[caption id="attachment_133201" align="alignright" width="191"] Managing Director of Iran Aviation Industries Organization Manouchehr Manteqi[/caption]

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Technology Management Association of Iran was granted the membership of the European Union's Innovation Development Project, an official announced on Saturday.

"The first move of the Technology Development Association was membership in the EU Innovation Development Project in line with developing innovation among the Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern countries," said Manouchehr Manteqi, the secretary of the headquarters for the development of technology in aerial and aerospace industries affiliated to the scientific and technological department of the presidential office.


"This membership was granted officially and we are among the 13 countries which have started development of innovation," he added.


A December report dubbed Science-Innovation Atlas of Islamic States and sponsored by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) showed that Iran stood first among Islamic states in terms of registering inventions.


Based on the report presented in the 7th meeting of Islamic ministers of educations in Morocco, Iran was ranked first among the 57 Islamic countries in terms of science and research.


50 percent of the Islamic countries' studies and papers are produced by Iran and Turkey.


The report said that Tunisia, Malaysia, Turkey and Iran had provided most of their research and development expenses from Gross Domestic Production (GDP) revenues.


Tunisia, Jordan, Turkey and Iran are the four Islamic countries which have the highest number of researchers per 100,000 people.


By Fars News Agency