Scientific Research Council

History of research works in the country

A) The developments of establishments concerned with studies and research works in the country.

Before 1901, there were no organized and legally established institutions for higher education and research works in particular, in the country and educational activities were limited to scattered private schools known as Maktab where the students were thought religious subjects and literature. The first law, concerning the establishment of administration and higher education was the Ministry of Education and Endowment Act which was passed in 1901. In the same Act, one of the departments stipulated, is the Department of Public Education, responsible for elementary and secondary education. The second department foreseen in the above mentioned Act was the department of science to handle higher education and dispatching of students abroad for education.

In 1902, the statute of the Ministry of Science was ratified by the National Consultative Assembly. In the said law which was more comprehensive than the previous Act, schools are clearly defined and conditions for enrolment, studying and educational programs are stipulated. For instance, in article 15 of the law, schools are divided to four categories as follows:

1. primary village schools
2. primary urban schools
3. intermediary schools
4. High schools

Based on article 21, the high schools would be established in Tehran and main provincial centers.

In 1921, the High Council of Science Act was passed by the parliament. Duties of this council based on Article 1 to 12, was promotion of Persian and Arabic languages and literatures and publication of scientific articles for public welfare.

On Feb.21.1967, the law for establishment of Ministry of Science and Higher Education was passed by the parliament. In article A of this law, the objectives behind establishment of the said ministry are stated as defining country's scientific, research and educational objectives and drafting of programs for higher education and research activities with respect to country's needs. Therefore it becomes evident that prior to establishment of Ministry of Higher Education, there was no institution or entity to take care of research works in the country and the research activities in a very elementary and small scale was anticipated in the law governing the activities of the Ministry of Education and public education department. It could be clearly stated that upon the establishment of the Ministry of Science, this ministry became officially responsible for taking care of research activities in the country. Consequently in the organizational chart of the ministry that was amendment and ratified on Jan.01.1969, four deputy ministers are anticipated, one of them as educational and research deputy would oversee the activities of two departments of the Bureau for the Affairs of scientific and Research Affairs and Bureau for Higher Education. In order to help and facilitated implementation of article 1 of the law establishing the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, which was mentioned earlier, the statute of institution for Research and Scientific and Educational planning was passed on Feb.28.1968. Based on article 4 of the said statute, the departments of the institutions are as follows:

1. Research and study department responsible for countries macro scientific policies.
2. Research and study department for scientific planning and research.
3. Research and study department for educational planning.
4. Data analysis and information gathering department.
5. Expert training department for education and research planning.
6. Science and technology promotion department
7. Scientific documents center

* Ministry of Science and Higher Education Act passed by the National Consultative Assembly and Senate on Feb.18.1967.

In the revamping of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education which was passed in sept.1971, the Science Promotion Department, the secretary of the Evaluation Council of Foreign Education Certificates, the secretary of the Expansion Council, Central Council of Universities, Department for Local Education Degrees and License Issuing Office became under the supervision of the Deputy for Education and Research Affairs. In the following restructuring of the departments of the Ministry of Science and Education, carried out on November 1973, the local Education Certificate Evaluation section and License Issuing Office were merged and a new department called local "Education Certificate and License Issuing Department" was formed in implementation of item E of article 1 and article 6 of the law establishing the Ministry of science and Higher Education dated 1967, the by-law No. 51710 approved by the cabinet on Jan.17.1971, the Council for Promotion and Expansion of Scientific Researches was established. The above mentioned by-law was amended by the cabinet on Nov.17.1973. The objective behind the formation of the said council was promotion of scientific research works in various scientific and technological fields, training of researchers and encouraging collective and individual studies as well as publication of books and findings of studies. Members of the council were as follows:

1. Minister of Science as the chairman of council
2. Managing Director of plan and Budget Organization
3. One of the deputies of Minister of Science
4. One of the deputies of Information Minister
5. Four scholars and prominent scientists
6. Two official of industrial sector, both public and private.

