Iran: ECO-NAN, Central Asia Middle East Nanotechnology Programme

The 10 Middle Eastern and Central Asian member states of the Iran-based Economic Cooperation Organization, that include Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, approved the establishment of an ECO Nanotechnology Network in Iran during the 10^th Summit of the ECO held in Tehran on 11^th March 2009. The ECO Nanotechnology Network will be charged with strengthening research capacity in nanotechnology in the Middle East and Central Asia through connecting national nanotechnology institutes, researchers, scientists, engineers, and policy-makers from member countries of the ECO, promoting the continuous exchange of knowledge and research results. The network will set up a website and establish a nanotechnology database listing institutions, scientists and their respective capabilities, and research programmes, within these neighbouring regions. It will also launch a public awareness programme promoting nanotechnology. In cooperation with the ECO Transfer of Technology Centre, the ECO Science Foundation, as well as the standing committee on scientific and technological cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Conference, ECO-NAN will promote nanotechnology applications for tackling poverty and achieving the UN's Millennium Development Goals. In particular, these will include the production of cheap sustainable energy, developing better methods for disease diagnosis and treatment, cleaning polluted water, enzyme biosensors that can monitor soil or crop toxicity, and 'nano-magnets' that can clean up oil spills by attracting oil. The Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council, which will provide training, consultancy, will coordinate the initiative and laboratory facilities for joint research activities. Another opportunity would be developing their capacity to protect their economies against cheap nanotechnology product imports that could replace trades in their traditional materials and natural resources.

Source: EducationDev.net, May 2009