Parviz Karami, the secretary of the headquarters for culture knowledge-based economy pointed out the success of Iran regarding corona-related achievements and research, expressing: Iran has moved in parallel with advanced countries of the world regarding the production of corona-related equipment and drugs using the efforts of knowledge-based companies. The rapid movement that made it easier to endure the difficult days of the outbreak of corona disease in the country and alleviated the concerns of the health care system and the people in this area.

According to Karami, some of the measures taken by the knowledge-based companies in the past few months included the manufacture of ventilators, CT scans and diagnostic kits, production of disinfectants, masks, thermometers and sampling swaps. These products have been exported to international markets and introduced to the domestic market. All of these products have been produced domestically and there has been no need for the import of products.

The president of the information and communications center of the Vice-Presidency added: meanwhile, the innovation and technology ecosystem has not been satisfied with just meeting the domestic needs. Entering the field of scientific research was a topic that was made possible by the Iranian youth. Sometimes good news is heard from this area; however, all this research is still going on in news silence and in scientific circles.

He continued: almost all countries have entered the field of scientific research to discover the source and method of treatment of this disease, and news from around the world about the discovery of drugs and corona vaccines are heard from time to time. However, they were forgotten after failure of this research. For instance, Russia reported the production of corona vaccine a few days ago.

The World Awaits Research Results

Meanwhile, the world health organization has yet to confirm this issue and there are many challenges to the confirmation of the vaccine. However, the world awaits research results.

Advisor to the vice president for science and technology affairs mentioned: sometimes foreign media announces the start of research in this area. Iran has been able to carry out its scientific research alongside these countries in the face of difficult economic conditions and sanctions while relying only on domestic power. In terms of scientific research in the field of corona, Iran is not only not far behind other countries, but it can be claimed that we are ahead of them in some areas.

According to Karami, a powerful scientific and research team provides services to people with the management of a scientific team in order to treat the disease in a timely manner, design a vaccine for the disease and propose new diagnostic methods. We are fortunate to be self-sufficient in diagnosing corona disease.

The secretary of the headquarters for culture knowledge-based economy continued: some research is being done to prevent the virus from spreading; researchers in the country are also testing some anti-inflammatory and anti-viral drugs.

Pointing out the research on corona as one of the most important concerns of elites and domestic experts, Karami emphasized: if we succeed, Iran will be among the companies producing a drug for corona and will respond to people’s concerns properly.

He also added: I have to mention that six knowledge-based companies are working on the production of corona vaccine and promising results have been obtained according to the reports of the authorities of the ministry of health.

In Iran, we have conducted numerous studies both on the validation and clinical work of the corona vaccine and on the fact that some drugs have no specific effect on the corona. Rejecting or accepting a drug depends on scientific research and clinical trials. However, an important issue is producing knowledge in this area.

Believing in Our Own Scientific Belongings

The head of the information and communications center considered the belief in internal capabilities as the most important factor in accelerating the research process, adding: the fact that the society is convinced that Iranian scientists are capable and can meet the needs of the country well must be extended to the whole society. As it has been proven so far, none of the equipment needed in this field needs to be imported, and the scientific and knowledge capacities of our youth are sufficient to meet these needs.

Karami continued: it was recently announced that a number of scientific and technological working groups have been formed at the University of Tehran in various fields of treatment, vaccines, testing and data mining in the field of corona and the use of artificial intelligence. These working groups cooperate in research projects of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and some units involved in this area.

Karami believes that the player of the field must know that producing corona vaccine is a complicated issue. In fact, it needs the scientific and supportive synergy and cooperation of all sectors.

A report by the public relations and information center of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs