"To this end, and based on research priorities, a memorandum of understanding with the National Elite Foundation has been approved and will soon be signed," said Mehdi Dezhhosseini. 

Dezhhosseini outlined new plans for the company’s research and technology management, focusing on leveraging industrial capacity to identify challenges, collaborating with academic institutions and new technology-based firms (NTBFs) for scientific support, and utilizing corporate venture capital (CVC) funds for financial backing.

He added that identifying technological needs for first-time manufacturing has also been entrusted to the research and technology division. 

Key projects identified 

He explained that critical challenges in production, transportation, and distribution have been identified and framed as mega-projects.

The technological requirements of refineries have been prioritized and submitted to the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology.

Qualified NTBFs meeting standard benchmarks will be tasked with transforming these needs into products and developing their associated technologies, benefiting from material and financial support, including low-interest loans. 

Priority projects announced 

Dezhhosseini highlighted several priority projects, including constructing a 1.6 MW power plant at Abadan Refinery, manufacturing a GTG rotor, developing sludge-cleaning robots at Tehran Refinery, and using fiber optics for intelligent monitoring of pipeline intrusions.

Contracts for these first-time manufacturing projects will be signed during the upcoming Research Week ceremonies. 

Reflecting on past challenges, he noted that earlier mega-project collaborations with universities were halted due to unrealistic expectations of technological maturity.

He emphasized that higher technology readiness levels should be managed by knowledge-based companies and science parks, while universities handle earlier stages. 

Strategic vision for research, innovation 

Dezhhosseini explained a new perspective on research and innovation, identifying it as a core value of the organization.

Research priorities now align with strategic goals, focusing on areas such as digital transformation, completing the value chain, clean fuels, and physical asset management.

Each priority is associated with mega-projects in production, distribution, transmission, and storage, emphasizing innovation and value creation to enhance efficiency. 

"In the digital transformation domain, we aim to implement smart systems in one refinery. Initiatives such as smart oil storage, pipeline monitoring using drones, robotics, fiber optics, and intelligent seals have been defined," Dezhhosseini said.

He confirmed that the agreement with the National Elite Foundation, reflecting these research priorities, will soon be finalized.