In March 1975, suddenly the departments of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education were expanded and 6 new deputies were added to the existing posts, one of them, the deputy for scientific research with following sub-division:

1. Office for scientific and research cooperation
2. Office for promotion and supervising the implementation of scientific research projects
3. Office for scientific research planning
4. secretariat for scientific researches

B) Scientific Research Center before

The Islamic Revolution

The Scientific Research Center of the country was formed in accordance with article 4 of the amended Act of establishment of Ministry of Science and Higher Education dated July 29, 1974 and the by-law No.7692 dated Sept.22.1975 of the Cabinet. The secretariat of the council, based on the above mentioned by-law was set up in Research Department of the Ministry and was headed by the deputy minister for research affairs with following members.

1. Minister of Science and Higher Education
2. Minister of State and head of Plan and Budget Organization
3. Minister of Mine and Industries
4. Secretary General of Central Council of Universities
5. Two individuals from among the head of scientific and research centers.
6. Two individuals from among the high-ranking officials of country's industrial sector both private and public.
7. Head of all specialized councils and affiliated departments.

This council met seven times before the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and the main decisions taken by the council are as follows:

1. Approval of the rule of procedures of the specialized councils, the state of the national organization for Scientific Researches and establishment of research institutions.
2. Approval of working procedures of the council
3. Funding 694 research projects that 195 of them are completed
4. Approving the dissolution of the Council for Promotion and expansion of Scientific Research
5. Offering 132 scholarships to researchers
6. Providing assistance to scientific associations and publication of books
7. Publication of annual reports of research projects as stated in the above item 4, the Council for Promotion and Expansion of Scientific Research was dissolved and its tasks and authorities were transferred to Council for Scientific Research. The budget of the country's Scientific Research council before the Islamic Revolution started with 10 million Rials and reached 240 million Rials in 1977.

C- Scientific Research Council in post-Revolution from Feb.10.1979 (victory day of the Revolution)

Up to October of the same year, the Scientific Research Council was mainly evolved in fulfilling its previous commitments such as settlements of remaining installments of research projects, research scholarships and establishment of specialized committees and councils.

From October 1979, following the approval of the budget bill of 1980, based on clause No.30 of the bill, the Scientific Research Council became subject to state law and regulations. Since all contracts and agreements related to scholarships, projects, books and publications were not subject to public fund controlling and other state regulations as well as the nature of the research works, all payments by the council were practically stopped till Dec.26.1980 when the Supreme Council of Culture and Higher Education Act was ratified by the Revolution Council and based on its clause No. 1 and 2, the Scientific Research Council became one of the commissions of the above mentioned council and it was decided that as long as the rule of procedures for the commissions are not adopted, the existing regulations to rule over their activities. In implementation of item 9 of article 7 of this law, the law concerning coordination, merging and centralization of the structure and budget of research institutions and establishment of National Scientific Research Center was ratified by the Revolutionary Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Meanwhile in accordance with letter No. 7/519 dated May.17, 1981 of the Cultural Revolution Headquarters and based on the decree issued by the late Imam Khomeini, the responsibilities of the Supreme Council of Culture and Higher Education were transferred to the Cultural Revolution Headquarters (now the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution – SCCR) but due to importance of the role of research works in the country continued functioning of Scientific Research Council deems necessary and thus following some modification in the composition of the former council, based on the by-law dated Nov.09.1986 of the cabinet, the Scientific Research Council was established with following members:

1. Prime Minister (as the supreme chairman)
2. Minister of Health, Medical treatment and education
3. Minister of Plan an Budget
4. Minister of Mines and Metals
5. Minister of Industries
6. Minister of Agriculture
7. Two people from among the head of research centers
8. Two people from among the officials of private and public industrial sectors
9. Chairman of each specialized councils of the scientific departments affiliated to the Scientific research Council

The Scientific Research Council with the above composition held 14 meetings up to Aug.02.1989 and the activities of the council is reflected in the reports covering the activities of such councils in the country.

