The 226th scientific–specialized session of the Center for Development and Foresight Studies, focusing on the role of research and innovation in the Seventh National Development Plan, was held on 28 December 2025 in both in-person and virtual formats. The event brought together representatives from national and provincial executive bodies, universities, research centers, and think tanks, and took place at Dr. Hossein Azimi Hall of the Center for Development and Foresight Studies. The session emphasized the necessity of increasing investment in research, addressing structural constraints within universities, and allocating 2% of the national GDP to higher education.
According to the Public Relations Office of the Association, Dr. Seyed Mehdi Abtahi Forushani, Deputy for Research at the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, highlighted the significant capacity of universities and postgraduate students. He identified limited international collaborations, insufficient financial support, inadequate research infrastructure, and instability in budgetary regulations as major challenges facing the national research system. Despite these constraints, he noted that Iranian universities continue to demonstrate a high level of scientific productivity.
Gap Between Research Funding and Legal Requirements
Subsequently, Dr. Samad Nejad Ebrahimi, Director General of Research Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Science, referred to the Seventh National Development Plan, stating that the law mandates the allocation of 2% of GDP to universities. However, in practice, funding for research and technology remains far below this target. He warned that the continuation of this trend could lead to a decline in research and technological productivity in the future.
Participation of Health and Research Experts
In the final segment of the session, experts and scholars presented their perspectives and raised questions. Fatemeh Azimbeig, an expert from the Tobacco Control Research Center, was among the participants contributing to the discussions.
