The use of non-resident Iranian elites’ abilities has been one of the priorities of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs. The new project of cooperation with non-resident Iranian elites was started by the Vice-Presidency in 2015. Each year, five top headquarters cooperating with the project are evaluated and introduced based on various criteria.

According to the information center of national elites foundation, The platform of cooperation with non-resident Iranian elites (connect) was formed in 2015 with an emphasis on establishing cooperation between Iranian elites living abroad and specialized headquarters. This project has been implemented with the aim of creating effective competition as well as directing requests to databases with better performance.

In the evaluation model of specialized partner databases, an attempt has been made to carefully design the required indicators and data and according to the details, while eliminating the existing shortcomings of the previous courses, a process should be designed so that the results can be cited with high accuracy. Based on which, a roadmap for interacting with specialized partner databases in the future can be designed.

“Structured gathering of feedback from applicants who cooperated with headquarters through this project is one of the items considered in the new program. In this regard, a considerable share of headquarters’ points is allocated to these opinions. Feedbacks can increase a sense of loyalty in non-resident Iranian experts.

“Defining efficient and accurate indicators for the good performance of databases” is another criterion taken into account in the evaluation of headquarters’ performance. This will increase competition among headquarters and improve the qualitative level of the project.

“Avoiding bias in the assessment of headquarters” increases trust in the ranking system, and “creating a platform for the annual aggregation of cooperation statistics in the framework of this program” are other criteria considered in the assessment of headquarters’ performance.

Sharif University of Technology Is Ranked First Regarding Specialized Partner Headquarter

According to the criteria, Sharif University of Technology, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tabriz University, K.N. University of Technology and Institute of Basic Sciences were ranked first-fifth, respectively.

According to the report, the best performance among technology parks has been given to Tehran University of Science and Technology Park, and the best performance in technology headquarters has been given to the nanotechnology development headquarter.

Meanwhile, Pooyandegan Rahe Sa’adat Co., Sina Robotics, Barekat, Tapsi, and Cinnagen had the best performance. The bases of Tabriz University, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Shiraz University have also been selected as the best of the cities.

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Center for New Medical Technologies also won the title of best performance in the field of medical sciences.

The program will be held in the form of short-term and long-term programs, such as lectures and specialized workshops, post-doctoral projects, invited professors, sabbaticals, recruitment as faculty, employment in knowledge-based companies and establishing new companies and a project to replace military conscription.

In addition, using the capacity of Iranian foreign specialists and entrepreneurs from the country to meet the needs of selected export companies and also outsourcing foreign projects to domestic developers and using the capacity of Iranian owners of high-tech companies abroad as a trading partner of domestic companies in target markets. Another implementation plan is this plan.

Other pillars of this project include the establishment of a specialized database of Iranian specialists and entrepreneurs abroad and the networking of prominent Iranian graduates and entrepreneurs returning to the country with the aim of consulting and consensus on advancing the center's plans and programs, strengthening the immigration observatory. Iran has referred to Iranian immigration policymakers and researchers with the aim of providing real-time analysis and evidence-based policy programs and proposals.