Speaking Monday, at the Second International Conference on Investment and Financing in the Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical Industry, Shoja Ahmadvand emphasized the strategic link between politics, economics, and knowledge. He said the oil and gas sector is not just an economic domain but a strategic foundation for governance and national development.

“Global experience shows that countries able to secure a strong position in the energy market have three key features: sustainable and diversified investment, the use of academic knowledge and innovation, and the establishment of transparent legal and political frameworks for financing,” Ahmadvand said.

Universities as the Link Between Knowledge and the Energy Industry

Ahmadvand highlighted the role of universities in transforming the financial system of the energy sector. He said Allameh Tabataba’i University can support the oil industry by producing knowledge and designing new financing models suited to the country’s conditions.

“Today, instruments such as energy participation bonds, specialized investment funds, and fintech platforms have come to assist this industry,” he said. “Effective use of these tools requires close cooperation among universities, industry, and policymaking institutions.”

Ahmadvand also announced the continuation of the university’s collaboration with the Oil Ministry, saying Allameh Tabataba’i University will serve as the permanent secretariat of the conference. The university, he added, will continue its work on areas such as legislation, development and financing of upstream contracts, and investment challenges in the petrochemical sector.

“The stronger the bond between universities and industry,” he concluded, “the brighter and more promising the future of national development will be.”