TEHRAN – Tehran will host the first international artificial intelligence (AI) exhibition known as AIX Expo, scheduled to be held from January 12 to 15, 2026 at the Tehran Permanent International Fairgrounds.
Supported by the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), more than 50 top knowledge-based companies operating in the field of AI and technology will participate in the exhibition, IRNA reports.
According to the Vice President for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy, the exhibition aims to foster exchanges between the innovation ecosystem, knowledge-based companies, the financial industry and key industries in AI.
The event will showcase the latest innovations and achievements in AI at the national and global level.
The exhibition will feature specialized panels on AI applications in various industries such as healthcare, energy, urban development, finance, and manufacturing.
This exhibition, which carries out practical educational workshops, serves as a great opportunity to share expertise, foster business cooperation and hold B2B and B2G networking in various fields.
With the rapid growth of domestic AI startups and technology-related industries, the 2026 AIX Expo is expected to stimulate large-scale investments and lay the foundation for indigenous AI technology exports.
Progress in Iranian AI scientific research indicators
According to the Nature Index, the country’s ranking in scientific achievements in artificial intelligence (AI) improved from 33rd to 30th place, putting it among the top 50 leaders, Vice President for Science and Technology Hossein Afshin said.
He said Iran’s ranking in the region fluctuates between 14th and 17th, mainly due to its focus on quality, adding: “We are optimistic about improving the country’s scientific status within the next two years,” IRNA reported.
The official further said that the country will move forward with the development of AI infrastructure, including AI platforms and AI assistants, in the near future.
Government response to AI
The latest report from the Oxford Insights Index, which measures governments’ readiness to introduce AI into public services, ranks Iran 91st out of 188 countries, up three places from 94th in 2023.
AI will play a key role in not only managing technology but also improving government performance.
The Government AI Readiness Index has become a trusted resource for policymakers and has been adopted as an official benchmark by governments.
This year’s edition examines 188 countries’ AI readiness as governments face increasing complexity as they face evolving public needs and challenges, including economic uncertainty, climate risk, and rising inequality.
The 2024 Index examines 40 indicators across three pillars: government, technology sector, and data and infrastructure. We highlight progress, identify gaps, and provide actionable insights for policymakers working to integrate AI into public service delivery.
At the heart of the index is the question: How ready are governments to deploy AI in public service delivery? By answering this question, we aim to provide practical tools that support evidence-based decision-making and enable policymakers to unlock the potential of AI to better serve populations around the world.
The highest ranking in the country therefore goes to the data and infrastructure pillar with a score of 66.29, an improvement compared to last year’s score of 55.88. This includes infrastructure (70), data availability (43), and data representativeness (121) metrics.
MT/MG