The supreme Council of Cultural Revolution – SCCR in its 203rd and 204th meetings dated Nov.13 and 20, 1989 approved the by-law of country's Scientific Research Council in 6 articles and with following members:

1. First vice-president (chairman of the council)
2. Minister of Culture and Higher education (deputy chairman)
3. Minister of Health, Medical treatment and Education
4. Presidential research advisor
5. Head of Plan and Budget Organization
6. Chairman of Parliament's Higher Education Committee
7. The research deputy of Ministry of Culture and Higher Education
8. Head of the Scientific and Industrial Research Organization of Iran.
9. The concerned minister, whenever needed upon the invitation of the chairman of the council
10. Five researchers of various field and familiar with research planning upon the approval of SCCR
11. One researcher recommended by the chancellor of Azad University and confirmation of SCCR
12. Three people form among the head of research centers, higher education institutions and presidents of academies recommended by ministers of Culture and Higher education and Health, Medical treatment and Education and endorsement of the chairman of Scientific Research Council.
13. Chairman of the Strategic Research Center
14. Research deputy of Ministry of Health, medical treatment and Education.

In article 1 of the by-law, governing the Scientific Research Council the responsibilities of the council are stipulated as follows:

1. Drafting country's research policies based on the resolutions passed by SCCR, socio-economic and cultural development policies and in lines with the view of the country's academies
2. Preparing country's research system and recommending it to concerned authorities for approval.
3. Making coordination among the country's research programs.
4. Supervising the quality of the conducted research works in the country and proposing appropriate recommendation for their improvements
5. Making necessary arrangement in support and encouragement of researchers such as establishment of a special fund to assist the researchers
   Note: the said fund will function in accordance with a rule of procedures to be drafted by the Scientific Research Council under the supervision of the council's chairman.
6. Regulating the existing policies with respect to contact between country's research centers and institutions and similar foreign establishments and providing support for expansion of scientific and research exchange among them.
7. Reviewing the obstacles on the path of research activities in all areas through cooperation with countries research and scientific centers aimed at removing them in a proper manner.
8. Setting priorities for establishment of research centers (within the framework of approval regulations) in applied and important fields and assisting establishment of such centers through concerned authorities.
9. Drafting mechanisms for distribution of funds in country's main research sectors and adopting policies to help public and private institutions and recommending allocation of required funds to concerned authorities.
10. Making effort for application of the findings of research works and expansion of such utilizations of the results of studies.
11. Defining the required number of researcher and the needed expertise in country's research institutions and informing the relevant authorities of such statistics to secure their requirements.

D- Brief history of the establishment of research and academic institutions

Since 1920, the time when the country's first research institution was established, 270 universities and research center have been set up in public sector. Pasture Institute was the first research institution that was establishment in Iran in 1920 and from that time up to 1951 in total 5 institution and till 1961 some 18 centers and by 1971 in total 57 and by 1981 some 86 institutions and by 1991 in total 91 institution, enterprise or research centers (excluding those universities affiliated to Ministries of Culture and Higher Education and Health, Medical Treatment and Education) which have Research and Development (R&D) department and under the supervision of one of the ministries were established throughout the countries.

The first non-governmental research institution was established in 1978. By the year 1992, in total 315 units, company or institutions which were some active in research field were establish by the private sector.

Universities are also among the institutions which some parts of their activities involve research works. Tehran University was country's first university that established in 1925 and by the year 1992 the number of higher education institutions in the country amounted to 130 centers (73 universities and higher education complexes, 34 technical colleges, 16 independent faculties and seven higher education schools). Out of these 130 institutions, 124 were governmental and the remaining 6 institutions were set up by private enterprises.

The results of research works of these institutions up to 1992 include tens of thousands of registered inventions. Records of the activities of these institutions are reflected in the research reports of Ministry of Culture and Higher education, Ministry of Health, Medical Treatment and Education and other research institutes.

State Research Organization

1. Characteristics of the Research Organization with respect to ideals, objectives, strategies and research policies of the country, the following characteristics have been defined for the state Research Organization:

1-1- Centralization in policy making

Centralization of the activities of the research organization aimed at policy making

1-2- Decentralization in executive affairs of research works.

