Tehran – Performance reports from the Iranian National Science Foundation (INSF) supporting Iranian researchers over past Iranian years (March to March 2024) have been published.
The report includes financial support packages for research projects, postdoctoral projects, and international projects aimed at strengthening science promotion events such as international cooperation, research chairs and grants, and “Science Night,” the IRNA reported.
According to the report, a total of 4,951 projects have been submitted, and 1,617 projects have approved support packages with a 33% acceptance rate. Men and women accounted for 66% and 34% of submissions.
The number of financial support packages approved by the Foundation doubled compared to the previous year, increasing from 212 billion rials (approximately $23.9 million) in 1402 (March to March 2023) to 42.8 billion rials (approximately $4.942 million) in 1403.
The report also shows that the Basic and Life Sciences Working Groups have the highest percentage of approved projects (31%) followed by the Engineering Working Group (26%), the Medical and Health Science Working Group (16%), the Agriculture and Natural Resources Working Group (15%), the Humanities, Social Sciences, Arts Working Group (11%), and the Religious Science Working Group (less than 1%).
Researchers from Hormozgan, Bushehr and Gilan Provinces had the highest acceptance rates, while researchers from Tehran, Khorasan Razavi and East Azarbaijan received the highest funding.
The University of Tehran (158 projects), Tarbiat Modares University (149 projects), and Sharif University of Technology (87 projects) ranked first to third in the number of projects approved by the foundation.
Over the past year, a total of 691 projects have been completed, of which 411 have been registered in 1400 (2021-2022), 131 projects in 1401 (2022-2023), 82 projects in 1402, and 67 projects in 1403.
The ISNF has published 25 projects in addition to the continued regular support of the scientific research initiative. 32% of the projects were submitted following calls, with 50.4% of funds allocated to these projects.
The foundation evaluated 6,857 projects and monitored 2,670 cases last year. The average rating time for accepted projects fell from 106 days of 1402 to 90 days of 1403. Although rejected, the evaluation time decreased from 65 days in 1402 to 64 days in 1403.
The ISNF also held various conferences in the field of science, promoting scientific authority, expanding science and technology, and developing the science of society.
This year’s joint phone call
In the current Iranian year that began on March 21, Iran and China will support the implementation of 10 research projects by faculty following the fifth joint call by the INSF and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).
Grants worth 40 billion rials (approximately $45,000) for each research project will be allocated to the following areas, Isna reports:
1. Traditional medicines and medicinal plants:
Evidence-based integration and standardization of traditional Chinese and traditional Persian medicine for major diseases. Sustainable medicinal plants: ecological cultivation, biodiversity, and resilience. Application of digital and AI tools in classification, analysis, and clinical research of traditional medicines and medicinal plants.
2. Energy:
Renewable energy; Highly efficient use of traditional energy; Energy-related materials; Storage technology; Application of artificial intelligence in the energy sector.
Iran and Russia will support the implementation of 10 research projects following the second joint call by the INSF and the Russian Science Foundation (RSF).
The grant is assigned on a competitive basis for scientific and technical programs and projects in Chemistry and Materials Science, such as Smart Materials, Biomaterials, Rare Earth Minerals, Batteries, Superconductors, Biology, Biology, Microbiology, Microbiology, and other life sciences, and basic research for medicine.