Aref: Universities should launch new fields with advanced technologies

According to Ashura News, quoted by Mehr News Agency, Mohammad Reza Aref, at the fifth meeting of the AFTA Science and Technology Development Headquarters (Cybersecurity), referring to the holding of the second Technology Olympics in Pardis Technology Park and the double reception of this event compared to last year, stated: Holding this event is a valuable step in promoting science and technology, especially in schools and universities, and plays an important role in creating scientific vitality and pursuing national priorities in this field.

Emphasizing the need to improve the education and training of human resources from schools to universities in the field of cybersecurity, he added: Relevant agencies must be supported based on national documents and a clear division of labor so that the development of this field accelerates.

The First Vice President, appreciating the support of various ministries and institutions for the AFTA Development Headquarters, noted: This empathy and support shows the importance of AFTA in the body of the government. Considering the country's elite human capital, we must compensate for the backwardness through interaction, common thinking, and cooperation.

Aref stated that the AFTA Headquarters must cover the gaps, weaknesses, and challenges, adding: We must achieve the goals of science and technology development within the framework of the 20-year vision document with serious acceleration and achieve the first position in the region and Iran's global influence in the field of science and technology.

He continued: There is no other way but to achieve the goals of the vision document. Universities must strengthen fields related to advanced and emerging technologies and launch new fields. Attracting and retaining technological elites must also be on the agenda with incentive mechanisms.

In this meeting, which was held in the presence of the Vice President for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy, the Secretary of the Supreme Council and the Head of the National Cyberspace Center, the Head of the Passive Defense Organization of the country, and the managers of related agencies, the operational plan of the Ministry of Science in implementing the strategies of the AFTA Development Headquarters document was also reviewed.

Aref stated in this regard: The document of the Ministry of Science should be the basis for the documents of other agencies, because scientific, technological and human resource training issues originate from this ministry.

Referring to the Supreme Leader’s emphasis on expanding the frontiers of knowledge, he noted: Iran’s contribution to the production of global science and technology must be enhanced. The production of science and strategic research is the main task of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.

The First Vice President also criticized the lack of attention paid to the field of cryptography in universities compared to the past and said: We must transform science into technology and the role of the Ministry of Science in this direction should be clearly defined.

Aref emphasized that we should not be merely consumers of other countries’ technologies and added: The Islamic Republic of Iran must move towards achieving scientific and technological authority in the world and the first position in the region.

Referring to the fundamental position of the humanities in the country's intellectual and cultural system, he stated: "The field of humanities is the value system and foundation of our culture, and this field should be considered simultaneously with the development of technology and cognitive sciences so that the country's technological transformation path is accompanied by cultural, epistemic, and human depth."

In the continuation of the meeting, the suggestions of the Iranian Code Society and the AFTA Strategic Management Center were reviewed. The Vice President for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy also presented a report on the actions of the AFTA Science and Technology Development Headquarters and the National Cyber ​​Horizon Plan (ASA).

This national plan has been formulated with the aim of networking the country's knowledge capacities, training specialized human resources, developing professional cyber centers, providing solutions and designing advanced security products, holding scientific and promotional events, and providing specialized consultations to agencies.

Also, in this meeting, the operational plan of the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology in implementing the strategies and actions of the AFTA Science and Technology Development Headquarters document was reviewed based on the framework of cooperation and national division of labor.