Iran Hosts First International Nanotechnology Olympiad for Students With Participation From 20 Countries
Tehran - BORNA - In an interview with Borna's Zahra Vejdani, Afshin Ramzi, Director of the International Nano Olympiad Secretariat, explained that the initiative builds upon Iran’s 16-year track record of organizing national Nano Olympiads.
“Given our extensive experience, we decided to expand the Nano Olympiad to the international student level and lay the foundation for broader participation worldwide,” Ramzi said.
He noted that Iran had already taken significant steps at the university level, forming a permanent secretariat for the International Nano Olympiad under the country’s Nanotechnology Development Headquarters. The first student-level edition was held in Iran in 2019, followed by Malaysia in 2023, while Taiwan has been selected as the next host.
The second edition, originally scheduled for 2020 in Oman, was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these setbacks, the Nano Olympiad quickly regained momentum, with Malaysia stepping in as host last year. Now, with Iran spearheading the first student-focused edition, the initiative has reached a new frontier.
“At the school level, even many countries advanced in nanotechnology have limited activities. That’s why we chose to launch this international student Olympiad,” Ramzi explained.
The 2025 student competition attracted representatives from 20 nations: Germany, Bangladesh, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Venezuela, India, Australia, and Iran.
“This year, with the support of the Young Scholars Club, which oversees national and international Olympiads in Iran, we managed to secure hosting rights for the first edition in virtual format,” Ramzi said.
The Olympiad was held virtually on September 29, 2025, with students given 72 hours to upload their video submissions. Each team presented a business model designed to solve an environmental challenge, which will be evaluated by an international jury. Results are expected to be announced next week.
“These competitions provide a unique platform for students to showcase their scientific skills and creativity while tackling real-world environmental problems,” Ramzi stressed.
Ramzi emphasized that the primary goal of the Olympiad is to foster international scientific exchange, encourage innovation among youth, and strengthen Iran’s global standing in nanotechnology.
“The Olympiad creates a foundation for collaboration, inspires students to engage in problem-solving, and enhances Iran’s role in advancing international nanoscience education,” he concluded.
About the journalist: Zahra Vejdani is a technology reporter at Borna News Agency, recognized as one of Iran’s leading journalists in the field of science and technology. With a focus on emerging innovations and their societal impact, she regularly covers developments in nanotechnology, digital transformation, and global research collaborations.
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