Muslim scientists announced on the fifth STEP in Islamic Countries in a statement that the role of women in the development of scientific and technological cooperation must be promoted in Islamic countries.

According to the public relations and information center of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs, the fifth STEP in Islamic countries was held in the presence of more than 60 faculty members in 19 countries of the world during February 27^th-March 2^nd, 2019, hosted by Kerachi University and by the efforts of Mustafa Foundation.

The fifth STEP was carried out in fields of communicable and non-communicable diseases in the area of heath with topics of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of challenges and their proper solutions and the role of women in the development of science and technology.

On the final day of the summit, a statement addressing the Mustafa Prize was published. In this statement, participation and cooperation of female scientists in management and guidance of the society are emphasized as a model for others. In addition, creating a free space that motivates capability to improve the freedom of though and critical thinking was recognized as crucial.

Moreover, topics of the event were improving the participation of women in scientific units and events, establishing the virtual pole of science and technology for facilitation of networking and communication, improving cooperation between various active organizations in the field of science, technology, and innovation, determining and recognizing the gap and reducing it by developing the strategic goal of Mustafa Foundation, and encouraging more cooperation of young scientists in the area of science, technology and innovation.

Facilitating the projects of prominent researchers, laying the foundation for cooperation with the private sector through recognizing and improving the best methods, encouraging and supporting scientific coalitions in prioritized fields, improving the condition of medical plants, natural products and domestic knowledge, recognizing prominent female scientists as a model, increasing public awareness about activities and missions of the Mustafa Foundation, and prioritizing scientific activities in the Islamic world to award prizes or establish a new prize for this group of scientists are other topics emphasized in the statement.

The Mustafa Prize, the high sign of science and technology in the Islamic world, is given to the top researcher and scientists of the Islamic world every two years. The Mustafa Prize recognizes, introduces and awards the top science and technology works in the Islamic world, promoting science learning and research in Islamic societies. According to the executive document of the Mustafa Prize, Sorena Sattari (the vice president for science and technology affairs) and Mahdi Safarinia (president of the Pardis Technology Park) are the head and secretary of policy-making council, respectively.