Iran Ranks Fourth Globally in Developing International Nanotechnology Standards
Tehran - BORNA - Emad Ahmadvand, Secretary of Iran’s Headquarters for the Development of Nanotechnology and Microtechnology at the Vice Presidency for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy, announced the drafting and publication of 13 international nanotechnology standards led by Iran, stating that the country ranks fourth globally in this field a position reflecting Iran’s active role in shaping global evaluation frameworks and accessing international markets.
Ahmadvand speaking at a press conference held at the Headquarters for the Development of Nanotechnology and Microtechnology, referred to the headquarters’ longstanding engagement with science and technology media and said that over the past two decades numerous meetings have been held to clarify concepts related to technology development, commercialization, product evaluation mechanisms, and the formation of tech-based businesses. Efforts have also been made to establish a shared vocabulary among specialists, media and actors within the innovation ecosystem.
Standardization: The Lesser-Known Link in Technology Development
He emphasized that the topic of the meeting was standardization noting that the concept remains less recognized in the country and that even within the expert community awareness of its importance, processes, and functions is still limited.
Ahmadvand stated that although the country has played a role in drafting international standards a deep understanding of the significance of this field has not yet fully developed among scientific and technological stakeholders. He added that the media can play a key role in raising specialized awareness within the scientific and innovation communities.
Two Decades of Iran’s Active Participation in Nanotech Standardization Committees
Referring to Iran’s membership in the International Nanotechnology Standardization Committee of the International Organization for Standardization since 2006 the Secretary said that over roughly the past two decades Iran has defined and led numerous projects within the committee.
He added that during this period 13 standardization projects led by Iran have gone through a three and a half to four year process including proposal preparation, persuading member countries, collecting feedback, final drafting and approval, ultimately resulting in the publication of international standards.
Ahmadvand emphasized that this performance has placed Iran fourth globally in the field of developing international nanotechnology standards.
The Standard Development Process: From Domestic Ideas to Global Consensus
He explained the mechanism for drafting international standards noting that each project is handled by a specialized team led by a prominent expert. The process begins with the preparation of an internal proposal, which is then submitted to the International Organization for Standardization. This is followed by efforts to gain the support of member countries, review and revision of the text, the formation of multinational teams, and the completion of formal approval stages.
According to the Secretary in each project four to five additional countries participate alongside the domestic team and managing such teams with diverse scientific and technical perspectives requires precise and professional leadership.
He stressed that specialists who manage these projects operate beyond purely research activities and have the capability to define measurement boundaries, conceptual definitions and operational frameworks at the nanoscale.
Scope of Iran’s Standards: From Terminology to Safety
Ahmadvand referred to the areas covered by the drafted standards and said they encompass a range of topics from terminology and basic concepts of nanotechnology, defining specialized indicators and definitions related to nano to applications of the technology in different sectors as well as safety related issues.
He described this scope as a sign of the country’s scientific and technological maturity in the field of nanotechnology.
Three New Standards Under Development
Referring to future plans the Secretary said a call for new specialists was issued last year and currently three proposed standards are in the drafting stage and under review by member countries.
He added that several additional titles are also at the topic-approval stage and if approved, will enter the three year drafting process. In addition in 2024 three new standards led by Iran were approved in the international committee and have entered the drafting stage indicating growth in the country’s performance compared with the previous year.
Standards: A Tool for Quality or Economic Competition?
Ahmadvand emphasized the diverse functions of standards and said that one of the most important roles of standards is to create confidence in quality within research processes and manufactured products.
At the same time he pointed to the strategic and less visible dimension of standards, explaining that standards can determine the boundaries for entering markets. Leading countries usually formulate evaluation frameworks in the form of international standards which can sometimes limit or complicate the entry of competitors.
He added that countries that do not play a role in drafting these standards are forced to adapt themselves to criteria defined by others criteria that may weaken competitors in the market.
Safeguarding Iranian Companies’ Interests in Global Markets
The Secretary stressed that active participation in the process of drafting international standards allows countries to safeguard their national and technological interests and prevents established frameworks from working against them.
He noted that standards aren't merely technical documents but effective tools in economic competition and can be designed in ways that prevent certain companies or countries from entering markets.
Ahmadvand also referred to the country’s strategy to strengthen the presence of Iranian companies in global markets, stating that gaining a share of international markets requires improving companies’ technical and business capabilities as well as active participation in international forums to help define market entry boundaries.
Invitation for Specialists to Participate More Actively
In conclusion, he invited specialists in applied sectors such as water, agriculture, health (diagnosis and treatment) and food security to participate in the process of drafting international standards and announced that the nanotechnology headquarters will support such participation to further strengthen Iran’s role in this field.
With the drafting and publication of 13 international nanotechnology standards and Iran’s fourth place global ranking, the country has taken a significant step toward consolidating its position in the technical and economic landscape of this strategic technology and aims to continue this path with greater momentum.
End article