Ministries, Universities and other organizations while complying with the policies of country's research policies in conducting the executive activities of research works, will act independently and in decentralized manner.

1-3- specialization of research organization

Prominent researchers and experts will be recruited in various levels of the State Research Organization including managements, policy making and executive works to an extent that scientific and research atmosphere will prevail over the administrative activities.

1-4- Supervision and evaluation

Supervision and evaluation will be conducted in various levels of the research organization such as planning and executive works.

1-5- Dynamism of research organizations

Continuous review and reform in the research organization in a manner to make it compatible with the future developments

2. The main responsibilities of research system in respect to the main institutions of research organization

3. State Research Organization

Rule of procedures of state for Scientific Research Council ratified in meetings Nos. 203 and 204 dated Nov.13 and 20, 1989 of SCCR

Article 1) Responsibilities of the State Scientific Council

1. Drafting country's executive research policies based on resolutions adopted by SCCR, economic, social and cultural development plans and taking into account views of country's academies.
2. Preparing country's research system and its recommendation to concerned authorities for approval.
3. Coordination of country's research programs
4. Supervising the quality of research works carried out in the country and recommending appropriate measures for their improvement.
5. Taking necessary arrangements to support and encourage the researchers, such as establishment of special fund to assist the researchers.
   Note: The above mentioned fund will work on the basis of a rule of procedures adopted by state Council for Scientific Research and under the supervision of the council's chairman.
6. Regulating existing policies concerning the ties between Iranian research institutions with foreign research centers and helping scientific and research exchanges between local and foreign institutions.
7. Reviewing the obstacles preventing research activities in various fields through cooperation of higher education and research centers and taking necessary measure for their removal.
8. Setting the priorities for establishment of research centers in the country (within the framework of approved rules) in basic and applied sciences and assisting establishment of research centers through concerned authorities.
9. Adopting measures for distribution of funds among the main sectors of county's research establishments and taking necessary arrangements to provide assistance to public and private institutions and proposing allocation of required funds for research works to the concerned authorities.
10. Efforts aimed at application of scientific findings and promoting implementation of such findings.
11. Determining the number and the type of the expertise of the researchers required by country's research institutions and informing the relevant authorities to secure their needs.

Article 2-

The Council for Scientific Research can set up special committees in basic and applied sciences and these committees could be established in ministries and scientific institutions.

Article 3-

The secretariat of the Council for Scientific Research has its own office and independent funds and functions under the supervision of its chairman. The secretary of the council will be recommended by the Minister of Culture and Higher Education and endorsement of the council's chairman.

Article 4)-

The executive rule of procedures of the council and affiliated committees and the specialized planning committee should be endorsed by State Council for Scientific Research.

Article 5-

Members of the Council for Scientific Research:

1. First vie-president (chairman of the council)
2. Minister of Education and Higher Education (vice – chairman)
3. Minister of Health, Medical Treatment and Education
4. Presidential research advisor
5. Vice-president and head of Plan and Budget Organization
6. Chairman of Higher Education Commission of the Parliament
7. The research deputy of Minister of Culture and Higher Education
8. Head of Country's Scientific and Industrial Research Organization
9. The concerned minister invited by the chairman of council whenever needed (with voting right)
10. Minister of Education
11. Five researchers in various field and familiar with research planning upon the confirmation of SCCR
12. One researcher from Azad university recommended by the university's chancellor and approval of SCCR
13. Chairman of Strategic Study Center
14. The research deputy of Ministry of Health, Medical Treatment and Education
15. Three people from among the head of country's research and higher education centers and academies recommended by the Minister of Culture and Higher Education and Health and Medical Treatment and Education and approval of the State Council for Scientific Research
16. Head of University Jihad
    Note: the membership term of the individuals stated in item Nos.11, 12 and 13 and not those members who hold office) is three years

Article 6-

This rule of procedures consisting of 9 articles and two notes was ratified in meeting Nos. 203 and 204 of the SCCR on Nov. 13 and 20, 1989 respectively.