The "Atf" plan of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology is introduced as a sustainable mechanism for connecting industrial needs to university and research capacities, aimed at developing indigenous technologies in the petrochemical industry. This plan seeks to support a thousand programs and individual research laboratories over a three-year process, aiming to create the necessary grounds for effective collaboration between academia and industry.
The Necessity of University-Industry Collaboration in Petrochemicals
The petrochemical industry, due to the extensive value chain and the continuous need for the development of catalysts, advanced materials, and process optimization, is considered one of the key areas for technology development in Iran. Given the existing challenges in this industry, effective collaborations with universities must become a sustainable mechanism to identify and solve the real needs of the industry.
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According to the Global Innovation Index of the World Intellectual Property Organization, Iran ranks 70th among 139 economies and holds the 117th position in terms of university-industry research and development collaboration. The ratio of joint publications between public research and industry is reported to be only 1.1%, indicating a weakness in the link between scientific capacity and technological activities in this field.
International Experiences and Collaboration Models
International experiences, including BASF's collaboration with 269 universities and research institutes and Japan's emphasis on long-term organizational partnerships, show that simply increasing the number of contracts is not sufficient for creating sustainable innovation. The European Union also emphasizes the importance of joint governance and intellectual property management. In this regard, the common message of these experiences is the necessity of organizing scientific capacities within a sustainable institutional framework and around real issues.
In Iran, in recent years, multiple collaborations have emerged between petrochemical companies and scientific and research centers. For example, in January 2025, memorandums of understanding were signed between the Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Investment and Development Group and the Iranian Scientific and Industrial Research Organization. Additionally, in October 2026, the Ministry of Science and the Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Science, Research and Technology held the Petrofan 2026 event, examining the capacities of universities and research centers.
The "Atf" plan, as an effective initiative, can contribute to positive transformations in the petrochemical industry by reorganizing the country's research system and directing scattered capacities towards solving real issues. This plan, emphasizing the identification of expertise and scientific capabilities, aims to create a network of individual research laboratories that can provide effective solutions in various petrochemical fields, including catalysts, process engineering, and energy consumption optimization.
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