70 facilities all across�the country. These labs cooperate with�each other and provide service support to�other scientists and university researchers. Considering how important security is when nanotechnologies are concerned, a network called NanoSafety was also established in�Iran. The Health Ministry now also has a Committee on�Nanotechnology Development, dubbed Nano FDA, tasked with�creating protocols regarding the safety of�nano products� As for�standardization, we�ve already developed 40 state nanotechnology standards and registered three international standards with�the ISO/TC229 Committee, with�three more standards awaiting approval," he said.

Meanwhile, he added, a second ten-year plan has already been drafted which focuses on�the manufacturing and commercialization of�nano products.

"As you know, Iran has an oil-based economy, and now that the oil prices have sagged considerably, this dependence became painfully obvious. In any case, sooner or later Iran�s oil reserves will run out, so in�order to�create an alternative economic model for�our country this second ten-year plan focuses on�developing information, bio- and nanotechnologies as�chief vectors of�the Iranian economy," Beitollahi explained.

He also said that considering the good neighborly relations that Russia and Iran enjoys,

"Each country has its own unique technologies, and Russia, with�its wealth of�experience in�that area, may become one of�our key partners in�the field of�nanotechnology," Beitollahi concluded.

By Sputnik News